oreibasia

English

Etymology

Greek ορειβασία, literally ‘mountain-treading’.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əɹeɪˈbæsɪə/

Noun

oreibasia

1. A nocturnal ceremony of Bacchic women in Ancient Greece.
   • 1992, Donna Tartt, The Secret History:

     Besides, it was getting cold. They say that the oreibasia took place in midwinter, but I daresay the Peloponnesus is considerably milder that time of year than Vermont.