Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

festal

[fes-tl]
See more synonyms for festal on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. pertaining to or befitting a feast, festival, holiday, or gala occasion.
Show More

Origin of festal

1470–80; < Latin fēst(um) feast + -al1
Related formsfes·tal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for festal

Historical Examples

  • It might well be built, like a festal bower or arch, to entertain him a single day.

    Essays, First Series

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • He was too inspired with festal intoxication to observe her agitation.

    The Strollers

    Frederic S. Isham

  • It looked deserted, in fact, festal and overlighted, but cheerful.

    The Arrow of Gold

    Joseph Conrad

  • Who ever heard of the festal oxen being tied to a cart's tail?

  • All festal occasions in Circassian life are enlivened by the presence of the minstrel.

    Life of Schamyl

    John Milton Mackie

British Dictionary definitions for festal

festal

adjective
  1. another word for festive
Show More
Derived Formsfestally, adverb

Word Origin

C15: from Latin festum holiday, banquet; see feast
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for festal

adj.

late 15c., from Middle French festal, from Late Latin festalis, from Latin festum "feast" (see feast (n.)).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper