Orgies

Orgies
Orgy Or"gy, n.; sing. {Orgies}. [F. orgie, orgies, L. orgia, pl., Gr. ?; akin to ? work. See {Organ}, and {Work}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A sacrifice accompanied by certain ceremonies in honor of some pagan deity; especially, the ceremonies observed by the Greeks and Romans in the worship of Dionysus, or Bacchus, which were characterized by wild and dissolute revelry. Usually in the plural form.

Note: [The singular is rarely used in this sense.] [1913 Webster]

As when, with crowned cups, unto the Elian god, Those priests high orgies held. --Drayton. [1913 Webster]

2. Wild, drunken, or licentious revelry; an uninhibited carouse. --B. Jonson. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

3. A series of sexual activities involving more than two couples in a group. [PJC]

4. Hence: An event characterized by unrestrained indulgence in passion; as, an orgy of buying of internet stocks. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:
, , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • orgies — ● orgies nom féminin pluriel Rites secrets des mystères de Déméter, des Cabires, et plus tard de Dionysos, où les participants étaient pris du délire sacré …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • orgies — Orgies, Sont les sacrifices et solennitez de Bacchus, Orgia, Orgiorum …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • orgies — orgies, n. pl. see orgy …   Useful english dictionary

  • Orgies — Orgy Or gy, n.; pl. {Orgies}. A frantic revel; drunken revelry. See {Orgies} [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ORGIES — s. f. pl. T. d Antiq. Fêtes consacrées à Bacchus. Célébrer les orgies.   Il signifie aujourd hui, Débauche de table ; et en ce sens il a un singulier. Ce sont des orgies continuelles. Ils ont fait une orgie …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • orgies — (or jie) s. f. pl. 1°   Terme d antiquité. Fêtes de Bacchus. Célébrer les orgies.    Fig. •   Partout autour de moi mes jeunes élégies Promenaient les éclats de leurs folles orgies, A. CHÉN. Élégies, IX.. 2°   Débauche de table (au singulier et… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • ORGIES —    festivals among the Greeks and Orientals generally connected with the worship of nature divinities, in particular DEMETER (q.v.), DIONYSUS (q.v.), and the Cabiri, celebrated with mystic rites and much licentious behaviour …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • orgies — or·gy || É”rdʒɪ / ɔːd n. gathering at which the participants take part in wild revelry and debauchery, party with excessive drinking and promiscuity; any activity which is done in a extravagantly indulgent way; sacred religious rites of… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • orgies — n. pl. Revels, bacchanals, saturnalia, carousal, revelry, wassail, debauch, drunken bout …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • orgie — [ ɔrʒi ] n. f. • XVe XVIe; lat. orgia 1 ♦ Antiq. Plur. Fêtes solennelles en l honneur de Dionysos à Athènes, de Bacchus à Rome. ⇒ bacchanale. Spécialt Chants et danses de Bacchantes. 2 ♦ (1631) Mod. Partie de débauche, où les excès de table, de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

Share the article and excerpts

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