- maenad
- \ \ see MANIA
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
maenad
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Maenad — M[ae] nad, n. [L. Maenas, adis, Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? to rave.] 1. A Bacchante; a priestess or votary of Bacchus. [1913 Webster] 2. A frantic or frenzied woman. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
maenad — (n.) Bacchante, 1570s, from Gk. mainas (gen. mainados) priestess of Bacchus, lit. madwoman, from stem of mainesthai to rage, go mad (see MANIA (Cf. mania)) … Etymology dictionary
maenad — ► NOUN ▪ (in ancient Greece) a female follower of the god Bacchus, traditionally associated with frenzied rites. ORIGIN Greek Mainas, from mainesthai to rave … English terms dictionary
maenad — [mē′nad΄] n. [L Maenas (gen. Maenadis) < Gr mainas (gen. mainados) < mainesthai, to rave < IE * mnā , var. of base * men , to think > MIND] 1. [often M ] a female votary of Dionysus, who took part in the wild, orgiastic rites that… … English World dictionary
Maenad — Bacchae redirects here. For the tragedy by Euripides, see The Bacchae. Bassarids redirects here. For the opera by Hans Werner Henze, see The Bassarids. Furious Maenad,carrying a thyrsus and a panther,with a snake rolled up over her head.Tondo of… … Wikipedia
maenad — noun Etymology: Latin maenad , maenas, from Greek mainad , mainas, from mainesthai to be mad; akin to Greek menos spirit more at mind Date: 1579 1. bacchante 2. an unnaturally excited or distraught woman • maenadic adjective … New Collegiate Dictionary
maenad — maenadic, adj. maenadism, n. /mee nad/, n. 1. bacchante. 2. a frenzied or raging woman. [1570 80; < L Maenad (s. of Maenas) < Gk Mainás a bacchante, special use of mainás madwoman] * * * … Universalium
maenad — mae•nad [[t]ˈmi næd[/t]] n. 1) myt bacchante 2) a frenzied or raging woman • Etymology: 1570–80; < L Maenad (s. of Maenas) < Gk Mainás a bacchante, lit., madwoman mae•nad′ic, adj. mae′nad•ism, n … From formal English to slang
maenad — n. 1 a bacchante. 2 a frenzied woman. Derivatives: maenadic adj. Etymology: L Maenas Maenad f. Gk Mainas ados f. mainomai rave … Useful english dictionary
maenad — noun /ˈmi.næd/ a) A female follower of Dionysus, associated with intense reveling. b) An excessively wild or emotional woman … Wiktionary
maenad — see MANIA … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
