CARNIVAL Car"ni*val, n. Etym: [It. carnevale, prob. for older carnelevale, prop., the putting away of meat; fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh _ levare to take away, lift up, fr. levis light.]
1. A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Gatholic countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday. The carnival at Venice is everywhere talked of. Addison.
2. Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess. Tennyson. He saw the lean dogs beneath the wall Hold o'er the dead their carnival Byron.
CARNIVORA
Car*niv"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl. from L. carnivorus. See
Carnivorous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Mammallia including the lion, tiger, wolf bear, seal, etc. They are adapted by their structure to feed upon flesh, though some of them, as the bears, also eat vegetable food. The teeth are large and sharp, suitable for cutting flesh, and the jaws powerful.
CARNIVORACITY
Car*niv`o*rac"i*ty, n.
Defn: Greediness of appetite for flesh. [Sportive.] Pope.
CARNIVORE
Car`ni*vore, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carnivore.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Carnivora.
CARNIVOROUS Car*niv"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. carnivorus; caro, carnis, flesh + varare to devour.]