bacchical
|bac-chi-cal|
/ˈbækɪkəl/
of Bacchus; drunken, orgiastic
Etymology
'bacchical' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'bacchicus', where 'Bacch-' referred to the god Bacchus (Dionysus) and the suffix '-icus' meant 'of or pertaining to'.
'bacchical' changed from the Greek word 'bakchikos' (βακχικός) into Latin 'bacchicus' and then entered English usage via Medieval/Modern Latin and scholarly English as 'bacchical'.
Initially, it meant 'of or pertaining to Bacchus or his cult'; over time it also came to denote 'characterized by drunken revelry or orgiastic celebration', a broader figurative sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to Bacchus (the Roman god of wine, equivalent to the Greek Dionysus); pertaining to the rites, imagery, or cult of Bacchus.
The fresco contained bacchical figures and symbols drawn from classical mythology.
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Adjective 2
characterized by drunken revelry, orgiastic or riotous festivities; given to excessive drinking and uninhibited celebration.
The critics described the party scenes as bacchical, full of noise, wine, and debauchery.
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Last updated: 2025/12/24 17:22