Druncard

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who regularly drinks alcohol to excess and is often affected by it, especially someone who is frequently intoxicated
2. Someone who habitually consumes too much alcohol and becomes intoxicated on a regular basis
3. A habitual heavy drinker whose frequent intoxication is a recognized problem in their life

Etymology: "Druncard" is a misspelling of "drunkard," so this covers the standard form. The ending "-ard" came into English from Old French, where it often gave a person a habitual characteristic, usually with a disapproving edge. English words such as "coward," "sluggard," and "wizard" share the ending, and its exact Germanic origin is debated. The first part, "drunk," is an old past participle of "drink." Old English had "drincan" with the past participle "druncen," which later shortened to "drunk" and came to be used as an adjective. Adding "-ard" to that adjective produced a noun for someone defined by the habit of drunkenness. The parts make the meaning plain.

Synonyms: drunkard, sot, lush, inebriate, drunk

Antonyms: teetotaler, abstainer