surfeitn.
/ˈsəːfᵻt/, U.S. /ˈsərfət/ 1. † a. Excessive consumption of food or drink; overindulgence in eating or drinking; gluttony. Also in figurative contexts. Obsolete.† c. An excessive quantity of food or drink consumed. Obsolete. Also in figurative contexts.In later use merged with or understood as sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > excessive consumption of food or drink > [noun]
excessc1386
surfeita1387
surfeiturea1400
surfeity?a1450
replevishingc1450
surfeitnessa1500
surfeiting1519
ingurgitation1531
crapulosity?1538
gurgitation1542
guzzling1642
stuffing1713
crapulousness1850
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 329 (MED) Þese lyved lengest..for þey..dede noon surfeet of mete and of drynke [L. propter victus moderantiam].
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 4293 All þe syn at solp may þe saule, As surfet, surquidry, & slawth, þe seuyn all bedene.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Seying of Nightingale (Harl.) l. 266 in Minor Poems (1900) 25 Agenst glotenye he drank eysel and galle, To oppresse surfayte of vicious folkes alle.
1577 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture (new ed.) sig. Eiiv Eate without surfet.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1562 Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfet . View more context for this quotation
1684 Foxe's Actes & Monuments (ed. 9) III. 404/1 Fasting is only to avoid surfet.
1741 H. Brooke in G. Ogle et al. Canterbury Tales II. 180 This Letter too the Courier..To Britain's Dowager unweeting bore; And in the Surfeit of oblivious Wine Left her to perpetrate the black Design.
b. A particular instance of such behaviour; a gluttonous act; an excessive indulgence in food or drink, esp. one leading to discomfort or illness. Now rare except as merged with sense 2. Also in figurative contexts. Later examples with of and the food or drink consumed possibly allude to the well-known tradition that Henry I died of ‘a surfeit of lampreys’: cf. quot. a1513 at sense 4a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > excessive consumption of food or drink > [noun] > gluttony
overeateOE
gluternessc1175
gluttonryc1175
gluttony?c1225
womb-joyc1300
gluttingc1315
glutterya1340
excessc1386
gule1390
surfeitc1390
gulpingc1394
pamperingc1430
gormandizea1450
gastrimargyc1450
gulositya1500
belly1526
gulling1542
belly-cheer1549
glossing1549
overfeeding1565
epicurism1584
gormandizing1600
gastrimargism1607
gluttoning1607
overeating1652
helluation1656
guttling1731
helluosity1799
gorging1833
gorge1854
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. v. 210 After al þis surfet an Accesse he hedde.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiii. l. 405 [I] more mete ete and dronke þen kende miȝt defie—And kauȝte seknesse sum-tyme for my sorfetes ofte.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Dietary (Harl.) in Select. Minor Poems (1840) 68 Suffre no surfetis in thy house at nyght, Ware of reresoupers.
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 15 Age seeketh rather a Modicum for sustenaunce, then feastes for surfets.
1649 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) I. 447 It's possible to have a surfeit of water as well as wine.
1732 J. Arbuthnot Pract. Rules of Diet i. 269 The best Remedy after a Surfeit of Fruit.
1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick p. xx Strong Liquors do not prevent the Mischiefs of a Surfeit.
1853 W. M. Thackeray Eng. Humourists i. 23 He was half-killed with a surfeit of Shene pippins.
1973 P. G. Wodehouse Bachelors Anonymous xiii. 170 What more likely than that he should have..perished of a surfeit of brandy smashes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > excessive consumption of food or drink > [noun] > excessive amount eaten
surfeita1500
surchargure1614
a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 67 Many þat withdrew hem froo etynges of surfaytz.
?1550 H. Llwyd tr. Pope John XXI Treasury of Healthe sig. a.iiiiv If it chance a dronken man sodenly to fal spechlesse, he shall..dye..excepte eyther he fall to an agew, or els he receyue his spech agayne at the houre when the surfyt is digestyd.
1601 Bp. W. Barlow Serm. Paules Crosse Martij 1600 62 Himselfe a surfet to the realme, to be spewed out iustly.
1700 R. Blackmore Paraphr. Job xx. 87 His loathing Stomach..Shall cast the precious Surfeit up again.
1763 Let. to Author of North Briton 13 The Englishmen should all at once set upon the Danes before they had digested the surfeit of that drunken solemnity.
