Bacchanalia
/ˌbækəˈneɪliə/noun
Wild, drunken revels or festivals marked by excess and uninhibited behavior.
Did you know?The Bacchanalia were so feared by Roman authorities that the Senate moved to restrict them in 186 BCE, making the word a symbol of dangerous ritual excess.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Βακχάνια (Bakkhánia)
“Festivals or rites of Bacchus/Dionysus”
Classical Latin
Latin
Bacchanalia
“Celebrations or secret rites of Bacchus”
Late Latin
Latin
bacchanalis
“Pertaining to Bacchus or his rites”
Middle English
English
bacchanal
“A reveler or participant in wild, drunken festivities”
Modern English
English
bacchanalia
“Wild, drunken revels or riotous festivities”