Gluttoness

/ˈɡlʌtənəs/ noun

Definition

A female glutton; a woman who eats excessively.

Etymology

From 'glutton' plus the feminine suffix '-ess' (from Old French '-esse' and Latin '-issa'), used to create female versions of nouns. This follows the same pattern as 'actress,' 'princess,' and 'lioness.'

Kelly Says

The '-ess' suffix is becoming rarer in modern English as we prefer gender-neutral terms, but historically languages always needed ways to mark feminine versions—notice how animal names like 'tiger/tigress' still preserve this ancient pattern.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

'-ess' suffix feminizes 'glutton', a gendered noun formation marking female agents. This follows historical patterns where female versions of occupational or behavioral terms were explicitly marked, implying maleness as default.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'glutton' for all people regardless of gender. If describing women specifically, contextualize as needed without feminine suffix. The -ess marker reinforces binary gendering that modern usage has moved beyond.

Inclusive Alternatives

["glutton","gluttonous person"]

Related Words

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