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Revel vs Festival - What's the difference?

revel | festival |

As nouns the difference between revel and festival

is that revel is an instance of merrymaking; a celebration or revel can be (architecture) while festival is .

As a verb revel

is to make merry; to have a gay, lively time or revel can be (obsolete) to draw back; to retract.

revel

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An instance of merrymaking; a celebration.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • Our revels now are ended.
  • *
  • *:"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."
  • Derived terms
    * revelry

    Verb

  • To make merry; to have a gay, lively time.
  • * 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

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) (lena) revellere; .

    Verb

    (revell)
  • (obsolete) To draw back; to retract.
  • (Harvey)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture)
  • Anagrams

    * *

    festival

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to a feast or feast-day. (Now only as the noun used attributively.)
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.iii:
  • the temple of the Gods [...] / Whom all the people decke with girlands greene, / And honour in their festiuall resort [...].

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An event or community gathering, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community.
  • In mythology, a set of celebrations in the honour of a god.