Set 166 · Study 1 / 5

Exit

bacchanalian

adjective/ˌbækəˈneɪljən/

definition

characterized by or given to drunken revelry or festive celebration

example

The party descended into a bacchanalian frenzy, with guests dancing and drinking late into the night.

synonyms
festivedrunkenrevelrous
word origin — The word 'bacchanalian' originates from the Roman festival of Bacchanalia, which was dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry.

bacchanalian, ornithophilous, sanctimonious, eburnean, lacustrine: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 166. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. bacchanalian · adjective/ˌbækəˈneɪljən/

    characterized by or given to drunken revelry or festive celebration

    The party descended into a bacchanalian frenzy, with guests dancing and drinking late into the night.

    Synonyms: festive, drunken, revelrous

    Origin: The word 'bacchanalian' originates from the Roman festival of Bacchanalia, which was dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry.

  2. ornithophilous · adjective/ɔrnəˈθəfələs/

    attracted to or pollinated by birds

    The brightly colored flowers in the tropical rainforest are often ornithophilous, attracting a variety of bird species for pollination.

    Synonyms: bird-pollinated, bird-attracting

    Origin: Derived from the Greek words 'ornitho-' meaning 'bird' and 'philos' meaning 'loving' or 'attracted to'.

  3. sanctimonious · adjective/ˌsæŋk.təˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

    making a show of being morally superior to other people

    His sanctimonious attitude during the debate annoyed many, as he constantly acted like he held the moral high ground.

    Synonyms: self-righteous, holier-than-thou, pious

    Origin: The word 'sanctimonious' originated in the mid-17th century from the Latin word 'sanctimonia' meaning 'holiness', combined with the suffix '-ous' which indicates possessing the quality of.

  4. eburnean · adjective/ˌiː.bɜrˈni.ən/

    resembling ivory in color or texture

    The artist chose an eburnean palette to capture the delicate beauty of the wedding dress, highlighting its elegance and purity.

    Synonyms: ivory, alabaster, pearly

    Origin: Derived from the Latin 'eburneus', meaning 'ivory', which comes from 'ebur', meaning 'ivory'.

  5. lacustrine · adjective/ləˈkʌstrɪn/

    relating to or growing in a lake

    The researchers studied the lacustrine ecosystems to understand the unique biodiversity found within the lake.

    Synonyms: limnetic, lake-dwelling, aquatic

    Origin: derived from the Latin word 'lacus' meaning 'lake'