Lyric
/ˈlɪr.ɪk/noun
Relating to song or poetry expressing personal emotion.
Did you know?The word comes from the Greek lyra, the lyre, so “lyric” originally meant poetry meant to be sung with a lyre, not silently read.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
λυρικός (lurikós)
“of or for the lyre; lyric, sung to the lyre”
Classical Greek
Greek
λύρα (lýra)
“lyre, a stringed musical instrument”
Latin
Latin
lyricus
“of the lyre; lyric poetry”
Old French
Old French
lyrique
“lyric, pertaining to song or poetry”
Late Middle English
English
lyric
“a poem meant to be sung; later, a short poem expressing personal feeling”
Modern English
English
lyric
“relating to song or poetry expressing emotion”