Alcohol- and Caffeine-Beverage Consumption: Causes Other Than Water Deficit

Abstract

Thirst is an ancient word of unchanged meaning. The thyrste and thurste of ninth-century Old English are recognizable; the contemporary Durst of German, dorst of Dutch, and torst of Scandinavian languages suggest an even older common root. Thirst is without synonyms in its literal sense. In popular use it refers to the desire to drink. Metaphorically, thirst is one of many words for craving. It was used in this way in the ninth century. (A thirst for knowledge and a hunger for knowledge are not quite synonymous; the former denotes an eager desire, the latter a compelling desire.)