maenad

maenad
maenad (n.) "Bacchante," 1570s, from Gk. mainas (gen. mainados) "priestess of Bacchus," lit. "madwoman," from stem of mainesthai "to rage, go mad" (see MANIA (Cf. mania)).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Maenad — M[ae] nad, n. [L. Maenas, adis, Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? to rave.] 1. A Bacchante; a priestess or votary of Bacchus. [1913 Webster] 2. A frantic or frenzied woman. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maenad — ► NOUN ▪ (in ancient Greece) a female follower of the god Bacchus, traditionally associated with frenzied rites. ORIGIN Greek Mainas, from mainesthai to rave …   English terms dictionary

  • maenad — [mē′nad΄] n. [L Maenas (gen. Maenadis) < Gr mainas (gen. mainados) < mainesthai, to rave < IE * mnā , var. of base * men , to think > MIND] 1. [often M ] a female votary of Dionysus, who took part in the wild, orgiastic rites that… …   English World dictionary

  • Maenad — Bacchae redirects here. For the tragedy by Euripides, see The Bacchae. Bassarids redirects here. For the opera by Hans Werner Henze, see The Bassarids. Furious Maenad,carrying a thyrsus and a panther,with a snake rolled up over her head.Tondo of… …   Wikipedia

  • maenad — noun Etymology: Latin maenad , maenas, from Greek mainad , mainas, from mainesthai to be mad; akin to Greek menos spirit more at mind Date: 1579 1. bacchante 2. an unnaturally excited or distraught woman • maenadic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • maenad — maenadic, adj. maenadism, n. /mee nad/, n. 1. bacchante. 2. a frenzied or raging woman. [1570 80; < L Maenad (s. of Maenas) < Gk Mainás a bacchante, special use of mainás madwoman] * * * …   Universalium

  • maenad — mae•nad [[t]ˈmi næd[/t]] n. 1) myt bacchante 2) a frenzied or raging woman • Etymology: 1570–80; < L Maenad (s. of Maenas) < Gk Mainás a bacchante, lit., madwoman mae•nad′ic, adj. mae′nad•ism, n …   From formal English to slang

  • maenad — n. 1 a bacchante. 2 a frenzied woman. Derivatives: maenadic adj. Etymology: L Maenas Maenad f. Gk Mainas ados f. mainomai rave …   Useful english dictionary

  • maenad — noun /ˈmi.næd/ a) A female follower of Dionysus, associated with intense reveling. b) An excessively wild or emotional woman …   Wiktionary

  • maenad — see MANIA …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”