Gluttony: A Dictionary for the Indulgent Read online

  ebriety

  (ee-BRAHY-ih-tee)

  NOUN: A state of intoxication.

  ecstatic

  (eck-STAT-ick)

  ADJECTIVE: Describes a feeling of great delight, even rapture.

  Each and every sugary swirl atop and along the three-tier cake made the chubby little children ECSTATIC as they drooled over their empty plates waiting for their mother to cut into the creative confection.

  edacious

  (ih-DEY-shuhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Voracious or gluttonous.

  edible

  (ED-uh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Describes something that is safe to be eaten.

  effusive

  (ih-FYOO-siv)

  ADJECTIVE: Extravagant or overly expressive; overenthusiastic.

  embellish

  (em-BEL-ish)

  VERB: To exaggerate or enhance something by creating details that might not be true.

  emphatic

  (em-FA-tik)

  ADJECTIVE: Characterized by emphasis; forceful.

  endless

  (END-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without end or limits; never-ending.

  englut

  (en-GLUHT)

  VERB: To gulp or gobble down; devour.

  engorge

  (en-GAWRJ)

  VERB: To gorge oneself with food; to eat greedily.

  enormous

  (ih-NAWR-muhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Exceedingly large or immense; huge.

  enthusiasm

  (en-THOO-zee-az-uhm)

  NOUN: Passionate interest or excitement about something.

  enthusiast

  (en-THOO-zee-ist)

  NOUN: One who is extremely passionate or excited about a particular interest.

  epicure

  (EP-ih-kyoor)

  NOUN: One who has developed a refined taste for food and/or drink; gourmet.

  The paper’s critic was a true EPICURE, as her sharp palate could taste the slightest error even the most acclaimed chef might make during a dish’s preparation—and then she would go on to humble him with her poisoned pen.

  esurient

  (ih-SOOR-ee-uhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Greedy; hungry.

  exaggerate

  (eg-ZAJ-uhr-eyt)

  VERB: To overstate something; embellish.

  exceed

  (ek-SEED)

  VERB: To surpass or go beyond the expected limits of something; excel.

  excess

  (EK-sess)

  NOUN: A surplus of something; overindulgence.

  excessive

  (ek-SESS-iv)

  ADJECTIVE: Typically used in a negative manner, excessive means something that goes beyond what is considered necessary or proper.

  Excess of joy is harder to bear than any amount

  of sorrow.

  —HONORÉ DE BALZAC

  exorbitant

  (egg-ZORE-bih-tunt)

  ADJECTIVE: Greater than what is reasonable; extreme or excessive.

  Many are astonished at the EXORBITANT prices the bistro charges for such tiny plates, but the big tastes from the best ingredients makes indulging on the smaller portions worth every last cent.

  extravagance

  (ek-STRAV-uh-guhnz)

  NOUN: Something that is excessive or unnecessary; expensive or wasteful.

  extreme

  (ek-STREEM)

  ADJECTIVE: To an exceeding degree; going beyond what is normal or necessary.

  exuberant

  (ig-ZOO-burr-uhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Extremely enthusiastic; high-spirited.

  exult

  (ig-ZULT)

  VERB: To celebrate or revel.

  The feast was meant to EXULT the recent conquering of the neighboring land, with the king allowing even the peasants to come and taste the many dishes his kitchen had prepared.

  F

  famished

  (FAM-isht)

  ADJECTIVE: Starving or hungry.

  farctate

  (FARK-tayt)

  ADJECTIVE: Stuffed or filled from overeating; the opposite of hollow.

  Julie sat there, immobilized and FARCTATE, after finally finishing the seven-course meal her fiancé’s mother put together to celebrate their engagement.

  fat

  (fat)

  ADJECTIVE: Overweight.

  feast

  (feest)

  NOUN: A large or sumptuous meal; a thing that provides immense pleasure, as in a feast for the senses.

  feed

  (feed)

  VERB: To give food to a person or animal.

  felicity

  (fih-LISS-ih-tee)

  NOUN: Extreme happiness or satisfaction; bliss.

  fervent

  (FER-vunt)

  ADJECTIVE: Extremely enthusiastic or passionate; ardent.

  filled

  (filld)

  ADJECTIVE: Full with food or another substance.

  flab

  (flab)

  NOUN: Refers to the excess fat on one’s body.

  flagrant

  (FLAY-gruhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Extremely obvious or blatant.

  flambé

  (flom-BAY)

  VERB: A style of culinary preparation where alcohol, such as brandy, is poured over a food item and set aflame in order to give the food more flavor.

  fleshy

  (FLESH-ee)

  ADJECTIVE: An abundance of flesh; plump.

  flood

  (flud)

  VERB: To arrive in overwhelming amounts or quanities.

  fondness

  (FOND-niss)

  NOUN: Affection or liking for or toward something.

