Quaffen

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To drink a beverage, especially an alcoholic one, heartily or with enthusiasm; to consume liquids eagerly or in large quantities; to imbibe in a lively or spirited manner
2. To enjoy swallowing a drink with vigor and pleasure; to partake in drinking fluids abundantly; to guzzle or gulp refreshments in a spirited way
3. To swallow a drink quickly and with relish; to partake of liquids, notably alcoholic ones, in a joyful and copious fashion; to imbibe fervently and with zest

Etymology: "Quaffen" is an older form of "quaff," the verb for drinking deeply and heartily, usually with obvious enjoyment. Forms ending in "-en" were common in older English for participles and plurals, and this one reflects that older grammar rather than a separate word with its own meaning. Quaff's own origin is obscure. Dictionaries record it as an English verb without a firmly identified source in another language, so the earlier history of the word cannot be traced with confidence. What is clear is that from the start it carried the sense of gulping down a drink with pleasure, which is why it sits comfortably in poetry and older prose describing feasts and toasts.

Synonyms: drink, imbibe, swallow, gulp, consume

Antonyms: fast, abstain, refuse, reject, avoid