What does "maenad" mean?
A female follower of Dionysus (“the god of wine”), associated with intense revelling.
Maenad
/ˈmiːnæd/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A female follower of Dionysus (“the god of wine”), associated with intense revelling.
- Grammar: maenad is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bacchant, bacchante, ecstatic devotee.
- Useful contrasts: satyr.
- Usage evidence: VVild yuie) for it is dedicated to Bacchus & therefore it is ſayd that the Mænades (that is Bacchus franticke prieſtes) vſed in theyr ſacrifice to carry Thyrſos, vvhich vvere pointed ſtaues or Iauelins, vvrapped about vvith yuie.
How to use "maenad"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "maenad" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "maenad" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "maenad" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bacchant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A female follower of Dionysus (“the god of wine”), associated with intense revelling. Greek, also, attributive
"VVild yuie) for it is dedicated to Bacchus & therefore it is ſayd that the Mænades (that is Bacchus franticke prieſtes) vſed in theyr ſacrifice to carry Thyrſos, vvhich vvere pointed ſtaues or Iauelins, vvrapped about vvith yuie."
- 2 (Greek mythology) a woman participant in the orgiastic rites of Dionysus wordnet
- 3 An excessively emotional or wild woman. broadly, derogatory, literary
"Blanche Stroeve was in the cruel grip of appetite. Perhaps she hated Strickland still, but she hungered for him, and everything that had made up her life till then became of no account. She ceased to be a woman, complex, kind and petulant, considerate and thoughtless; she was a Maenad. She was desire."
- 4 an unnaturally frenzied or distraught woman wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"VVild yuie) for it is dedicated to Bacchus & therefore it is ſayd that the Mænades (that is Bacchus franticke prieſtes) vſed in theyr ſacrifice to carry Thyrſos, vvhich vvere pointed ſtaues or Iauelins, vvrapped about vvith yuie."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "maenad"?
Common synonyms include: bacchant, bacchante, ecstatic devotee.
How do you use "maenad" in a sentence?
VVild yuie) for it is dedicated to Bacchus & therefore it is ſayd that the Mænades (that is Bacchus franticke prieſtes) vſed in theyr ſacrifice to carry Thyrſos, vvhich vvere pointed ſtaues or Iauelins, vvrapped about vvith yuie.
How do you pronounce "maenad"?
Pronounced /ˈmiːnæd/.
Etymology
From Late Middle English *menadyen (attested in the plural form menadyens) + English -ad (suffix forming names of nymphs). *Menadyen is derived from Latin maenad-, a stem of maenās (“follower of Bacchus, bacchant”), from Ancient Greek μαινάς (mainás, “frantic; raving”), from μαίνομαι (maínomai, “to be mad, out of one’s mind, raving”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to mind; to think; spiritual activity”).