Teetotal Etymology, Origin & Meaning

Although alcohol is considered haram (prohibited or sinful) by the majority of Muslims, a significant minority drinks, and those who do often outdrink their Western counterparts. In my experience, teetotalers are usually very boring and/or quite highly strung. The phrase total abstinence is attested by 1831.

  • Previous studies have consistently found that light to moderate drinkers live longer than lifetime teetotallers.
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejects alcohol based upon the Word of Wisdom.
  • With respect to Restorationist Christianity, members of certain groups within the Christian Science movement abstain from the consumption of alcohol.citation needed
  • Many Christian groups, including Methodists and Quakers, have traditionally supported the temperance movement and prohibition.

Word History

When it comes to alcohol consumption and depression, a new study shows that heavy drinkers — but also teetotalers — have higher levels of depression and anxiety than those who drink moderately. The use in temperance jargon was noted by September 1833 in reports of a speech advocating total abstinence (from beer as well as wine and liquor) by Richard “Dicky” Turner, a working-man from Preston, England. “of, pertaining to, or involving total abstinence from intoxicating drink,” 1834, a colloquial word, perhaps from total (adj.) with a reduplication of the initial T- for emphasis (“trouble with a capital T”).

Wordorigins.org

It describes wine consumed by God’s people, including the first noted miracle by Jesus. Many Christian groups, including Methodists and Quakers, have traditionally supported the temperance movement and prohibition. It’s necessary for a recovering alcoholic to avoid alcohol, even if it means staying out of bars and pubs. Some people choose to avoid alcohol because they depended on it in the past, and now they’re in recovery. According to historian Daniel Walker Howe, the word came from Lyman Beecher, an American preacher and temperance advocate. A reinterpretation of temperance total may have contributed to its linguistic origin and development.

What can I do instead of drinking?

  • Some common reasons for choosing teetotalism are psychological, religious, health, medical, philosophical, social, political, past alcoholism, or simply preference.
  • Numerous Christian denominations forbid the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  • T-totally as an emphatic form of “totally,” though not in an abstinence sense, is recorded in 1832 in a representation of U.S.
  • In fact, there are numerous famous teetotalers in the business and entertainment worlds.
  • The word is first recorded in 1832 in a general sense in an American source, and in 1833 in England in the context of abstinence.

Quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words. “small dreidel-like toy or device like a spinning top, with a letter on each of its four sides indicating the outcome for the player who spins it,” 1700, originally T-totum, from T + Latin totum “all, the whole” (see total (adj.)). Western big talk (Kentucky), and it may be older in representations of Irish English (teetotaciously, 1832). “The Authentic Origin of the Word ‘Teetotal.’” Wordhistories.net, 12 January 2017. We also see the word in a piece originally published in the Germantown Telegraph and reprinted in the Poughkeepsie, New York Independence on 24 April 1833. It purports to be an accurate transcription of a speech given by Anglo-Irish, Tory MP John Wilson Croker on 12 March, but it is almost certainly written by the editors portraying Croker as a comic Irishman.

Religious Beliefs

Teetotal refers to the complete abstinence from alcoholic drinks, or more generally from any intoxicant. 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. Ibn Majah and al-Tirmidhi narrated an authentic hadith that if a Muslim drinks alcohol and does not repent, they would enter Hell after death and be “made to drink from the pus of the people of Jahannum.” Muslims believe that Allah will not accept the prayers of a repentant individual until forty days after the consumption of an alcoholic drink. Some Christians choose to practice teetotalism throughout the Lent season, giving up alcoholic beverages as their Lenten sacrifice.

Popular in Wordplay

Light and moderate drinkers tended to live longer than those who either abstained or drank heavily. … Women who guzzled 18 glasses of wine or more each week were 33 per cent more likely to get rings around their eyes than those who drank five glasses. Downing five pints of beer or glasses of wine a week does not lead to premature signs of ageing. There is no specific Islamic verse outlining this point but many people believe wudu (the purification ritual) cannot be completed if you have a tattoo on your body. Members of the church should minimize their use, if not fully cut it out, in order to maximize their experience of God’s grace.

A number of Christian denominations forbid the consumption of alcohol, or recommend the non-consumption thereof, including certain Anabaptist denominations such as the Mennonites (both Old Order Mennonites and Conservative Mennonites), Church of the Brethren, Beachy Amish and New Order Amish. Teetotalers.—The origin of this convenient word, (as convenient almost, although not so general in its application as loafer,) is, we imagine, known but to few who use it. Since at first it was used in other contexts as an emphasised form of total, the tee- is presumably a reduplication of the first letter of total, much as contemporary idiom might say “total with a capital T”. The word is first recorded in 1832 in a general sense in an American source, and in 1833 in England in the context of abstinence.

