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Saturnalia

Syllabification: (Sat·ur·na·li·a)
Pronunciation: /ˌsatərˈnālēə, -nālyə/

Definition of Saturnalia

noun

[treated as singular or plural]
  • the ancient Roman festival of Saturn in December, which was a period of general merrymaking and was the predecessor of Christmas.
  • (saturnalia) an occasion of wild revelry.

Derivatives

saturnalian

adjective

Origin:

Latin, literally 'matters relating to Saturn', neuter plural of Saturnalis

Saturnalia in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of Saturnalia in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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