Lyrical
/ˈlɪr.ɪ.kəl/noun
Expressive, musical, or flowing in a poetic way.
Did you know?The word comes from the lyre, an instrument sacred to Apollo, so its history is literally rooted in music, poetry, and the idea that sound could carry divine power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leig-
“to play a stringed instrument; to make music”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λύρα (lyra)
“a lyre, a stringed musical instrument”
Latin
Latin
lyricus
“of or for the lyre; lyric poetry”
Old French
Old French
lyrique
“pertaining to lyric poetry or song”
Late Middle English
English
lyrical
“having the form or quality of a lyric poem or song”
Modern English
English
lyrical
“expressive, poetic, and songlike”