  Some times a FONDNESS for the finer things in life can result in both empty pockets and expanded waistlines.

  Excess of liberty, whether it lies in state or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery.

  —PLATO

  foodie

  (FOO-dee)

  NOUN: One who shows great enthusiasm toward food—both preparing and consuming it.

  foofaraw

  (FOO-fuh-raw)

  NOUN: Much fussing over a trivial, unimportant matter.

  forage

  (FOR-uj)

  VERB: To search or hunt for food or provisions.

  frenetically

  (fruh-NET-ik-lee)

  ADVERB: In a frenzied or feverish manner.

  frenzy

  (FREN-zee)

  NOUN: A state of extreme excitement or agitation.

  When it came time to move on to the dessert course, there was nearly a feeding FRENZY as the guests crowded around the table with the various tasty confections.

  full

  (fuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: A person or object that is filled to capacity.

  G

  galore

  (guh-LORE)

  ADJECTIVE: Describes something that is in abundance; plentiful.

  gamut

  (GAM-ut)

  NOUN: The entire range or extent.

  gargantuan

  (gahr-GAN-choo-uhn)

  ADJECTIVE: Gigantic; enormous.

  garner

  (GAR-nur)

  VERB: To receive or acquire.

  gas

  (gas)

  NOUN: An informal name for flatulence.

  gastric

  (GA-strik)

  ADJECTIVE: Of or relating to the stomach.

  gastronome

  (GAS-truh-nohm)

  NOUN: A connoisseur of fine food; gourmet.

  generous

  (JENN-er-uss)

  ADJECTIVE: Generous can describe a charitable, giving person; generous can also refer to something that is very large in size.

  Not one to resist, Michael made sure he received a very GENEROUS portion of the turkey as it was passed around the table.

  the gimmes

  (thuh GIM-eez)

  NOUN: The expectation or demand that others be charitable and giving toward someone; greedin
ess.

  girth

  (gerth)

  NOUN: The width or circumference of something; girth can also be a nicer word for fat.

  glob

  (glob)

  NOUN: A lump; a drop of liquid.

  globular

  (GLOB-yoo-lar)

  ADJECTIVE: In the shape of a globe; spherical.

  glut

  (gluht)

  VERB: To eat until one is satiated or to eat to excess.

  glutton

  (GLUHT-en)

  NOUN: One who eats or drinks excessively; glutton can also be used more broadly in reference to someone who does anything to excess, such as a glutton for punishment.

  gluttonous

  (GLUHT-en-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Eating or drinking to excess; insatiable.

  gnaw

  (naw)

  VERB: To bite or chew on something persistently.

  gobble

  (GOB-uhl)

  VERB: To eat something in a greedy, hurried manner; guzzle.

  gorge

  (gawrj)

  VERB: To eat to excess; devour.

  Even though she had eaten only a few hours before, Katherine did not give pause at the dinner table and proceeded to GORGE on everything offered.

  gormandize

  (GAWR-muhn-dahyz)

  VERB: To eat something in a greedy, gluttonous manner.

  gourmand

  (goor-MAHND)

  NOUN: One who loves food, so eats well and to excess.

  gourmet

  (goor-MEY)

  NOUN: An expert on fine food and drink.

  O gluttony, it is to thee we owe our griefs!

  —GEOFFREY CHAUCER

  gratuitous

  (gruh-TOO-ih-tuss)

  ADJECTIVE: Given or done free of charge.

  grease

  (grees)

  NOUN: Melted animal fat.

  greed

  (greed)

  NOUN: An intense desire to possess as much as possible.

  greediness

  (GREED-ee-nuhs)

  NOUN: Characterized by greed or gluttony.

  gulosity

  (gyoo-LOS-ih-tee)

  NOUN: Gluttony or greediness.

  gulp

  (guhlp)

  VERB: To swallow something quickly or hungrily.

