Monody
/ˈmɒn.ə.di/noun
A poem or song of lament for one voice, especially for the dead.
Did you know?Monody comes from Greek poetic tradition, where a solo lament could turn grief into a ritualized, almost sacred act of speech.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
monōidía
“a solo song or lament”
Late Latin
Latin
monodia
“a solo song; a lament sung by one voice”
16th Century
French
monodie
“a poem or musical composition for a single voice”
16th–17th Century
English
monody
“a poem or song of lament for one voice”
Modern English
English
monody
“a lyrical lament or funeral song, especially for one voice”