Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Bacchanalian — Bac cha*na li*an (b[a^]k k[.a]*n[=a] l[i^]*an; 106), a. Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus; relating to or given to reveling and drunkenness. [1913 Webster] Even bacchanalian madness has its charms. Cowper. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Bacchanalian — Bac cha*na li*an, n. A bacchanal; a drunken reveler. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bacchanalian — (adj.) 1560s; see BACCHANALIA (Cf. bacchanalia) + AN (Cf. an). As a noun from 1610s … Etymology dictionary
bacchanalian — bac|cha|na|li|an Bacchanalian [ˌbækəˈneıliən] adj literary [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: bacchanalis of Bacchus ] a bacchanalian party involves a lot of alcohol, sex, and uncontrolled behaviour ▪ a bacchanalian orgy … Dictionary of contemporary English
bacchanalian — adjective literary a bacchanalian party, celebration etc involves alcohol, sex, and uncontrolled behaviour: a bacchanalian orgy … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
bacchanalian — See Bacchanalian. * * * … Universalium
Bacchanalian — 1. adjective Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus; relating to or given to reveling and drunkenness. Even bacchanalian madness has its charms. 2. noun A bacchanal; a drunken reveler … Wiktionary
bacchanalian — bac|cha|na|li|an [ ,bækə neıliən ] adjective FORMAL a bacchanalian party involves noisy and uncontrolled enjoyment and usually a lot of alcohol or sex … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
bacchanalian — drunken Literally, anything to do with Bacchus, or Dionysus, who was the god of wine and debauchery: Burgess fell from grace at the Foreign Office as a result of another bacchanalian holiday trip. (Boyle, 1979 the authorities were less… … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
bacchanalian — UK [ˌbækəˈneɪlɪən] / US adjective formal a bacchanalian party involves noisy and uncontrolled enjoyment and usually a lot of alcohol or sex … English dictionary
bacchanalian — adjective used of riotously drunken merrymaking a night of bacchanalian revelry carousing bands of drunken soldiers orgiastic festivity • Syn: ↑bacchanal, ↑bacchic, ↑carousing, ↑orgiastic … Useful english dictionary
