bacchanal

• Bacchanal

From Latin Bacchānālis (“of or pertaining to Bacchus”). See Bacchanalia.

• IPA^(key): /ˈbækənəl/

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bacchanal (comparative more bacchanal, superlative most bacchanal)

1. Relating to Bacchus or his festival.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I:

     Sweet is the vintage, when the showering grapes / In Bacchanal profusion reel to earth, / Purple and gushing […]

2. Engaged in drunken revels; drunken and riotous or noisy.

bacchanal (plural bacchanals)

1. A devotee of Bacchus.
2. Someone who indulges in drunken partying; someone noisy and riotous when intoxicated.
   • 1623, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

     The riot of the tipsie Bachanals

3. (in the plural) The festival of Bacchus; the bacchanalia.
4. Drunken revelry; an orgy.
5. A song or a dance in honor of Bacchus.

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bacchanal m (plural bacchanals)

1. A loud, annoying noise
2. A revolt amongst the peasantry