1790 E. Smith Contrast, or Mayoralty of Truborough i. 11 So saying, I flounc'd out of the room, and left him alone to digest the surfeit, my resolution unquestionably gave him.
1801 Sporting Mag. 17 121 Not having received that crop-full surfeit that you have.
2. Superabundance, superfluity; an excessive quantity or supply of anything; (formerly also) †a superfluous thing (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [noun] > excess, redundancy, or superfluity
un-i-fohOE
surfeita1393
superfluitya1398
over-micklea1400
overmucha1400
nimiety1542
superfluous1552
redundance1572
overflowing1574
overflush1581
overflow1589
overmeasure1591
redundancy1601
a too-much1604
pleonasm1616
overfloat1619
overmuchnessa1637
supernumerariness1652
plusa1721
supervacaneousness1730
supersaturate1860
too-muchness1875
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 4561 The Philosophre upon this thing Writ and conseileth to a king, That he the surfet of luxure Schal tempre and reule of such mesure.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 22884 Agh we þer-on to seke resun Hu he dos alkin thing to nait, Certes þat war bot surfait.
a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 52 What kyng þat wille continue giftys yn surfaytes ouer þat his kyngdom wyl suffyse to hym.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 224 Surfet of presuming ignorance.
1663 A. Cowley Ode on his Majesty's Restauration v 'Tis Happy, which no Bleeding does indure A Surfet of such Blood to cure.
1765 B. Church Times 4 From whose honey'd lays Streams a rank surfeit of redundant praise.
1844 W. E. Gladstone in Q. Rev. Dec. 175 Nor is he..to be reproached either with want of charity or with surfeit of pride.
1889 Spectator 26 Oct. An abundance, nay, a surfeit, of works treating..of Scotland..have been printed.
1919 Times 23 July 8/2 We have had a surfeit of airy theories and doctrinaire platitudes.
1951 S. H. Bell December Bride ii. xvii. 197 Relief was gained by a run round the field to ‘joggle up their guts’ and the surfeit of tea and currant-bread was ejected in a brown liquid stream.
2003 G. Newton From Victoria to Viagra (Wellcome Trust) 15/2 Everyday problems such as workplace arguments..are now casually attributed to a surfeit of testosterone or a deficit of serotonin.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > violation of law
unlawOE
wrongc1270
surfeitc1400
violation1433
wrongdoing1480
unlawfulnessa1500
transgressing1535
contravention1579
anomy1595
non-reason1597
contravening1645
law-breaking1881
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2433 In syngne of my surfet I schal se hit ofte.
c1460 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 754 To do no surfet in woord nor in language.
a1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Prayer upon Cross (Cambr. Hh.4.12) in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 142 O ihesu, grant..That..thy .v. wowndis..May wach in vs all surfetis reproueable.
a1500 (a1450) tr. Secreta Secret. (Ashm. 396) 47 Men may pray to God-is clemencie..for oure giltes askyng pardone, and for our surfetes punycion or penaunce.
4.
a. Illness attributed to excessive eating or drinking (or, occasionally, to extremes of temperature or some other environmental factor); an instance of this. Also in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered nutrition > [noun] > surfeit
surfeita1425
surfeiting1519
crapulaa1687
crapulea1687
crapulence1727
a1425 Dialogue Reason & Adversity (Cambr.) (1968) 39 For surfet many on hath perched; Ȝe, glotenye sleeth mo þan þe sweerd doth.
c1500 J. Lydgate Dietary (Rawl.) in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 76 (MED) Moderat fode gevyth to man his helth And all surfetys doth from him remeve.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxxix. f. cli Kynge Henry..toke a surfet by etynge of a Lamprey & therof dyed.
1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Diiiv More perrish with the surfet then with the sworde.
1589 Pappe w. Hatchet in Lyly's Wks. (1902) III. 398 Bastard Senior was with them at supper, and I thinke tooke a surfet of colde and raw quipps.
1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxvi. 115 He caught a surfet by the heat of the sun.
1631 R. Bolton Instr. Right Comf. Affl. Consciences 293 Hee drinke not so undiscreetly..of that immeasurable Sea, as..to fall into a surfet of security.
