saturnalia

- 2 dictionary results

Sat⋅ur⋅na⋅li⋅a

[sat-er-ney-lee-uh, -neyl-yuh]

–noun, plural -li⋅a, -li⋅as.

1.	(sometimes used with a plural verb) the festival of Saturn, celebrated in December in ancient Rome as a time of unrestrained merrymaking.

2.	(lowercase) unrestrained revelry; orgy.

Origin:
1585–95; < L Sāturnālia, equiv. to Sāturn(us) Saturn + -ālia, neut. pl. of -ālis -al ¹

Related forms:

Sat⋅ur⋅na⋅li⋅an, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

sat·ur·na·li·a (sāt'ər-nā'lē-ə, -nāl'yə)

pl.n.

Saturnalia The ancient Roman seven-day festival of Saturn, which began on December 17.
(used with a sing. verb) A celebration marked by unrestrained revelry and often licentiousness; an orgy.

[Latin Sāturnālia, from neuter pl. of Sāturnālis, Saturnian, from Sāturnus, Saturn; see Saturn.]

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