MAENAD


Meaning of MAENAD in English

noun

also me·nad ˈmēˌnad

( -s )

Etymology: Latin maenad-, maenas, from Greek mainad-, mainas, literally, madwoman, from mainesthai to be mad; akin to Greek menos spirit — more at mind

1.

a. : a woman participating in the orgiastic Dionysian rites : bacchante

b. : a frenzied female dancer

2. : an unnaturally excited or distraught woman

a figure scarcely human, a tragic Maenad — R.L.Stevenson

• mae·nad·ic mēˈnadik adjective

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.