Meanings
plural devivals
- In the Church of the SubGenius parody religion, an event including sermons, music, etc.
In 1985, a "devival meeting" at the Stone Bar in San Francisco's North Beach section came to the unwelcome attention of the police.
1987, William A. Marsano, Man suffocated by potatoes, page 1863 more examples
"Devivals" include ranting preachers, "anti-music" (much like the post-punk "industrial music" genre pioneered by Mail Artist Genesis P-Orridge and his former band Throbbing Gristle) and, behind the scenes, much drug use.
1994, Bob Black, Beneath the underground, page 180"As far as Sideshow acts go, I've done fire and glass. I opened for Henry Rollins and I usually perform at local Sub-Genius Devivals. I also do the Human Pincushion."
1998, Jan T. Gregor, Tim Cridland, Circus of the scars, page 10The “Rapture” of orthodox Christian faith is replaced by the “Rupture,” revivals are replaced by “devivals,” and so on. SubGenii gather to rant about the world and everything in it, as they waited for the coming of the Aliens on X-Day, 4 July 1998 […]
2003, Peter Knight, Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia, page 170
Origin
Cite this entry
devival. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devival
“devival.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devival. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “devival,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/devival.
Source: devival on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.