the principle or practice of never drinking any alcoholic liquor
Derived forms
teetotalist (ˌteeˈtotalist)
noun
Word origin
teetotal + -ism
teetotalism in American English
(tiˈtoutlˌɪzəm, ˈtiˌtout-)
noun
the principle or practice of total abstinence from intoxicating drink
Word origin
[1825–35; teetotal + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1825–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cross section, electrolyte, panda, relativity, self-help-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)