ˌdīəˈnizh(ē)ə, -nish(ē)ə, -nisēə noun plural
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Latin, from Greek, from neuter plural of dionysios of Dionysus, from Dionysos Dionysus, god of an orgiastic religion and of wine
: any of the Greek religious festivals held in honor of Dionysus especially in Attica: as
a. : the lesser festival which was held in the autumn and from which the Greek drama is said to have originated
b. : the great festival which was held in the spring and at which plays were regularly given from the time of Pisistratus — compare bacchanalia 1