maenad

[mee-nad] /ˈmi næd/
noun
1.
bacchante.
2.
a frenzied or raging woman.
Origin
1570-80; < Latin Maenad- (stem of Maenas) < Greek Mainás a bacchante, special use of mainás madwoman
Related forms
maenadic, adjective
maenadism, noun
British Dictionary definitions for maenad

maenad

/ˈmiːnæd/
noun
1.
(classical myth) a woman participant in the orgiastic rites of Dionysus; bacchante
2.
a frenzied woman
Derived Forms
maenadic, adjective
maenadically, adverb
maenadism, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin Maenas, from Greek mainas madwoman
Word Origin and History for maenad
n.

"Bacchante," 1570s, from Greek mainas (genitive mainados) "priestess of Bacchus," literally "madwoman," from stem of mainesthai "to rage, go mad" (see mania).