Comus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The Roman deity of mirth, feasting, and nocturnal merrymaking ; a theatrical performance or allegorical drama featuring masked characters and fantastic scenery
2. The Roman god associated with wine, merriment, and nighttime celebration ; a staged entertainment piece combining music, dance, and elaborate costumes
3. In Roman mythology, the god of convivial pleasures and festive indulgence ; a kind of elaborate masked dramatic performance popular in Renaissance courts

Etymology: In ancient Greece, a "kômos" was a noisy, merry procession of revellers, often following a drinking party, who sang and danced their way through the streets. The sense was of a band of celebrants on the move, not a single person having a good time. The word is the root of "comedy", which came via the Greek "kōmōidia", a compound of "kômos" and "ōidē", meaning song. A comedy was, in origin, a song sung by such a revel band.