monody

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromμονῳδία
2. Latin · derived frommonodia
3. English todaymonody

From Latin monodia, from Ancient Greek μονῳδία (monōidía).

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. An ode, as in Greek drama, for a single voice, often specifically a mournful song or dirge.
• from 17th c. Any poem mourning the death of someone; an elegy.
• from 19th c. A monotonous or mournful noise.
• from 19th c. A composition having a single melodic line.