-ode

¹

1. a combining form meaning “way,” “road,” used in the formation of compound words.

   anode; electrode.

ode

²

[ohd]

noun

1. a lyric poem typically of elaborate or irregular metrical form and expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion.

2. (originally) a poem intended to be sung.

-ode

³

1. a suffix of nouns, appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “like”; used in the formation of compound words.

   phyllode.

-ode

¹

combining form

1. denoting resemblance

   nematode

-ode

²

combining form

1. denoting a path or way

   electrode

ode

³

/ əʊd /

noun

1. a lyric poem, typically addressed to a particular subject, with lines of varying lengths and complex rhythms See also Horatian ode Pindaric ode

2. (formerly) a poem meant to be sung

ode

1. A kind of poem devoted to the praise of a person, animal, or thing. An ode is usually written in an elevated style and often expresses deep feeling. An example is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” by John Keats.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ode¹

< Greek -odos, combining form of hodós

Origin of -ode²

1580–90; < Middle French < Late Latin ōda < Greek ōidḗ, contraction of aoidḗ song, derivative of aeídein to sing

Origin of -ode³

< Greek -ōdēs, probably generalized from adjectives describing smells, as kēṓdēs smelling like incense; base ōd- of ózein to smell, give off odor

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ode¹

from Greek -ōdēs, from eidos shape, form

Origin of -ode²

from Greek -odos, from hodos a way

Origin of -ode³

C16: via French from Late Latin ōda, from Greek ōidē, from aeidein to sing

Example Sentences

Others stick to his signature pastel-powered color palette, sport loud patterned sweater vests or even wear a button-up with a tie and baseball cap — as an ode to his most frequent silhouette.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While the second bedroom was never featured in the show beyond the door, the family created a door sign in an "ode" to the characters.

Read more on BBC

Those who want to stay at the Rose Bowl describe the place as iconic, an ode to everything that’s great about college football.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And it was working out the mechanics of Murder, Mr. Joseph writes, that inspired “Finishing the Hat,” Sondheim’s signature ode to the hard work of creation: “Look I made a hat / Where there never was a hat.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Sisu: Road to Revenge” is an ode to high-throttle classics like “Die Hard” and Buster Keaton’s “The General.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What else does ode mean?

In literature, an ode is a type of lyrical poem enthusiastically praising a person or event. The slang ode, pronounced [ oh-dee ], is an intensifying adverb meaning "really" or "very."How is ode pronounced?[ ohd ] or [ oh-dee ]What are other forms of ode?odeeWhat are some other words related to ode?

• mad



• hella

When To Use

What does -ode mean?

The combining form -ode is used like a suffix that has two distinct senses.The first of these senses is “like,” and this form of -ode is very occasionally used in a variety of scientific terms, especially in biology. This sense of -ode comes from Greek -ōdēs, roughly meaning “smell.” This suffix in Greek likely comes from words that describe smells and is related to the verb ózein, which means "to smell."The second of these senses is “way” or "road," and this form of -ode is occasionally used in a variety of technical terms, especially in electrical terms. This sense of -ode comes from Greek hodós, meaning "way."