monody

1 of 2

noun

mon·​o·​dy ˈmä-nə-dē 

plural monodies

1

: an ode sung by one voice (as in a Greek tragedy)

2

: an elegy or dirge performed by one person

3

a

: a monophonic vocal piece

b

: the monophonic style of 17th century opera

monodic

mə-ˈnä-dik 

adjective

or monodical

mə-ˈnä-di-kəl 

monodic

2 of 2

adjective

mo·​nod·​ic məˈnädik 

-dēk

variants or less commonly monodical

-də̇kəl 

-dēk-

: of, relating to, or of the nature of monody

the beautiful Hindu melodies, built upon various scales … are of course all monodic

—Harold Brown

monodically

-də̇k(ə)lē, 

-dēk-, 

-li

adverb

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin monodia, from Greek monōidia, from monōidos singing alone, from mon- + aeidein to sing — more at ode

Adjective

Greek or Late Greek monōidikos, from Greek monōidia monody + -ikos -ic, -ical

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1