Now rare. Forms: see SURFEIT v.; also 6 Sc. surfesting. [f. SURFEIT v. + -ING1.] = SURFEIT sb. 4, 5.
1526. Tindale, Luke xxi. 34. Take hede to youre selves, lest youre hertes be overcome, with surfettynge and dronkennes.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1539), 23. Some doo suppose, if they be eaten rawe with vyneger, before meate, it shall preserue the stomake from surfettynge.
1551. T. Wilson, Logic (1580), 38 b. If dronkennesse be deulishe, then surffectyng is deulishe.
1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 287. Surfesting of sundrie spyces.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. xvii. 257. They might eate much, without any feare of surfetting.
1632. trans. Bruel’s Praxis Med., 79. Such as are much addicted to surfettings … are subiect to the apoplexy.
1650. W. D., trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., § 823. Hee that is drunk … hath for his punishment surfetting (an heavie head).
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Grace before Meat. Gluttony and surfeiting are no proper occasions of thanksgiving.
