[ad. F. ébriété, f. L. ēbrietāt-em, f. ēbrius drunk.]
1. The state or habit of being intoxicated, drunkenness. † Also pl. instances of intoxication.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Gal. v. 21. The workes of the flesh … are, fornication … ebrieties, commessations, and such like.
1614. T. Adams, Devil’s Banquet, 42. The satietie of Epicurisme, the gallantnesse of Ebrietie.
1670. Maynwaring, Vita Sana, vi. 73. Ebriety may properly be said to be a Disease or sickness.
1758. Monthly Rev., 185. Some under the most extreme exigencies of poverty, will indulge in ebriety.
1783. W. F. Martyn, Geog. Mag., II. 144. His father’s unconquerable ebriety.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, xvi. 273. Our guide, to the garrulity of age added that of partial ebriety.
2. fig. Excitement, an excited condition.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 167, ¶ 6. The ebriety of constant amusement.
