saturnalian

comparative more saturnalian · superlative most saturnalian · alternative Saturnalian

1. Riotously merry; dissolute.

plural saturnalians · alternative Saturnalian

1. A merrymaker, a partygoer.

   Sophisticated saturnalians do not drive drunk. That is why chauffeurs were invented.

   1997 August, Beverly West, Kim Doi, “A Chauffeur, Cab Fare, or a Designated Driver”, in Cocktail Nation: Cosmic Cocktails, Space-Age Shots, and Other Rituals of Release for the Jaded and Refined, New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, →ISBN, chapter 1 (The Well-Stocked Bar), page 4

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   There were always certain delicious cakes and other sweets as well, curious conventual dainties, of which master and pupil partook with an equal and sympathetic appetite. If, by any evil chance, M. le Directeur came near them at that moment, the sight of his rigid scornful young face brought much confusion upon these innocent saturnalians, but for the most part they were undisturbed.

   1885, George Fleming [pseudonym; Julia Constance Fletcher], “Family Affairs”, in Andromeda. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley and Son, […], →OCLC, page 105

   There soon remained only ono day before that carnival of all sporting saturnalians, the Epsom Derby day, and Bindabun formed the prudent resolution to avoid any delays or crushings by putting Milky Way into a railway box, and despatching her to Epsom on the previous afternoon, under the chaperonago of Cadwallader Perkin, who was to engage suitable lodgings for her in the vicinity of the course.

   1900 November 14, Baboo Hurry Bungsho Jabberjee [pseudonym; Thomas Anstey Guthrie], “A Bayard from Bengal. […] Chapter X. Trust Her Not! She Is Fooling Thee!”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, volume CXIX, London: […] Brabury, Agnew, & Co. […], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 346, column 2

comparative more Saturnalian · superlative most Saturnalian

1. historicalOf or pertaining to Saturnalia.
2. Alternative letter-case form of saturnalian (“riotously merry; dissolute”).

plural Saturnalians

1. historicalOne celebrates or takes part in Saturnalia.

   Noëmus vino ſuccubuit ſemel, ejus vires fortè nondum expertus. Saturnalibus more receptum erat, multo mero ſe ingurgitare: & ebrietati Saturnus præerat.

   1747 [1658], [François-Antoine Pomey], translated by Andrew Tooke, “The Historical Sense of the Fable. By Saturn Is Meant Noah.”, in The Pantheon, Representing the Fabulous Histories of the Heathen Gods, and Most Illustrious Heroes; […], 16th edition, London: […] A[aron] Ward, S[amuel] Birt, C[harles] Hitch, C[harles] Bathurst, and M[ary] Cooper, →OCLC, part II, chapter I (Of the Terrestrial Deities), page 145

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   What masking, what mumming, what carding, what dicing, what gluttony, what drunkenneſs, what chambering, what wontonneſs, what turning nights into days, and days into nights! This Feaſt [i.e., Christmas] was occaſioned by thoſe most licentious Saturnalians, and they have indeed for many years become very like them, only worſe, and that not only by connivance of Authority; […]

   a. 1666, Robert Gell, “Notes and Observations upon Hebrews II. 14.”, in R[obert] Bacon, compiler, Gell’s Remaines: or, Several Select Scriptures of the New Testament Opened and Explained: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Brooke, […], published 1676, →OCLC, page 578

   This was a tenet of the antient hereticks; this branch of the myſtery of iniquity ſoon began to operate among them, and was held by them; by the Ebionites, who, as Epiphanius [of Salamis] ſays, magnified virginity, and by the Saturnalians, who ſaid, to marry and beget children was of the devil; […]

   a. 1772, John Gill, “A Dissertation Concerning the Rise and Progress of Popery”, in A Collection of Sermons and Tracts: […], volume II, London: […] George Keith […], published 1773, →OCLC, page 574

   No matter whether it is the women of Tammuz drying their eyes after weeping for Adonis, or east side children snatching oranges off a settlement Christmas tree, they have all echoed a universal, recurrent, perennial thrill—the thrill of a world glad again and of people glad together. And saying it together has brought good will to men. The Saturnalians made all men equal. The Provencals killed all enmities over their Yule Log. Peace on Earth was said in Rome when the gates of war were shut at the turn of every year.

   1920 December 25, “The Present Moment”, in Rose Young, editor, The Woman Citizen: A Weekly Chronicle of Progress, volume LI (Old Style) / V (New Style), number 30, New York, N.Y.: The Woman Citizen Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 813, column 1

   Storicamente il Carnevale presenta una continuità accertata con i Saturnalia: feste in onore di Saturno; lo stesso personaggio burlesco (Carnevale), che viene messo a morte pubblicamente dopo un periodo di dissipatezze, sembra discendere direttamente dal re dei Saturnali.

   2008 [2006], Silvia Malaguzzi, translated by Brian Phillips, “Carnival, a Festival of Food”, in Food and Feasting in Art, Los Angeles, Calif.: Getty Publications, →ISBN, page 109

2. Alternative letter-case form of saturnalian (“a merrymaker, a partygoer”).

   A salvo of pops shook the atmosphere momentarily as champagne bottles released their excitement into the air and their nectar fell onto the smiling lips of the newly arrived singing Saturnalians.

   2008, Eric Robert Morse, chapter 84, in Monaco: A Novel, United States: New Classic Books, →ISBN, part V (Such Great Heights), page 488

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   Christmas Eve, impatiently expected, was peeping over the brink of the hour. Millions had prepared for its celebration. Towns would be painted red. You, yourself, have heard the horns and dodged the capers of the Saturnalians.

   1906 December, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “Compliments of the Season”, in Ainslee’s […], volume XVIII, number 5, New York, N.Y.: Ainslee Magazine Co., →OCLC, page 133, column 2

   The howling of drunken wedding-guests, the fluttering of ribbons, the stampede of frightened horses, the breaking of glasses, the dancing on the edge of bloody, atrocious crime, all this should roll across the picture like a moving, swollen ocean, and above it all […] clouds of drunken Saturnalians who devour their own flesh, and have turned their stinking backs on all that is star-like above us, and everything reeks and smokes and flings itself into the abyss!

   1959, Miroslav Krleža, translated by Zora G. Depolo, The Return of Philip Latinovicz (Modern Yugoslav Novels), London: Lincolns-Praeger, →ISBN, pages 156–157