Omnibibulous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting an insatiable thirst for various types of beverages, particularly alcohol; demonstrating an eagerness to consume a wide range of drinks indiscriminately; being characterized by a tendency to enjoy all types of liquids without preference
2. Having an all-encompassing desire for different kinds of drinks, especially intoxicating ones; displaying a proclivity for sampling many different beverages; representing a voracious appetite for liquids of all sorts
3. Possessing an unquenchable craving for an array of fluids, notably alcoholic beverages; revealing a habit of indulging in diverse drink options without discrimination; embodying a passion for all types of drinkable substances

Etymology: "Omnibibulous" is a deliberately playful coinage: it combines the Latin prefix "omni-", meaning "all", with "bibulous", an English adjective meaning fond of drinking. "Bibulous" itself comes from the Latin "bibere", "to drink", which also gave English words such as "imbibe". Put together, the result jokingly describes someone who will drink anything at all. The joke lies in the pairing. "Bibulous" is a fairly formal, slightly old-fashioned word for a liking for alcohol, and attaching "omni-" to it turns a sober description into an exaggerated, mock-learned boast. The construction follows the pattern of classical-sounding compounds that English writers have long used for wit, which is why the word reads as more elaborate than its parts suggest.