Binge

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /bɪnd͡ʒ/

Definitions

1. A period of unrestrained indulgence in an activity or consumption of something, typically done excessively and for an extended duration
2. A spell of excessive involvement in an activity or consumption, often marked by a disregard for moderation, particularly in contexts such as eating or viewing media
3. An episode characterized by excessive engagement in an activity or consumption, often occurring over an extended timeframe and lacking moderation

Etymology: The most striking thing about "binge" is that its earliest sense was practical rather than festive. In Leicestershire and Northamptonshire dialect, "binge" meant to swell a leaky wooden vessel, such as a tub or barrel, by soaking it in water until the staves expanded and sealed the gaps. Drinking deeply, soaking and drenching came out of that same watery idea, which is how the word moved toward its modern sense of overindulgence. Its ultimate origin is uncertain. One possibility is an inherited Old English verb, possibly related to a Proto-West Germanic root meaning "to press", and linked to a family of Germanic words for banging, bending or bowing. Another is that the dialect sense grew out of "beam", a dialect word for curing leaks in a barrel, which may itself derive from Old English "bēam", meaning "wood". Neither connection can be confirmed, so the word's deep history remains unsettled.

Synonyms: spree, feast, indulgence, session

Antonyms: abstinence, moderation