ðə wˈɜːd dˌaɪənˈɪʒən əkˈɜːz æz ˈɜːli æz wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɪkshˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪt ɪn ˈɛdwɚd tˈɑːpsɛlz zˌuːəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl tɹˈiːɾɪz ðə hˈɪstɚɹi ʌv sˈɜːpənts.
The word Dionysian occurs as early as 1608 in Edward Topsell's zoological treatise The History of Serpents.