bacchanal

American  

[bah-kuh-nahl, bak-uh-nal, bak-uh-nl, bak-uh-nl] / ˌbɑ kəˈnɑl, ˌbæk əˈnæl, ˈbæk ə nl, ˈbæk ə nl /

noun

1. a follower of Bacchus.

2. a drunken reveler.

3. an occasion of drunken revelry; orgy; bacchanalia.

   Synonyms:

   carousal, spree, debauch, saturnalia

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adjective

1. pertaining to Bacchus; bacchanalian.

bacchanal British  

/ ˈbækənəl /

noun

1. a follower of Bacchus

2. a drunken and riotous celebration

3. a participant in such a celebration; reveller

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adjective

1. of or relating to Bacchus

Etymology

Origin of bacchanal

1530–40; < Latin Bacchānāl, equivalent to Bacch ( us ) + -ānāl, probably as back formation from Bacchānālia; see Bacchanalia

Explanation

A bacchanal is a crazed party with drunken revelry, ecstatic sexual experimentation, and wild music. In a nutshell, it is "sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll." Bacchus was the Roman god of wine, which loosened the chains of social restraints; and so, the name of Bacchantes’ hedonistic, pleasure-filled gatherings were named bacchanals. Who might be a modern-day Bacchus? Elvis Presley had bacchanalian charisma. Now, this bit of trivia might impress your friends: the song we know as the Can-Can is titled "Bacchanale," from the opera Orpheus in the Underworld – that’s one hot steaming club jam going on down in Hades!

Example Sentences

Shange began developing “For Colored Girls” in 1974 while living in the Bay Area, and performed it with the dancer Paula Moss at a bar called the Bacchanal.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2022

Bacchanal Carnival would seem to be a welcoming place for Eliza Meeks, who swiftly proves the worth of her telepathic sway over animals by rescuing the alligator wrestler from a grisly death.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 8, 2021

Buffets might cost more than you remember, but they’re probably better than you remember, too, with shelf after shelf of foodie-worthy choices at places like Bacchanal at Caesars Palace and Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan.

From Washington Times • Apr. 16, 2015

The final painting, "Bacchanal," provides an interesting challenge for a conductor.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2014

Ed Symes obviously had enough pull to get his sister invited to the Bacchanal.

From Pagan Passions by Stanley, Robert