orgy

English

/ˈɔː.dʒi/

noun
Definitions
  • Originally, secret rites or ceremonies, typically involving riotous and dissolute behaviour, including dancing, drunkenness and indiscriminate sexual activity, undertaken in honour of various pagan gods or goddesses (such as Attis, Bacchus, Ceres, Dionysus, Osiris, etc).
  • A gathering of people to engage in group sex.
  • Excessive indulgence in a specified activity.

Etymology

Borrowed from French orgies derived from Latin orgia (orgy) derived from Ancient Greek ὄργια (mysteries, secret rites).

Origin

Ancient Greek

ὄργια

Gloss

mysteries, secret rites

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms