Friday word: Wassail

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Wishing everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful weekend to everyone who does not :)
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Wassail [wah-SEYL]

(n.)

- A spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve.

- A hot drink that is made with wine, beer, or cider, spices, sugar, and usually baked apples and is traditionally served in a large bowl especially at Christmastime.

- Lively and noisy festivities involving the drinking of plentiful amounts of alcohol; revelry.

(v.)

- To drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.

- To go from house to house at Christmas singing carols.

From Middle English “wæs hæil,” “wæs hāl,” “was-hail,” or “washayl” (be hale or whole) from Old English “wæs,” “wes” from imperative “wesan” (to be) + “hail” or “hale” (in good health) from Old Norse “heill”

Used in a sentence:

“Excessive wassailing is strongly discouraged, as it can lead to imprudent behavior and surrendering to cacoethes.”

(Credit: Grandiloquent Word of the Day)