festal

[ fes-tl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or befitting a feast, festival, holiday, or gala occasion.

festal

/ ˈfɛstəl /

adjective

1. another word for festive

Derived Forms

• ˈfestally, adverb

Other Words From

• festal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of festal¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin fēst(um) feast + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of festal¹

C15: from Latin festum holiday, banquet; see feast

Example Sentences

Rather than succumbing to despair and too much eggnog, theater companies have instead turned to performance capture, audio drama, livestream, green screen, shadow puppets and virtual reality to deliver festal entertainment.

From New York Times

A federal judge has since granted a temporary restraining order on the festal heartbeat ban, arguing that he was “bound by the Supreme Court holdings prohibiting undue burdens on the availability of pre-viability abortions.”

From Washington Times

He rode down to Niflheim, the world of the dead, where he found the dwelling of Hela, or Hel, the Goddess of the Dead, all decked out in festal array.

From Literature

It was an uneventful, though positive, return after a festal prelude, which included the mariachi band giving a second performance while Washington took batting practice.

From Washington Post

Celebrate the birth of Christ at this festal liturgy with special music and an extended, candlelit prelude of seasonal organ music, choral anthems and congregational carols that begins at 10 p.m.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• cheery
• chipper
• convivial
• gala
• happy
• hearty
• jovial
• joyful
• joyous
• jubilant
• lighthearted
• merry
• peppy
• upbeat