monody

[mon-uh-dee]

See more synonyms for monody on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural mon·o·dies.

a Greek ode sung by a single voice, as in a tragedy; lament.
a poem in which the poet or speaker laments another's death; threnody.
Music.
1. a style of composition in which one part or melody predominates; homophony, as distinguished from polyphony.
2. a piece in this style.
3. monophony(def 1).

Origin of monody

1580–90; < Late Latin monōdia < Greek monōidía a solo, monody, equivalent to monōid(ós) singing alone (see mon-, ode) + -ia -y³

Related formsmon·o·dist

[mon-uh-dist] /ˈmɒn ə dɪst/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for monody

hymn, elegy, ceremony, ritual, chant, eulogy, dirge, liturgy, threnody, psalm, worship, sermon, monody, canticle, cry, march, requiem, lament, jeremiad, keen

Examples from the Web for monody

Historical Examples of monody

In 1821, he wrote his Adonais, a monody on the death of Keats.
A Dish Of Orts
George MacDonald
In 1797 lines 5-10 were restored to the Man of Ross and omitted from the Monody.
The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The first eight lines are included in the Monody on Chatterton.
Letters of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Vol. I (of 2)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
He thought well of 'The Monody,' and warmly advised me to publish it.
The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume IV.
Various
He is chiefly remembered by his Monody on the death of his wife.
A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature
John W. Cousin

British Dictionary definitions for monody

monody

noun plural -dies

(in Greek tragedy) an ode sung by a single actor
any poem of lament for someone's death
music a style of composition consisting of a single vocal part, usually with accompaniment

Derived Formsmonodic (mɒˈnɒdɪk) or monodical, adjectivemonodically, adverbmonodist, noun

Word Origin for monody

C17: via Late Latin from Greek monōidia, from mono- + aeidein to sing

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