1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick i. ii. 10 A surfet going before, with crude and sharp belchings.
1693 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §17 More Fevers and Surfeits are got by People's Drinking when they are hot, than by any one Thing I know.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 53 He died of a surfeit, caused by intemperance.
1837 Brit. Husbandry (Libr. Useful Knowl.) II. 530 They [sc. pigs] are..not uncommonly seized with surfeit and indigestion.
1871 G. H. Napheys Prevention & Cure Dis. i. i. 44 He died of a surfeit.
1914 J. C. Rolfe tr. Suetonius Lives Caesars II. v. 81 Administered in a syringe, as if he were suffering from a surfeit and required relief by that form of evacuation as well.
2005 I. De Madariaga Ivan the Terrible 445 Jerome Bowes said later that Ivan died of a surfeit, and he could have died as a result of choking over food.
b. A disease in horses attributed to overfeeding (or, occasionally, to overheating, excessive exercise, or some other environmental factor); spec. urticaria or other skin disease. Now historical.Cf. earlier surfeit adj. 3; cf. also surfeited adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > [noun] > dietary disorders
surfeit1623
grass sickness1845
loco1876
1623 G. Markham Countrey Contentments, or Eng. Huswife (new ed.) i. vi. 218 Neither doth the Horse euer take surfeit of Oates, (if they be sweet and dry) for albe he may well be glutted or stalled vpon them (with indiscreet feeding) and so refuse them for a little time, yet he neuer surfeiteth.
1639 T. de Gray Compl. Horseman ii. iii. 62 Or else doth show that he hath a surfet which he got..through intemperate riding, washing, raw, or evill food, or the like, whereby the horse is in danger to become morfounded.
c1720 W. Gibson Farriers New Guide ii. xii. 57 By a Surfeit is principally understood all such Maladies as proceed from immoderate Feeding.
1753 J. Bartlet Gentleman's Farriery xix. 162 The wet surfeit..appears on different parts of the body of a horse.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 297 When the coat of a horse stares, he is said to labour under a surfeit. The skin is covered with scurf and scabs... Sometimes the surfeit appears on the skin in small lumps.
1841 W. Dick Man. Vet. Sci. 88 An eruption which is called a Surfeit, or the Nettle-rash.
1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 447/1 Your horse suffers from what is known as surfeit. It is supposed to arise from an excess of food, but this does not always originate it, as animals on pasture not infrequently are subject to it.
2002 K. P. Baker in R. Knightbridge Hayes's Vet. Notes Horse Owners (ed. 18) vii. 149 Earlier texts refer to this condition as surfeit (excessive feeding).
5. Lack of moderation; excessive indulgence; excess; (also) an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [noun]
unhovea1300
passingc1350
distemperancec1374
excess1393
unmeasurea1400
surfeita1500
excessivenessa1513
ametry?1541
immoderation?1541
distemperature1572
exceedingnessa1586
grossness1585
unreasonableness1606
inordinacya1617
excrescency1638
immoderancy1646
fair share1650
overbalance1651
hyperbole1652
overheight1664
immoderacya1682
faggald1824
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 246 Trauaill of body, and company of women, a man may vse wyth-out surfaite.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccxlixv This is the sorynesse of fayned loue, nedes of these surfettes sicknesse must folowe.
1635 A. Stafford Femall Glory 23 [She] kept her soule from the surfets to which carnall delights invite all things humane.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) II. 73 Perpetual Surfeits of Pleasure have filled his Mind with bad and vicious Humours.
a1711 T. Ken Edmund vii, in Wks. (1721) II. 194 Surfeit, the odious Vice of laps'd Mankind, Intemperance in Beasts we rarely find.
1847 B. Disraeli Tancred I. ii. xvi. 326 All ends in a crash of iconoclastic surfeit.
1851 F. Lieber On Vocal Sounds L. Bridgeman in Smithsonian Contrib. Knowl. 2 ii. 11 She..will at times go into her closet, and shutting her door, ‘indulge herself in a surfeit of sounds’.
1872 Asgard Norwegian Maiden 97 There was, too, a certain skill in this arrangement to avoid surfeit. With the rich middle classes, over-furnishing is very common.
1964 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 54 55/1 Nature is pained by surfeit but rejoices in moderation.
