revel

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English revelen, from Old French revel, from reveler (“to be disorderly, to make merry”), from Latin rebello (“to rebel”). Doublet of rebel.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: rĕvʹ-əl, IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛv.əl/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛvəl

Noun

revel (plural revels)

1. An instance of merrymaking; a celebration.
   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Our revels now are ended.

   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter II, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     "I ought to arise and go forth with timbrels and with dances; but, do you know, I am not inclined to revels? There has been a little—just a very little bit too much festivity so far …. Not that I don't adore dinners and gossip and dances; not that I do not love to pervade bright and glittering places. […]"

2. A kind of dance.
3. A wake for the dead.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

revel (third-person singular simple present revels, present participle revelling or reveling, simple past and past participle revelled or reveled)

1. To make merry; to have a happy, lively time.
   • 1610, Alexander Cooke, Pope Joane, in William Oldys, editor, The Harleian Miscellany: or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as well in Manuscript as in Print, Found in the Late Earl of Oxford's Library: Interspersed with Historical, Political, and Critical Notes: With a Table of the Contents, and an Alphabetical Index, volume IV, London: Printed for T Osborne, in Gray's-Inn, 1744, OCLC 5325177; republished as John Maltham, editor, The Harleian Miscellany; or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as well in Manuscript as in Print, Found in the Late Earl of Oxford's Library, Interspersed with Historical, Political, and Critical Notes, volume IV, London: Printed for R. Dutton, 1808–1811, OCLC 30776079, page 95:

     If there bee any lasie fellow, any that cannot away with worke, any that would wallow in pleasures, hee is hastie to be priested. And when hee is made one, and has gotten a benefice, he consorts with his neighbour priests, who are altogether given to pleasures; and then both hee, and they, live, not like Christians, but like epicures; drinking, eating, feasting, and revelling, till the cow come home, as the saying is.

2. To take delight (in something).
   • 1997, The Art of Practicing, a Guide to Making Music from the Heart:

     Slowing down doesn't have to feel like holding back. It can be an opportunity to revel in sounds and sensations, to not be so concerned about where we are going but to enjoy the moment and become comfortable where we are.

Synonyms

• (make merry): carouse, celebrate

Derived terms

• reveller/reveler

Translations

Etymology 2

From Latin revellere; re- + vellere (“to pluck, pull”).

Verb

revel (third-person singular simple present revels, present participle revelling, simple past and past participle revelled)

1. (obsolete) To draw back; to retract.
   • 1597, A. M., The Frenche chirurgerye, translation of original by Jacques Guilleameau:

     It then revelleth and drawethe backe agayne those humors which concurre towardes the Eyes.

Noun

revel (plural revels)

1. (architecture) Alternative form of reveal

Anagrams

• Lever, elver, lever

Breton

Alternative forms

• reizhel

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

revel

1. sexual

References

• "revel" in TermOfis, Office Public de la Langue Bretonne

Middle English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French revel, from reveler.

Alternative forms

• revell, revelle, rewle

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /rɛˈvɛːl/, /ˈrɛvɛl/

Noun

revel (plural reveles)

1. Joyfulness, entertainment, celebration, revelling.
2. A specific instance of revelling or joyfulness.
3. (rare, Late Middle English) Chaos, disorder.

Related terms

• revelen
• revelour
• revelynge

Descendants

• English: revel

References

• “revel, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-09-16.

Etymology 2

Verb

revel

1. Alternative form of revelen (“to revel”)