Dionysiac
|di-o-ny-si-ac|
/ˌdaɪ.əˈnɪziæk/
ecstatic revelry
Etymology
'Dionysiac' originates from Latin 'Dionysiacus', ultimately from Greek 'Dionysiakos' (Διονυσιακός), where 'Dionys-' referred to the god 'Dionysus'.
'Dionysiakos' in Greek passed into Latin as 'Dionysiacus' (Medieval/Church Latin) and then into Middle English (e.g. forms like 'Dionisiac'/'Dionisiacus'), eventually becoming the modern English 'Dionysiac'.
Initially it meant 'pertaining to Dionysus or his festivals'; over time it also came to mean 'characterized by ecstatic, unrestrained revelry or sensual indulgence'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who participates in or embodies Dionysiac rites or unrestrained revelry; a devotee of ecstasy and sensual pleasure.
The novel's protagonist is portrayed as a Dionysiac who rejects social order in favor of ecstatic freedom.
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Adjective 1
relating to Dionysus (the Greek god) or to his rites and festivals.
The archaeologists discovered pottery decorated with Dionysiac imagery from the festival site.
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Adjective 2
characterized by wild, ecstatic, unrestrained revelry, emotion, or sensory indulgence.
The poet's later work is more Dionysiac, celebrating chaos and bodily passion.
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Last updated: 2025/10/07 19:54