Bacchanalia

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • n bacchanalia a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
    • n Bacchanalia an orgiastic festival in ancient Greece in honor of Dionysus (= Bacchus)
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • Bacchanalia (Myth) A feast or an orgy in honor of Bacchus.
    • Bacchanalia Hence: A drunken feast; drunken revels; an orgy.
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • Bacchanalia [capitalized] In Roman antiquity, a festival in honor of Bacchus. These festivals became the occasion of great excesses, and were forbidden by the senate in 186 b. c. Any festivities characterized by jollity and good-fellowship, particularly if somewhat boisterous, and accompanied by much wine-drinking.
    • Bacchanalia Drunken orgies; riotous disorders; ruthless and shameless excesses; unbounded license.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • ns.pl Bacchanalia originally feasts in honour of Bacchus: drunken revels
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Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. Bacchanal, a place devoted to Bacchus; in the pl. Bacchanalia, a feast of Bacchus, fr. Bacchus, the god of wine, Gr. Ba`kchos
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
L. Bacchanalis, Bacchus, Gr. Bacchos, the god of wine.

Usage

In literature:

Was it a bacchanalia?
"Les Misérables Complete in Five Volumes" by Victor Hugo
It is the next wave of aid, which is the main course in this bacchanalia.
"After the Rain" by Sam Vaknin
Qui Curios simulant et Bacchanalia vivunt.
"The Anatomy of Melancholy" by Democritus Junior
BACCHANALIA, a festival, originally of a loose and riotous character, in honour of Bacchus.
"The Nuttall Encyclopaedia" by Edited by Rev. James Wood
Qui curios simulant, et Bacchanalia vivunt.
"Continental Monthly, Vol. I. February, 1862, No. II." by Various
The Bacchanalia, for example, and other festivals, were established long after the fabulous events to which they refer.
"Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2)" by John Roby
Hence, the expression "Bacchanalia" Carnival.
"The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume XVII, 1609-1616" by Various
Each of the guests made verses on the occasion, in imitation of the Bacchanalia of the ancients.
"Curiosities of Literature, Vol. II (of 3)" by Isaac Disraeli
The sights below were out of a ghoul's bacchanalia.
"The Sky Is Falling" by Lester del Rey
With the first streak of dawn the nocturnal Bacchanalia ceased.
"Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force" by Percy F. Westerman
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In poetry:

The Bacchanalia of the sap now reigns!
Priapic fires burn yonder bough with blooms!
Lo, goat-songs warbled from the vineyard fanes!
Lo, Venus-nipples in the apple-glooms!
"The Poet's Advice" by John Gneisenau Neihardt

In news:

Q&A with David A Carson, Chef de Cuisine of Bacchanalia .
winemag.com
In the midst of Atlanta's decimated fine-dining terrain, Bacchanalia , sturdy in its converted Westside meatpacking plant, reigns as monarch.
atlantamagazine.com
As our country prepares to celebrate its independence with the annual fireworks and barbecue bacchanalia, multiple TV stations are reveling in their own independence as well.
broadcastingcable.com
Last night's Capital Food Fight charity event apparently turned into an twisted foodie bacchanalia, with diners feasting on a slaughtered iguana for $1,000 a chew.
washingtoncitypaper.com
Wine tasting becomes a team sport at the first annual Bacchanalia on Thursday, February 2.
nola.com
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Related words