Quantcast
 
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

bacchanalian

 - 2 dictionary results

Bac⋅cha⋅na⋅li⋅a

  [bak-uh-ney-lee-uh, -neyl-yuh]
–noun, plural -li⋅a, -li⋅as.
1. (sometimes used with a plural verb) a festival in honor of Bacchus. Compare Dionysia.
2. (lowercase) a drunken feast; orgy.
Use bacchanalian in a Sentence
Origin:
1625–35; < L equiv. to Bacch(us) + -ān(us) -an + -ālia, neut. pl. of -ālis -al 1 ; prob. modeled on volcānālia. See Saturnalia

Related forms:
bac⋅cha⋅na⋅li⋅an, adjective, noun
bac⋅cha⋅na⋅li⋅an⋅ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To bacchanalian
Bac·cha·na·lia   (bāk'ə-nāl'yə, -nā'lē-ə)   
n.   pl. Bacchanalia

  1. The ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus.

  2. bacchanalia A riotous, boisterous, or drunken festivity; a revel.


[Latin Bacchānālia, from Bacchus, Bacchus, from Greek Bakkhos.]
Bac'cha·na'lian, bac'cha·na'lian adj. & n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see bacchanalian on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
ExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyThe Daily BeastUrbanspoonAsk AnswersBloglinesSendori