saturnalia

2 definitions found

saturnalia - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Saturnalia \Sat`ur*na"li*a\, n. pl. [L. See Saturn.]
     1. (Rom. Antiq.) The festival of Saturn, celebrated in
        December, originally during one day, but afterward during
        seven days, as a period of unrestrained license and
        merriment for all classes, extending even to the slaves.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence: A period or occasion of general license, in which
        the passions or vices have riotous indulgence.
        [1913 Webster]

saturnalia - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Saturnalia
      n 1: an orgiastic festival in ancient Rome in honor of Saturn
      2: a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
         [syn: orgy, debauch, debauchery, saturnalia, riot,
         bacchanal, bacchanalia, drunken revelry]