Dithyramb
/ˈdɪθɪˌræm/noun
A wild, enthusiastic ancient Greek hymn, especially one sung in honor of Dionysus.
Did you know?The dithyramb was not just poetry; it was a communal, ecstatic performance tied to Dionysian worship, and its name may preserve a pre-Greek religious term whose original meaning is lost.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
διθύραμβος (dithýrambos)
“An ecstatic hymn sung in honor of Dionysus.”
Classical Greek
Greek
διθύραμβος
“A choral song of exalted, often frenzied praise, especially for Dionysus.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
dithyrambus
“A borrowed Greek term for an exuberant hymn.”
16th Century
English
dithyramb
“A Greek-style hymn or ode of passionate, enthusiastic character.”
Modern English
English
dithyramb
“A wildly enthusiastic speech or piece of writing, or a Greek hymn of exalted praise.”