monody
[
mon
-
uh
-dee]
/ˈmɒn ə di/
noun
,
plural
monodies.
1.
a Greek ode sung by a single voice, as in a tragedy; lament.
2.
a poem in which the poet or speaker laments another's death; threnody.
3.
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).
Origin
1580-90;
<
Late Latin
monōdia
<
Greek
monōidía
a solo, monody, equivalent to
monōid
(
ós
) singing alone (see
mon-
,
ode
) +
-ia
-y
3
Related forms
monodist
[
mon
-
uh
-dist]
/ˈmɒn ə dɪst/
(
Show IPA
),
noun
British Dictionary definitions for
monody
monody
/
ˈmɒnədɪ
/
noun
(
pl
)
-dies
1.
(in Greek tragedy) an ode sung by a single actor
2.
any poem of lament for someone's death
3.
(
music
) a style of composition consisting of a single vocal part, usually with accompaniment
Derived Forms
monodic
(
mɒˈnɒdɪk
),
monodical,
adjective
monodically,
adverb
monodist,
noun
Word Origin
C17: via Late Latin from Greek
monōidia,
from
mono-
+
aeidein
to sing