2000 Guardian (Nexis) 29 July 8 To register excess and surfeit in the very texture of his writing—to effect formally what he sees happening to Florida and America in general.
6. Satiety, repletion; weariness or disgust arising from excess, esp. excess of food or drink. Also: an instance of this.Frequently in to (a) surfeit: to a tiresomely or nauseatingly excessive degree.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [noun] > caused by a surfeit or excess
sadnessOE
satiety1533
surfeita1591
glut1594
satiation1609
cloymenta1616
cloyedness1626
satedness1826
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [adverb] > to satiety
to (a) surfeita1591
a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1593) 348 That you may sinne in gluttonie, and not to surfet, appeareth by the rich man in the sixteenth of Luke, who fared deliciouslie euerie day, and neuer surfeted.
1611 W. Vaughan Spirit of Detraction iv. xii. 157 Some nice stomackes ouerlarded with sacietie and surfeite.
1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 116 He discourseth it at large, even to surfeit.
1684 Bp. G. Burnet tr. T. More Utopia 122 They think the doing it so often should give one a Surfeit of it.
1743 R. Dodsley Pain & Patience 8 He whose luxurious Palate daily rang'd Earth, Air, and Ocean, to supply his Board..Shall find sick nauseous Surfeit taint his Blood.
1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France i. 75 Matter and argument have been supplied abundantly, and even to surfeit.
1855 R. A. Wilson Mexico 51 He enjoys to a surfeit these bounties of nature.
1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic vii Swords, scrolls, harps, that fill The vulgar eye to surfeit.
1920 J. G. Brooks Labor's Challenge to Social Order iii. 27 We know to a surfeit, what democracy is in a platform.
1980 NY Times (Nexis) 26 Dec. c1/4 The visitor may very well experience a feeling of surfeit in the presence of so much decorative elegance.
2002 Observer 10 Nov. (Food Monthly Suppl.) 56/2 He defines and defends gourmandisme..following it through the various stages of delight and surfeit to its logical conclusion.
7. Mining. = afterdamp n. at after- prefix 3. English regional (northern). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > poison > [noun] > poisonous exhalation > in mines or stagnant pools
dampa1592
stanch1693
suffocating damp1695
stythe1708
surfeit1708
choke-damp1766
afterdamp1813
white damp1817
marsh gas1848
stanch-air1883
the world > matter > gas > [noun] > fumes or vapour > noxious vapour or gas > in mines > choke-damp
stanch1693
suffocating damp1695
stythe1708
surfeit1708
black damp1736
choke-damp1766
afterdamp1813
white damp1817
stanch-air1883
1708 J. C. Compl. Collier 18 in T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) Some Collieries are very subject to this fatal Surfeit.
1812 J. Hodgson in J. Raine Mem. J. Hodgson (1857) I. 97 This after-damp is called..surfeit by the colliers.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 246 Surfeit (N[orth of England]), choke-damp.
1954 S. I. Tomkeieff Coals & Bitumens 89/2 Surfeit, term in use among British miners for: (1) after damp or choke damp; (2) pressure exercised by a pent-up gas resulting in its escape with or without rupture of strata.
Compounds
C1.
a. General attributive, as †surfeit suffocation.
ΚΠ
1823 C. Lamb in London Mag. Dec. 614/1 A case of common surfeit-suffocation.
b. Instrumental and objective, as surfeit-gorged, surfeit-slain, surfeit-swelled, surfeit-swollen, †surfeit-taking adjs.
ΚΠ
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. G Surfet-swolne Churles.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. F1v So surfet-taking Tarqvin fares. View more context for this quotation
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. v. 50 Such a kind of man, So surfet-sweld, so old, and so prophane. View more context for this quotation
1682 T. Otway Venice Preserv'd i. 9 Surfeit-slain Fools.
1693 N. Tate tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires ii. 19 A Sot..surfeit-gorg'd, and reeking from the Stews.
1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. ii. 30 The pale, Surfeit-swoln guest.
1775 T. Horde Disappointed Villainy ii. 25 A Half-pay Ensign, who bore some Analogy to my Surfeit-slain Master.
1817 C. R. Maturin Manuel iii. ii. 38 These fools, with their gross flattery, mock my mood, Till shamed Credulity resigns her charge, And Vanity lies perish'd—surfeit-slain!
