What does crapulously mean?
"Crapulously" is a rare adverb describing behaviour characterised by excessive eating and drinking — acting gluttonously, intemperately, or drunkenly. It derives from the adjective "crapulous," which English borrowed via Late Latin "crapulosus" from Latin "crapula," meaning intoxication or the sickness that follows it. The word belongs to an obscure corner of the lexicon alongside its relatives "crapulent" and "crapulence," terms for surfeit and its unpleasant aftermath. In use, "crapulously" is almost always mildly pejorative, evoking a lack of moderation and a degree of self-indulgence bordering on the comic. It appears chiefly in formal, literary, or wittily archaic prose — one might describe a character as having lived "crapulously" through an inheritance, for instance. Though seldom heard in conversation, it rewards writers seeking a precise, colourful alternative to more common terms like "gluttonously" or "excessively."
adverbIn a manner marked by excessive eating and drinking; drunkenly or gluttonously.
- In a gluttonous or intemperate manner, especially relating to excessive eating or drinking.
- Drunkenly; while or as if intoxicated.
"He lived crapulously for a decade before illness forced him to change his habits."
"The banquet guests feasted so crapulously that several had to be carried home."
"Having spent crapulously through his inheritance, he faced middle age with empty pockets."
"Crapulous" hangovers were real enough that the ancient Romans gave them their own word — and "crapulously" is what you were doing the night before.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crapulously
"Crapulously" derives from "crapulous," which entered English in the early modern period from Late Latin "crapulosus," itself formed on Latin "crapula" — intoxication, or the headache following heavy drinking — ultimately traced to Greek "kraipalē." The adverb was formed by adding the regular "-ly" suffix to the adjective. Its closest relatives in English are the noun "crapulence" (excessive drinking or its resulting sickness) and the adjective "crapulent," all sharing the same classical root.
Related word forms
How crapulously is actually used
A rare, literary, and somewhat humorous word, drawn from Latinate vocabulary. It carries a mildly pejorative connotation of self-indulgence and is most often encountered in formal or deliberately ornate prose rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with crapulously
Scrupulously means with great care and moral conscientiousness, while crapulously means with gluttonous excess — nearly opposite in meaning despite their similar sound.