ˌsad.ə(r)ˈnālyə, ˌsatə-, -lēə noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: Latin, from neuter plural of saturnalis of or relating to Saturn, from Saturnus Saturn + -alis -al
1. usually capitalized : the festival of Saturn in ancient Rome beginning on December 17 and celebrated with feasting, exchange of gifts, and tumultuous revelry and presided over by a king chosen by lot
a survival of the ancient Saturnalia or of some other pagan rite of orgiastic nature — C.B.Kelland
2. singular , plural saturnalias also saturnalia sometimes capitalized
a. : an unrestrained often licentious celebration or spectacle : orgy
the saturnalia of an American Legion convention turning Cleveland into Paris for a week — D.W.Brogan
a saturnalia of blood and crime in which … the guilty are not punished for the most flagrant violation — Sheldon Glueck
pilferings of … rum from her barroom for his noisy saturnalias — Wilmon Menard
b. : an excess of emotion or immorality
rushed in a saturnalia of faith to spell out its … consequences for the solitary soul — S.E.Whicher
sacrifice of the state, in a veritable saturnalia of corruption — C.G.Bowers