n.; sing. Orgies /plu>. [ F. orgie, orgies, L. orgia, pl., Gr. &unr_;; akin to &unr_; work. See Organ, and Work. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. A sacrifice accompanied by certain ceremonies in honor of some pagan deity; especially, the ceremonies observed by the Greeks and Romans in the worship of Dionysus, or Bacchus, which were characterized by wild and dissolute revelry. Usually in the plural form. [ The singular is rarely used in this sense. ] [ 1913 Webster ] As when, with crowned cups, unto the Elian god, Those priests high orgies held. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Wild, drunken, or licentious revelry; an uninhibited carouse. B. Jonson. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A series of sexual activities involving more than two couples in a group. [ PJC ] 4. Hence: An event characterized by unrestrained indulgence in passion; as, an orgy of buying of internet stocks. [ PJC ] |