Bacchanalia

[ bak-uh-ney-lee-uh, -neyl-yuh ]
/ ˌbæk əˈneɪ li ə, -ˈneɪl yə /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR Bacchanalia ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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

Origin of Bacchanalia

1625–35; < Latin equivalent to Bacch(us) + -ān(us) -an + -ālia, neuter plural of -ālis -al1; probably modeled on volcānālia. See Saturnalia

OTHER WORDS FROM Bacchanalia

bac·cha·na·li·an, adjective, noun bac·cha·na·li·an·ism, noun

Words related to bacchanalian

souse, bacchanal, soak, alcoholic, tippler, stiff, lush, inebriate, boozer, wino, drinker, sponge, sot, debauchee, carouser, toper, dipsomaniac, ranter, merrymaker, bacchant

British Dictionary definitions for bacchanalian (1 of 2)

bacchanalian
/ (ˌbækəˈneɪlɪən) /

adjective

characterized by or involving drunken revelry
(often capital) of or relating to the orgiastic rites associated with Bacchus

British Dictionary definitions for bacchanalian (2 of 2)

bacchanalia
/ (ˌbækəˈneɪlɪə) /

pl n

(often capital) orgiastic rites associated with Bacchus
any drunken revelry