1921 Iowa Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. Nov. 105 The surfeit-swelled, overfed pigs show their discomfort thru heavy drinking and general uneasiness.
1970 N.Y. Mag. 27 Apr. 74/3 The surfeit-gorged..townspeople gathered at their windows in awe.
C2.
surfeit water n. now rare (historical) a medicinal drink taken after excessive consumption of food or drink; an indigestion remedy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > medicinal potion or draught > [noun] > types of
Galianesc1386
julepc1400
posseta1425
diet-drink1600
surfeit water1633
wound-drink1657
Garus1836
1633 J. Ford 'Tis Pitty shee's Whore iii. sig. F2 Flo. Did you giue her ought? Richard. An easie surfeit water, nothing else.
1757 A. Cooper Compl. Distiller iii. xvii. 173 There are two Kinds of Surfeit-water, one made by Distillation, and the other by Infusion.
1801 Sporting Mag. 18 22 I was obliged to take a little surfeit-water before I went to bed.
2005 Guardian (Nexis) 19 Feb. (Weekend Suppl.) 130 Lady Anne Blencowe..used it [sc. mace] liberally in everything from her surfeit water (for indigestion) to apple fritters.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
surfeitadj.
/ˈsəːfᵻt/, U.S. /ˈsərfət/ Now rare.† 1. Scottish. That exceeds what is necessary; excessive; immoderate, intemperate. Obsolete (rare after 16th cent.). † 3. Of a horse: = surfeited adj. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > lack of moderation or restraint > [adjective]
outragea1325
unskilwisea1340
unskilfulc1370
delavyc1380
unordinatea1398
excess?a1400
untemperatea1425
unmannered1435
immoderate1497
insolent?a1500
surfeitc1500
intemperate1508
exceedinga1513
unsober1535
intemperant1542
distemperate1557
distempered1587
intemperous1614
acrasial1845
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or too great in amount or degree
overmeteeOE
unmeeteOE
unimeteOE
unmethelyOE
over-mickleOE
hoflesc1175
overmucha1300
unskilwisea1340
unskilfulc1370
luxuriousc1374
overseemingc1384
superfluec1384
unreasonablea1387
outrageousc1390
over-greatc1390
overlargec1390
overgrowna1398
unmeasurablea1398
unmoderatea1398
unordinatea1398
immoderate1398
rankc1400
overabundantc1410
excessivea1420
superabundant?a1425
unmeasureda1425
superfluousc1475
nimious?c1500
surfeitc1500
overliberala1535
torc1540
exceeding1548
distemperate1557
over-ranka1568
overswelling1582
accessive1583
overaboundinga1600
overteeming1603
excessful1633
overproportionated1647
superproportioned1652
over-proportioned1662
overproportionate1672
unduea1684
unequal1704
unmerciful1707
hypermetric1854
hypertrophied1879
over the top1980
c1500 Makculloch MS in G. S. Stevenson Pieces from Makculloch & Gray MSS (1918) xiv. 67 Betuene malis drynk no surfat dilit, Bot thrist and trawall gyf the occasione.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xxii. 122 Þe said pepill..war movit aganis him for þe surfett spending of þare laubouris.
1542 in W. Cramond Rec. Elgin (1903) I. 73 The entres siluer dischargit to the said James for the surfet expensis maid be him in the Kingis servece.
a1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 102 Wexit and irkit..throw frequent heirschipis and surfeit raidis.
1894 Trans. Dumfries & Galloway Antiq. Soc. 156 When a parent cowhides his child, it is surfeit.
1904 in Eng. Dial. Dict. V. 856/2 A surfeit bodie.]
2. Satiated, surfeited. archaic or poetic in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > satiated or surfeited
sadOE
fullc1300
asadc1306
satiate1440
saturatea1450
glutteda1586
overcloyed1589
surfeit1597
cloyed1599
palled1607
jaded1631
sated1640
1597 R. Tofte Laura i. xxix. sig. B5 He the hart makes surfet with delight Through golden haire, black eyes, & brest most white.
1699 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. (ed. 4) §108 Childish Play..which they should be weaned from, by being made Surfeit of it.
