Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.part. pres. gen. plur. bacchantum; v. I. fin. infra), 1, v. dep. Bacchus.

I. Lit., to celebrate the festival of Bacchus: “Baccha bacchans,” Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 71: “saxea ut effigies bacchantis prospicit Evoe,” i. e. which cries Evoe in the orgies, Cat. 64, 61; 64, 255: “cum aliquo,” Plin. 3, 1, 3, § 8.—Hence, P. a. as subst.: bacchan-tes , um, f., Bacchae, the Bacchantes: passis Medea capillis Bacchantum ritu, Ov.M. 7, 258; 3, 703; Curt. 8, 10, 15; gen. Bacchantium, id. 9, 10, 24.—

B. Pass. (as in later Gr. βακχεύεσθαι, βακχευθῆναι) of the place in which the orgies of Bacchus were celebrated: “virginibus bacchata Lacaenis Taygeta,” Verg. G. 2, 487 Heyn.: “bacchata jugis Naxos,” id. A. 3, 125: “Dindyma sanguineis famulum bacchata lacertis,” Val. Fl. 3, 20: ita obsoletum sono furenter ab omni parti bacchatur nemus, Santra ap. Non. p. 78, 28: “ululatibus Ide bacchatur,” Claud. Rapt. Pros. 1, 206.—

II. Transf., in gen., to revel, rave, rant, like the Bacchœ (of every species of mental excitement, love, hatred, joy, etc.; mostly poet. and in more elevated prose): “quibus gaudiis exsultabis? quantā in voluptate bacchabere?” Cic. Cat. 1, 10, 26: “furor in vestrā caede bacchantis,” id. ib. 4, 6, 11; id. Har. Resp. 18, 39: “non ego sanius Bacchabor Edonis,” Hor. C. 2, 7, 26; Col. poët. 10, 198; * Suet. Calig. 56; Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 213; id. VI. Cons. Hon. 192.—Of murderous fury: “tantā in illos caede bacchati sunt,” Vulg. Judic. 20, 25.—So of poet. inspiration, Stat. S. 1, 2, 258; “and with carmen as object: grande Sophocleo carmen bacchamur hiatu,” Juv. 6, 636; cf.: “furebant Euhoe bacchantes,” raving to the cry of Euhoe, Cat. 64, 255; 64, 61.—Also, to go or run about in a wanton, wild, raving, or furious manner: animans Omne, quod in magnis bacchatur montibu' passim, * Lucr. 5, 822: “saevit inops animi, totamque incensa per urbem Bacchatur,” Verg. A. 4, 301 ( = discursitat, Heyne): “immanis in antro Bacchatur vates,” raves, is inspired, id. ib. 6, 78; “7, 385: infelix virgo totā bacchatur in urbe,” id. Cir. 166.—Hence,

B. Transf. to inanimate things, to be furious, rage with fury, etc., to be impetuous, etc.

1. So of a vessel of wine that is filled very often: “ubi bacchabatur aula, casabant cadi,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 2, 41 Lorenz ad loc.—

2. Of winds: “Thracio bacchante magis sub interlunia vento,” Hor. C. 1, 25, 11; Ov. Tr. 1, 2, 29.—Of violent rain, Val. Fl. 6, 632.—

3. Of a rumor: concussam bacchatur fama per urbem, spreads rapidly, Verg A. 4, 666.—

4. Of enthusiastic, raging discourse: “quod eos, quorum altior oratio actioque esset ardentior furere et bacchari arbitraretur,” Cic. Brut. 80, 276: “vitiosum dicendi genus, quod inanibus locis bacchatur, etc.,” Quint. 12, 10, 73.