Dictionary

Saturnalians en · NOUN

Etymology

From Saturnalian + -s.

Meanings

1. (plural, plural-only, rare) Synonym of Saturnalia.
   • The famous Saturnalians—feasts of unrestrained drinking and merrymaking—that the Romans had habitually celebrated during the month of December eventually evolved under Christianity into clerical Saturnalians “in which mighty persons were humbled, sacred things profaned, laws relaxed and ethical ideals reversed” ([Enid] Welsford 1961, 201). 1995, William V. Dunning, “Fools, Dream Painters, and the Mad Muse”, in The Roots of Postmodernism, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, →ISBN, page 157:
   • Jupiter - All: I just had it explained in Gothenburg that the battle is like in Civi [i.e., Civilization]; what a waste of money Leader was then… Come on the Saturnalians! 1997 June–July, “Pax Germania #104”, in Lepanto 4-ever, number LIII, Nyköping, Södermanland: Per Ö Westling, →OCLC, page 23:
   • Las saturnales eran fiestas dedicadas a Saturno y servían para recordar los primitivos tiempos. 1969 [1968], Rodolfo Benavides, translated by M[arian] Taylor Lee, “Was Jesus Born on the 25th of December?”, in Dramatic Prophecies of the Great Pyramid […], Mexico City: Editores Mexicanos Unidos, →OCLC, page 188:
2. (form-of, plural) plural of Saturnalian
   form of Saturnalian

Forms

Relateds

Saturnals

Synonyms

Saturnalia