1871 L. Morris Songs of Two Worlds 1st Ser. 39 My love had grown Surfeit with sweets, like some tired bee that flags 'Mid roses over-blown.
1877 L. Morris Epic of Hades i. 54 I hid my face within my hands, and fled, Surfeit with horror.
1921 R. Hodgson Last Blackbird 51 I've..Seen Pleasure, surfeit with her own sweet dower, Fade to a spectre with a diadem.
1963 D. Hoffman City of Satisfactions iii. 41 Surfeit with speech, I'd drink in strength from silence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > [adjective] > dietary disorders
surfeited1566
surfeit1601
locoed1875
1601 L. W. C. Verie Perf. Disc. Horse sig. C2v For a Surfet Horse. Take a quart of Beere or Ale..& giue it him.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
surfeitv.
/ˈsəːfᵻt/, U.S. /ˈsərfət/ 1.
a. intransitive. To indulge in something to satiety or excess; esp. to eat or drink to excess; to feast gluttonously or over-abundantly (on, upon etc.); to gorge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > lack of moderation or restraint > act immoderately or without restraint [verb (intransitive)]
overdoa1325
outragea1387
surfeitc1400
outraya1450
exceed1488
lasha1560
overlash1579
overlaunch1579
wanton1631
extravagate1829
wallow1876
to hit the high spots1891
to go overboard1931
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xiv. l. 188 Ich see noone so ofte sorfeten soþliche so mankynde; In mete out of mesure and meny tymes in drynke, In wommen, in wedes, and in wordes boþe.
a1425 (c1400) Fyve Wyttes (Harl.) (1987) 27 (MED) Yf þou drynke nedeles and surfetest..þou synnest.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 186 Temporance, by the wiche a man kepyth and holdyth mesure in ettynge and drynkynge, and surfetyth not, as in women.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Glendower xxvii Such..as fysh before the net Shal seldome surfyt of the pray they take.
1586 W. Warner Albions Eng. iv. xx. 87 Sweetly surfeiting in ioye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. i. 2 If Musicke be the food of Loue,..Giue me excesse of it: that surfetting, The appetite may sicken, and so dye. View more context for this quotation
a1639 T. Dekker et al. Witch of Edmonton (1658) i. i. 5 We will surfeit in our embraces, Wench.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ii. 68 Piety is most healthful..where it can least surfeit of Earthly Pleasures.
1707 M. Prior Satire upon Poets 153 Starving for Meat, not surfeiting on Praise.
1725 tr. F. de Motteville Mem. Hist. Anne of Austria IV. 340 The strolling Princess..and her half-starv'd Retinue feast, and surfeit on Delicacies at Free-Cost.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Masque of Anarchy (1832) xliii. 22 Such diet, As the rich man in his riot Casts to the fat dogs that lie Surfeiting beneath his eye.
1832 Examiner 673/2 The laity have done much wrong to the clergy in allowing it to cram, and surfeit, and pall, and hebetate, with forbidden wealth.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. xxvi. 266 A merrier set of gourmands..never surfeited in genial diet.
1916 Amer. Cookery Jan. 464/2 It did not pay to haul the crop of syrup, so it was given away and the negroes surfeited upon it.
1991 Observer (Nexis) 24 Mar. 62 The identikit rapist of the popular press..just waiting to switch fantasy into reality, surfeiting on hatred.
2007 Prince George Citizen (Brit. Columbia) (Nexis) 22 Dec. (News) 33 While opening gifts and surfeiting on food, we should remember those less fortunate.
b. transitive (reflexive) in same sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > excessive consumption of food or drink > eat or drink to excess [verb (transitive)] > feed (oneself) to excess
over-quatc1275
glutc1315
fill1340
stuffa1400
aglutc1400
agroten1440
grotenc1440
ingrotenc1440
sorporrc1440
replenisha1450
pegc1450
quatc1450
overgorgea1475
gorge1486
burst1530
cloy1530
saturate1538
enfarce1543
mast?1550
engluta1568
gull1582
ingurgitate1583
stall1583
forage1593
paunch1597
upbray1598
upbraid1599
surfeitc1600
surcharge1603
gormandize1604
overfeed1609
farcinate1634
repletiate1638
stodge1854
c1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 13 Thay that ar maist furthie in the ingyring and surffetting thame sellffis.
