gluttony
UK[ˈɡlʌtəni]US[ˈɡlʌtəni]
n
The habit or act of eating too much food.
n
Excessive indulgence or consumption, especially of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
glutton
y
glutton
overeater
y
state or condition
Etymology
The word 'gluttony' traces a direct path from the Latin glutto, meaning 'a greedy eater'. This Latin term is believed to be derived from gluttire, 'to swallow', a verb evocative of the rapid, insatiable consumption that defines the act. The suffix '-y', of native English origin, was appended to transform the agent noun 'glutton' into the abstract noun 'gluttony', formally naming the vice or condition of being a glutton. Thus, the term's logic is transparent: it literally means 'the state or condition of being one who gulps down food'. Over time, its application broadened metaphorically to describe any form of excessive indulgence.
Analysis
Structure: glutton (overeater) + y (state or condition)
- glutton: From Old French gloton, itself from Latin gluttōn-, stem of glutto (overeater, gormandizer). The Latin root is related to gluttīre meaning 'to swallow, gulp down'. It functions as the core root denoting a person characterized by excessive eating.
- y: A noun-forming suffix of Germanic origin (via Old English -ig, -u) used to form abstract nouns denoting a state, condition, or quality.
Examples
The medieval church considered gluttony one of the seven deadly sins.
His gluttony for power eventually led to his downfall.
The festival was not an occasion for gluttony but for grateful celebration.