How to Memorize

surfeit - excess

Analysis

A ‘surfeit’ of something is an overabundance of it. Even though having too much of something can be a good thing in some cases, this word tends to be used only when the result is a negative one. For example, in the case of food, the term is associated with consuming too much of something to the point that you feel physically sick.

Example(s)

1. We have a surfeit of candidates for the job. There’s no way we will have time to interview all of them.

2. There was a surfeit of food at the banquet, and I ate so much that I made myself feel sick!

3. It’s hard to come to a swift conclusion when there is such a surfeit of information that needs sifting through.