  Drink after drink, Martin did not bother sipping or slowly drinking his favorite spirit; instead, he GULPED down the whiskey without a second thought.

  gusto

  (GUHS-toh)

  NOUN: Enthusiasm or hearty enjoyment.

  guttle

  (GUHT-l)

  VERB: To eat in a greedy manner; devour.

  guzzle

  (GUHZ-uhl)

  VERB: To drink something quickly or in abundance.

  A gourmet

  is just a glutton

  with brains.

  —PHILIP W. HABERMAN, JR.

  H

  hangover

  (HANG-oh-ver)

  NOUN: The aftereffect of indulging in drugs or alcohol, which is often marked by nausea, a headache, and general listlessness.

  It was a rather simple cycle that kept the drunkard anywhere from sober: Every morning when he woke up with a HANGOVER, he would reach for the nearest bottle in order to drink away the pain.

  hanker

  (HANG-ker)

  VERB: To have a persistent desire or longing for something.

  haute cuisine

  (oht kwee-ZEEN)

  NOUN: Gourmet cooking; haute cuisine can also refer to the art of food preparation.

  In order to enjoy HAUTE CUISINE, one must have a fairly expanded palate, as what’s trendy today will likely taste very different from whatever is in next week.

  heavy

  (HEV-ee)

  ADJECTIVE: Describes something that weighs a lot, including a person.

  hedonist

  (HEE-duh-nist)

  NOUN: A person who dedicates his or her life completely to the pursuit of pleasure.

  hefty

  (HEFF-tee)

  ADJECTIVE: Describes something that is large in size, weight, or amount—from a person to a sum of money; heavy to lift.

  high living

  (hahy LIV-ing)

  NOUN: Hedonism or self-indulgence.

  hog

  (hawg)

  VERB: To act in a greedy or selfish manner.

  holus-bolus

  (HOH-lus BOH-lus)

  ADVERB: All at once; altogether.

  The chief beginning of evil is goodness in excess.

  —MENANDER

  hunger

  (HUHNG-ger)

  NOUN: A need or want for something, including food; as a verb, it means to feel a need or want for something.

  hungry

  (HUHNG-gree)

  ADJECTIVE: Needing or wanting something, especially food.

  I

  ice cream

  (AHYS kreem)

  NOUN: A frozen dessert usually made from milk or cream and sugar, and flavored in various ways.

  icebox

  (AHYS-boks)

  NOUN: An insulated storage unit used to keep food and beverages cool.

  icing

  (AHY-sing)

  NOUN: A sugary spread used on cakes, cookies, and other baked goods; frosting.

  idle

  (AHYD-l)

  ADJECTIVE: Inactive; lazy.

  VERB: To do nothing; to sit around aimlessly.

  ill

  (il)

  NOUN: The state of feeling sick; unwell.

  imbibe

  (im-BIBE)

  VERB: To take something in or drink something, especially alcohol.

  immeasurable

  (ih-MEZH-er-uh-bull)

  ADJECTIVE: A quantity not able to be measured; vast.

  immense

  (ih-MENS)

  ADJECTIVE: Vast or huge; immeasurable or boundless.

  immoderation

  (ih-mod-uhr-AY-shun)

  NOUN: A lack of moderation; excess.

  incisor

  (in-SAHY-zer)

  NOUN: Any tooth meant for cutting or gnawing; humans have four at the front of their mouths.

  How easy for those who do not bulge to not overindulge!

  —OGDEN NASH

  indefatigable

  (in-duh-FAT-ih-guh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Unable to fatigue; untiring.

  indulgence

  (in-DUHL-juhns)

  NOUN: The act of indulging yourself or someone else; a luxury.

  For some it’s rich chocolate, others a fine wine, and some a thick-cut steak—everyone has their culinary INDULGENCE.

  inebriated

  (in-EE-bree-ate-ud)

  ADJECTIVE: Drunk or intoxicated.

  inexorable

  (in-EK-sur-uh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Unable to be moved or persuaded; unalterable.

  infinite

  (IN-fuh-nit)

  ADJECTIVE: Without any measurable limits or end; immeasurable.

  infuse

  (in-FYUZE)

  VERB: To fill or instill; to penetrate or soak.

  ingluvious

  (in-GLOO-vee-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Gluttonous.