Bac'chant noun ; plural English Bacchants , Latin Bacchantes . [ Latin bacchans , -antis , present participle of bacchari to celebrate the festival of Bacchus.] 1. A priest of Bacchus. 2. A bacchanal; a reveler. Croly. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/B/2
bacchant 1. A priest, priestess, or inspired votary (devoted to a particular religion or devoted or passionately addicted to some particular pursuit) of Bacchus; hence, a drunken reveller, roysterer (now roisterer, a swaggering or noisy reveller). 2. Bacchus-worshipping, wine-loving. Found on http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/272/