People who habitually consume excessive amounts of alcohol; chronic alcoholics.
From 'drunk' (Old English 'druncen,' past participle of 'drincan') plus the suffix '-ard' (from Old French, indicating someone characterized by a particular trait). The '-ard' suffix often carries pejorative connotations, as in 'coward' or 'bastard.' First recorded in the 14th century.
The '-ard' suffix in 'drunkard' is the same ending found in 'wizard' and 'leopard,' though it carries more negative implications when attached to behavioral terms. Interestingly, this word reflects historical attitudes toward alcohol consumption, when heavy drinking was seen as a moral failing rather than a medical condition requiring treatment.
Historically, the term 'drunkard' (especially female) carried moral stigma tied to women's sexual propriety; male drinking was tolerated as weakness, female drinking coded as moral corruption and sexual availability.
Use clinical terms like 'people with alcohol use disorder' or 'people struggling with alcohol addiction' to separate medical reality from gendered moral judgment.
["person with alcohol use disorder","person struggling with addiction","person with substance dependence"]
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