Messalinian

Messalinian

English

Etymology

From Messalina +‎ -ian.

Adjective

Messalinian (comparative more Messalinian, superlative most Messalinian)

1. Reminiscent of Messalina; scheming and lascivious.
   • 1794, Mary Wollstonecraft, An Historical and Moral View of the Origin and Progress of the French Revolution:

     The infamous transaction of the necklace […] , with her messalinian feasts at Trianon, made her the common mark of ridicule and satire.

   • 1859, Berkeley Aikin, The Dean:

     [T]he fine features were lost in superabundant fat, and the expression of them was such as I care not to defile my pen by describing, unless I call it Messalinian […] .

   • 2003, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar:

     [S]he admitted that ‘in my personal life, there have been mistakes about which I could tell you, and all of it because of jealousy.’ Stalin doubtless already knew all her Messalinian exploits.