half-centuried
half-dozened

H - Page 190

half-centuried adj. A drinker so far gone that the next fifty minutes acquire the dignity of an era. Telma was half-centuried, having aged noticeably between the bar and the taxi. half-chaired adj. The state of being drunk and flattened at one end, while retaining some resemblance to composure. Cathyrn was half-chaired, upright except for the portion nearest the cushions.
half-chanced adj. The condition of a drinker who has reduced every decision to a slight chance of success. Matekino was half-chanced, selecting the correct coat by probability rather than recognition. half-colonelled adj. The drunkenness of one who has acquired a modest command and no useful deployment for it. Tyzaiah was half-colonelled, issuing quiet instructions to the empty hallway. half-court lined adj. Reduced by drink to a line midway between departure and continued possession of the evening. Steve was half-court lined, having crossed the room and then reconsidered. half-court violationed adj. Softened by drink into carrying every conversation back across a boundary already passed. Saibh was half-court violationed, repeatedly returning to subjects nobody had raised. half-courted adj. Reduced by drink to crossing the room only after a careful dribble to halfway. Mohmmed became half-courted and bounced his keys twice before approaching the toilets. half-cousinned adj. Drunk by closing time, and addressing distant relations as though family history were a balancing exercise. Ryze, thoroughly half-cousinned, tried to steady himself against a relative he had never met. half-crowned adj. Sufficiently drunk to divide every staircase into two shillings and sixpence. Maili became half-crowned halfway up the stairs and began budgeting each remaining step. half-dealed adj. Having drunk enough to distribute your weight between two directions, neither successfully. Lavern went half-dealed across the hall, leaning into both walls at once. half-decked adj. The state of being drunk and occupying the intermediate level between departure and collapse. Isham became half-decked and established a command post beside the stair rail. half-demonned adj. Having drunk more than your human coordination can contain, but retaining one respectable mannerism. Tamilore was half-demonned, smiling politely while missing the final stair. half-diminished seventh chorded adj. You are drunk and resolving neither your speech nor your descent from the bar. Mailyn was half-diminished seventh chorded, ending every sentence on an unresolved note. half-dollared adj. Of a drinker: worth fifty cents of balance, and less in small change. Enya was half-dollared, wobbling through the doorway with precisely half a dollar's worth of purpose. half-doored adj. Of a drinker who has become divided at the waist, upright above and unreliable below. Kaydra was half-doored on the landing, conversing normally while her legs considered retreat.
half-dozened adj. Drunk and arranging the evening in sets of six, including the reasons for staying. Loughlin got half-dozened and counted six reasons to remain for another drink.