Synonyms of teetotaler

Other Words from teetotalism Example Sentences Learn More About teetotalism. Century Dictionary allows that “the word may have originated independently in the two countries,” OED (1989) favors the British origin and notes that Webster (1847) calls teetotaler “a cant word formed in England.” The term is also said to have been introduced in 1827 in a New York temperance society which recorded a T after the signature of those who had pledged total abstinence, but contemporary evidence for this is wanting.

If they manifest an unwilling or arbitrary spirit, they subject themselves to the discipline of the church, even to expulsion in extreme cases. Conservative Anabaptist denominations of Christianity proscribe the use of alcohol and other drugs. Hear “t total” pronounced

The research hinted that students are less likely to give in to peer pressure if they have strong friendships and make a decision not to drink before social interactions. Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican Communion all require wine in their central religious rite of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejects alcohol based upon the Word of Wisdom. The Church of the Nazarene and Wesleyan Methodist Church, both denominations in the Wesleyan tradition, teach abstinence. We implore members to accept the advice and counsel of the church and abstain from all of the above.

Words for Dog Breeds

It originated, as we learn from the Landmark, with a man named Turner, a member of why is it called t total the Preston Temperance Society, who, having an impediment of speech, in addressing a meeting remarked, that partial abstinence from intoxicating liquors would not do; they must insist upon tee-tee-(stammering) tee total abstinence. A number of temperance organizations have been founded in order to promote teetotalism and provide spaces for nondrinkers to socialise. The temperance movement is a social effort that opposes the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The teetotalism movement began in Preston, England, in the early 19th century. After his speech, it was reported in print as ‘teetotal’ and thus a new word was born. Its first usage in connection with alcohol is attributed to an Englishman, Richard Turner, in a speech he made in 1833 in Preston, advocating t-total abstinence from alcohol.

As a verb, “practice or advocate total abstinence from intoxicating drink,” by 1839. By 1835 the use of teetotal became a fixture of the American temperance movement as well. 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. This is a list of notable figures who practiced teetotalism and were public advocates for temperance, teetotalism, or both. In contrast, churches in the Methodist tradition (which traditionally upholds teetotalism) require that “pure, unfermented juice of the grape” be used in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Practice

Members of denominations in the conservative holiness movement, such as the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection, are required to practice teetotalism. Some common reasons for choosing teetotalism are psychological, religious, health, medical, philosophical, social, political, past alcoholism, or simply preference. Most teetotaller organisations also demand from their members that they do not promote or produce alcoholic intoxicants. An American source first recorded the word “teetotal” in a general sense in 1832. It might include water, juice, coffee, tea, non-alcoholic soft drinks, mocktails, and non-alcoholic beer.

Others don’t like the taste of alcohol or have had negative experiences with alcohol. They can include health and medical concerns, family or social influences, philosophical or political ideologies, past alcoholism, and religious beliefs. As early as 1827, some members of Temperance Societies reportedly signed a “T” after their name to signify their commitment to temperance.

The next year, an English source cited it in the context of abstinence. Read on to learn about the origin, etymology, and reasons for abstaining from alcohol. Even if Turner was aware of it, he should be credited with its first usage in the context of abstaining from alcohol.

Additionally, the majority of Muslims do not drink and believe consuming alcohol is forbidden (haram). Muslim countries have low rates of alcohol consumption, with many enforcing a policy of prohibition. In Hinduism, the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants, called surāpāna, is considered the second mahāpātaka, or great sin. However, the term ‘wine’ (and similar terms) being consumed by God’s people occurs over two hundred times in both the Old and New Testament. This dates back to the early years of the organisation, and the missionary work among alcoholics. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists, and Holiness Pentecostals also preach abstinence from alcohol and other drugs.

With respect to Restorationist Christianity, members of certain groups within the Christian Science movement abstain from the consumption of alcohol.citation needed Uniformed members of the Salvation Army (“soldiers” and “officers”) make a promise on joining the movement to observe lifelong abstinence from alcohol. Temperance is the moderate use of that which is beneficial, and a total abstinence from that which is harmful. Members of the Dunkard Brethren Church shall abstain from the use of intoxicating or addictive substances, such as narcotics, nicotine, marijuana, or alcoholic beverages (except as directed by a physician).

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Abebet
Scroll to Top