dithyramb

[ dith-uh-ram, -ramb ]

/ ˈdɪθ əˌræm, -ˌræmb /

noun

a Greek choral song or chant of vehement or wild character and of usually irregular form, originally in honor of Dionysus or Bacchus.

any poem or other composition having similar characteristics, as an impassioned or exalted theme or irregular form.

any wildly enthusiastic speech or writing.

Nearby words

Origin of dithyramb

1595–1605; < Latin dīthyrambus < Greek dīthýrambos

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dithyramb

His contribution to choral poetry was the elaboration of the dithyramb.
Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol I of 2)|John Addington Symonds
This was due to the introduction among the Dorians The dithyramb.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6|Various
Tragedy—as also Comedy—was at first mere improvisation—the one (tragedy) originated with the leaders of the Dithyramb.
Ancient Art and Ritual|Jane Ellen Harrison
Rhetoric and dithyramb were gone from his speech and habit of mind.
Red Fleece|Will Levington Comfort

A Dithyramb was sung at Delphi through the winter months, which at first seems odd.
Ancient Art and Ritual|Jane Ellen Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for dithyramb

dithyramb

/ (ˈdɪθɪˌræm, -ˌræmb) /

noun

(in ancient Greece) a passionate choral hymn in honour of Dionysus; the forerunner of Greek drama

any utterance or a piece of writing that resembles this

Word Origin for dithyramb

C17: from Latin dīthyrambus, from Greek dithurambos; related to iambos iamb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dithyramb

dithyramb

c.1600, from Latin dithyrambus, from Greek dithyrambos, of unknown origin, perhaps a pre-Hellenic loan-word. A wild choric hymn, originally in honor of Dionysus or Bacchus. Related: Dithyrambic.