Bacchanalia

[ bak-uh-ney-lee-uh, -neyl-yuh ]

noun

, plural Bac·cha·na·li·a, Bac·cha·na·li·as.

1. (sometimes used with a plural verb) a festival in honor of Bacchus. Compare Dionysia.
2. (lowercase) a drunken feast; orgy.

bacchanalia

/ ˌbækəˈneɪlɪə /

plural noun

1. often capital orgiastic rites associated with Bacchus
2. any drunken revelry

Other Words From

• baccha·nali·an adjective noun
• baccha·nali·an·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bacchanalia¹

1625–35; < Latin equivalent to Bacch ( us ) + -ān ( us ) -an + -ālia, neuter plural of -ālis -al ¹; probably modeled on volcānālia. See Saturnalia

Related Words

• binge
• celebration
• orgy
• rampage