1635 J. Reynolds Triumphs Gods Revenge (new ed.) v. xxiv. 506 Quatbrisson having thus satiated and surfetted himselfe in reaping his beastly pleasures of poore Marieta.
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 208 Let the Glutton surfet himself in his curious Diet, and please his Palate with delitious Wines.
1792 V. Knox Serm. xx. 430 Like the voracious and impure animal, which has ever been an emblem of gluttony, he must surfeit himself with food.
1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. xi. 246 My wife surfeits herself with poetry.
1911 A. Bierce Coll. Wks. VI. 38 The Lion, having just surfeited himself on another shepherd, went away without harming him.
2002 K. Marra in K. Marra & R. A. Schanke Staging Desire (2005) 30 Living in the city, Fitch could surfeit himself on fashion, high society, and theatregoing.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > break the law [verb (intransitive)]
law-breaka1382
surfeita1425
a1425 (c1400) Fyve Wyttes (Harl.) (1987) 11 (MED) Þy hured hyne and þy tenaunt þou schalt fyrst teche; Seþþe, yf þey surfete, warne hem.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 484 Surfetyn, or forfetyn yn trespace, forefacio, delinquo.
3.
a. intransitive. To suffer the effects of overindulgence in food or drink; to become nauseated, disgusted, or unwell as a result of (excessive) eating or drinking; to suffer from surfeit (surfeit n. 4). Now rare except as merged with sense 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered nutrition > have disorder of nutrition [verb (intransitive)] > surfeit
surfeit?1545
?1545 C. Langton Introd. Phisycke sig. K.vi For summe man eatynge but .iii. bittes, of beaffe, shall surfet as sore of it as sume other that..deuowreth foure grotes woorthe of beaffe.
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. x. 156 Let vs returne no more to the flesh pots of Egypt, let vs not lust after quailes: for if wee feede vpon them, we shall surfet of them to our destruction.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. ii. 6 They are as sicke that surfeite with too much, as they that starue with nothing. View more context for this quotation
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iv. 148 They spared no vncleane..beast,..but eat them vp also..; and by this meanes their whole Colony well-neere surfeted, sickned and died.
1700 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding (new ed.) ii. xxxiii. 223 A grown Person surfeiting with Honey, no sooner hears the Name of it, but his Phancy..carries Sickness..to his Stomach.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 52 If an epicure now should happen to surfeit on his last night's feast.
1794 F. T. Travell Attempt render Psalms more Intelligible to Unlearned 414 God's blessing not accompanying their food, they quickly surfeited of it, and numbers of them perished by disease.
1888 J. Hunter-Duvar De Roberval iv. i. 118 Some say he surfeited on pickled eels, Diluted too much with an acid wine.
1911 Bull. Maryland Agric. Exper. Station Jan. 120 Ordinary slop feeding gave better results than hopper feeding if no allowance was made for..danger of the pigs surfeiting on slop.
b. intransitive. To suffer from over-abundance; to become disgusted, wearied, or unwell by excess of something; to grow sick of.In early use frequently figurative of 3a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored [verb (intransitive)] > be or become satiated or surfeited
sadeeOE
surfeit1558
pall1727
satiate1797
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > be excessive [verb (intransitive)] > be in excess
overpass1530
surmounta1533
advance1557
surfeit1558
redound1616
1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xxiiii. f. cxlviiiv To kepe theyr soules styll in health, they must remember that Christ our Phisician hath made them holle by the soueraign medicine of penaunce, and hath forbidden theym all maner of sinne whereupon they surfeted.
1584 J. Udall Obedience to Gospell sig. G ijv The world doth so carie men awaie, and they be so crammed with the word, that now they be ready to surfet of it.
1605 A. Warren Poore Mans Passions cxiii. E iij Some Vsurer..Whose gorged chests surfet with cramming gold.
1640 F. Quarles Enchyridion iii. 2 Be not too fond, lest she surfeit.
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) Pref. sig. āiiij Traueling preserues my yong nobleman from surfeiting of his parents.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 8 The Man of Pleasure..surfeited of his Vice.
1765 R. Billing Acct. Culture of Carrots 24 Turnips..are exceedingly apt to fail, as well as rot, towards the Spring... Perhaps the former is in some Measure owing to our Lands being, as we may say, surfeited of Turnips.
