monody

[ mon-uh-dee ]

/ ˈmɒn ə di /

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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.

a style of composition in which one part or melody predominates; homophony, as distinguished from polyphony.
a piece in this style.
monophony (def. 1).

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Origin of monody

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin monōdia, from Greek monōidía “a solo, monody,” equivalent to monōid(ós) “singing alone” + -ia noun suffix; see mon-, ode) -y³

OTHER WORDS FROM monody

mon·o·dist

[mon-uh-dist], /ˈmɒn ə dɪst/, noun

Words nearby monody

monodiplopia, monodisperse, monodomous, monodont, monodrama, monody, monoecious, monoester, monofilament, monogametic, monogamic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use monody in a sentence

In my last communication on this subject, I forgot to remark on the strange title given to the monody on Mr. Browne.
Notes and Queries, Number 73, March 22, 1851|Various
The feature of this dramatic-musical novelty was its musica-parlante—a species of monody, or declamation, claimed to be la Grec.
Verdi: Man and Musician|Frederick James Crowest
The clavier by its very nature tended towards polyphony; the violin towards monody.
The Pianoforte Sonata|J.S. Shedlock
The chorus died; and we heard again the deep monody of the sea, like the admonitory voice of fate.
Old Junk|H. M. Tomlinson

Milton's "Lycidas" is a monody on the death of the poet's friend, Edward King.
Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism|F. V. N. Painter

British Dictionary definitions for monody

monody

/ (ˈmɒnədɪ) /

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 forms of monody

monodic (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

monody

Origin of monody

OTHER WORDS FROM monody

Words nearby monody

Words related to monody

How to use monody in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for monody

Derived forms of monody

Word Origin for monody