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ode

[ ohd ]
/ oʊd /
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noun
a lyric poem typically of elaborate or irregular metrical form and expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion.
(originally) a poem intended to be sung.
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Origin of ode

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ode

ode , owed

Other definitions for ode (2 of 3)

-ode1

a suffix of nouns, appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “like”; used in the formation of compound words: phyllode.
Compare -oid.

Origin of -ode

1
<Greek -ōdēs, probably generalized from adjectives describing smells, as kēṓdēs smelling like incense; base ōd- of ózein to smell, give off odor

Other definitions for ode (3 of 3)

-ode2

a combining form meaning “way,” “road,” used in the formation of compound words: anode; electrode.

Origin of -ode

2
<Greek -odos, combining form of hodós
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ode in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ode (1 of 3)

ode
/ (əʊd) /

noun
a lyric poem, typically addressed to a particular subject, with lines of varying lengths and complex rhythmsSee also Horatian ode, Pindaric ode
(formerly) a poem meant to be sung

Word Origin for ode

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

British Dictionary definitions for ode (2 of 3)

-ode1

n combining form
denoting resemblancenematode

Word Origin for -ode

from Greek -ōdēs, from eidos shape, form

British Dictionary definitions for ode (3 of 3)

-ode2

n combining form
denoting a path or wayelectrode

Word Origin for -ode

from Greek -odos, from hodos a way
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

Cultural definitions for ode

ode

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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