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision I. xix. 80 So early dost thou surfeit with the wealth.
1921 E. V. McCollum & N. Simmonds Amer. Home Diet (ed. 4) iv. 55 It is..remarkable how regularly we accept the potato in one form or another, in contrast to the ease with which we surfeit on other similar vegetables..when these appear on the table daily for a time.
2003 Daily Mail (Nexis) 29 Mar. 58 She..got a taste of Florence without surfeiting on High Culture.
4.
a. transitive. To feed (a person) to repletion or excess; to sate or glut (the appetite, stomach, etc.); (of a food or drink) to nauseate or make ill, esp. by overfeeding. Also in figurative contexts. Also occasionally intransitive with object implied. Now rare except as merged with sense 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > excessive consumption of food or drink > eat or drink to excess [verb (intransitive)]
surfeit1569
ingurgitate1598
split1677
1569 S. Batman Christall Glasse Christian Reform. sig. E.iiiv Therfore dronkennes doth not only surfet the body for a time, but also breedeth extreme malady, & maketh a man to forget reason.
1623 J. Reynolds Triumphs Gods Revenge: 3rd Bk. xi. 18 Not onely feasting, but as it were surfetting him with varietie of kisses.
1631 J. Taylor Complaint of Christmas 14 The Cooke that oftentimes did surfet him with filling his belly to full, and cramming him vp to the mouth with Pasties, and bak'd meats.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ v. xxv. 30 The Fannian Law..allowes a chirping cup to satiet, not to surffet.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery i. 4 Pork must be well done, or it is apt to Surfeit.
1752 J. Mason Lord's-day Evening Entertainm. III. ii. 36 A man that studies only the gratification of Sense and Appetite..is like one..who lives on no Food but Sweet-meats..which will..surfeit him.
1847 D. P. Page Theory & Pract. Teaching (ed. 2) viii. 145 The child is soonest cloyed whose stomach is surfeited with dainties..til his taste has lost its acumen and digestion becomes a burden.
1921 E. L. White Andivius Hedulio iii. xxiv. 353 Every man of us will be surfeited with food and fuddled with wine.
b. transitive. To fill or supply to excess; to disgust, weary, or oppress with excessive abundance. Frequently in passive. Also occasionally intransitive: to be oversupplied with; to suffer from excess of.
ΚΠ
1576 G. Whetstone Rocke of Regard Ep. sig. ¶.ij Vnstayed youth..are so hote in expence, as that they be many times surfited with incumberances, yea, tyred out right with prodigalitie, before they be brought into any perfect order of spending.
1589 L. Wright Summons for Sleepers 21 Whose doctrine and example of life, tends..to surfeit the Church with Schismes, and infect the common wealth with factions.
?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) ii. 582 When sleepe so surfeted Their leaden ey-lids.
1669 S. Pepys Diary 6 Mar. (1976) IX. 471 He is weary and surfeited of business.
1683 Apol. Protestants France Pref. p. ii By over-stocking those populous Manufactures,..and by surfeiting the Land with people.
1743 E. Young Complaint: Night the Fifth 20 With mixt Manure she surfeits the rank Soil.
1820 New Monthly Mag. Aug. 218/2 The work is..singularly comprehensive, and far preferable to books of extracts, which surfeit with disjointed beauties.
1882 B. D. W. Ramsay Recoll. Mil. Serv. II. xvi. 140 I..had been surfeited with office-work.
1938 Times 8 Mar. 14/3 There is considerable agreement upon the undesirability of surfeiting the public with overlong programmes.
1968 J. D. Carr Papa Là-bas iii. xv. 183 You have had a momentary overdose of truth; you are surfeited.
2000 M. Kneale Eng. Passengers (2001) viii. 195 A school for criminality, where pickpockets might learn from housebreakers, and housebreakers from murderers, till all were surfeited with wickedness.
ΚΠ
1607 T. Middleton Michaelmas Terme ii. sig. C3 I..surfetted away my name and state, In swinish Riots.
1658 R. Brathwait Age of Apes in Honest Ghost 271 For you licentious fleshly Libertine Who in delights surfeit away your time, Go from our presence.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1387
adj.c1500
v.c1400