teetotaler
noun
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A person who abstains from alcohol might choose tea as his or her alternative beverage, but the word teetotaler has nothing to do with tea. More likely, the "tee" that begins the word teetotal is a reduplication of the letter "t" that begins total, emphasizing that one has pledged total abstinence. In the early 1800s, tee-total and tee-totally were used to intensify total and totally, much the way we now might say, "I'm tired with a capital T." "I am now … wholly, solely, and teetotally absorbed in Wayne's business," wrote the folklorist Parson Weems in an 1807 letter. Teetotal and teetotaler first appeared with their current meanings in 1834, eight years after the formation of the American Temperance Society.
Examples of teetotaler in a Sentence
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Supporters aligned with the temperance movement used Weston’s walks to advance their agenda—since Weston was a teetotaler, sponsors and cheerleaders trumpeted his feats as evidence that sobriety was healthy.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025
Zoom in: Here's a list of St. Paddy's celebrations for foodies, families, teetotalers and more.
—Moyo Adeolu, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
The Beer Baron This would make teetotaler Trump Rex Banner.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teetotaler
Cite this Entry
“Teetotaler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teetotaler. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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