a. and sb. [a. OF. festal, festel, f. L. fest-um: see FEAST and -AL.] A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to a feast or festivity.
1479. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 414. The festall daie of Seynt Mighell Tharchangell.
1740. Somerville, Hobbinol, II. (1749), 139.
| Blind British bards | |
| In ages yet to come, on festal days | |
| Shall chant this mournful tale. |
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xi. 67. When she presented herself in her festal dress, she was publicly rejected and dismissed as unworthy of the honour.
1847. De Quincey, Sp. Mil. Nun, viii. (1853), 16. The convent of St. Sebastian, a place rich in delight, radiant with festal pleasure, overflowing with luxury.
b. Of a person: Keeping holiday. Of a place: Given up to feasting or festivity.
1798. Sotheby, trans. Wieland’s Oberon (1826), I. 15.
| And on his cheek when stole the tender down, | |
| How with proud pomp at Bourdeaux’ festal town, | |
| He, rightful duke was crown’d, and hail’d with high esteem. |
1801. Southey, Thalaba, VI. xxviii.
| From tents of revelry, | |
| From festal bowers, to solitude he ran. |
1863. Hawthorne, Our Old Home, 251. The aspect of Greenwich park, with all those festal people wandering through it, resembled that of the Borghese Gardens under the walls of Rome, on a Sunday or Saint’s day.
2. Befitting a feast; hence, gay, joyous.
1749. Chesterf., Lett., II. ccxii. 311. Take great care that no complaisance, no good-humour, no warmth of festal mirth, ever make you seem even to acquiesce, much less to approve or applaud, such infamous doctrines.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Shaks., Wks. (Bohn), I. 364. He touches nothing that does not borrow health and longevity from his festal style.
1858. De Quincey, Autobiog. Sk., Wks. I. 200. The ball-room, a temporary erection, with something of the character of a pavilion about it, wore an elegant and festal air.
b. quasi-adv.
1747. Collins, Ode to the Passions, 87.
| They saw, in Tempe’s vale, her native maids, | |
| Amid the festal-sounding shades, | |
| To some unwearied minstrel dancing. |
B. sb. A feast, festivity, merry-making.
1818. Shelley, Rev. Islam, V. lvi.
| For gore | |
| Or poison none this festal did pollute. |
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. II. iii. 140. Off to the cheerful festals of the Sea!
Hence Festally adv., in a festal manner.
1853. G. W. Curtis, Wanderer in Syria, 279. The way could not have been more festally adorned.
1883. Stevenson, Silverado Sq. (1886), 5. The chapel bell on the engine sounded most festally that sunny Sunday.
