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bacchanal - 5 dictionary results

bac⋅cha⋅nal

  [n. bah-kuh-nahl, bak-uh-nal, bak-uh-nl; adj. bak-uh-nl]
Use bacchanal in a Sentence
–noun
1. a follower of Bacchus.
2. a drunken reveler.
3. an occasion of drunken revelry; orgy; bacchanalia.
–adjective
4. pertaining to Bacchus; bacchanalian.
Origin:
1530–40; < L Bacchānāl, equiv. to Bacch(us) + -ānāl, prob. as back formation from Bacchānālia; see Bacchanalia

Synonyms:
3. saturnalia, debauch, spree, carousal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bacchanal
bac·cha·nal   (bāk'ə-nāl', -näl', bāk'ə-nəl)   
n.  
  1. A participant in the Bacchanalia.
  2. The Bacchanalia. Often used in the plural.
  3. A drunken or riotous celebration.
  4. A reveler.
adj.  Of, relating to, or typical of the worship of Bacchus.

[From Latin Bacchānālia, Bacchanalia; see Bacchanalia.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Bacchanal

Bac"cha*nal\, a. [L. Bacchanalis. See Bacchanalia.]

1. Relating to Bacchus or his festival.

2. Engaged in drunken revels; drunken and riotous or noisy.

Bacchanal

Bac"cha*nal\, n. 1. A devotee of Bacchus; one who indulges in drunken revels; one who is noisy and riotous when intoxicated; a carouser. "Tipsy bacchanals." --Shak.

2. pl. The festival of Bacchus; the bacchanalia.

3. Drunken revelry; an orgy.

4. A song or dance in honor of Bacchus.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Bacchanal 
1536, from L. bacchanalis "having to do with Bacchus" (Gk. Bakkhos), god of wine and revelry. His name is perhaps related to L. bacca "berry." Meaning "riotous, drunken roistering; orgy" is from 1711; Bacchanalia in this sense is from 1633, from the name of the Roman festival held in honor of Bacchus. Bacchae "female attendants of Bacchus" is from Gk. Bakkhai, pl. of Bakkhe.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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