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dithyramb

 - 3 dictionary results

dith⋅y⋅ramb

  [dith-uh-ram, -ramb]
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–noun
1. a Greek choral song or chant of vehement or wild character and of usually irregular form, originally in honor of Dionysus or Bacchus.
2. any poem or other composition having similar characteristics, as an impassioned or exalted theme or irregular form.
3. any wildly enthusiastic speech or writing.
Origin:
1595–1605; < L dīthyrambus < Gk dīthýrambos
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dith·y·ramb   (dĭth'ĭ-rām', -rāmb')   
n.  

  1. A frenzied, impassioned choric hymn and dance of ancient Greece in honor of Dionysus.

  2. An irregular poetic expression suggestive of the ancient Greek dithyramb.

  3. A wildly enthusiastic speech or piece of writing.


[Latin dīthyrambus, from Greek dīthurambos.]
dith'y·ramb'ic adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dithyramb 
1603, from L. dithyrambus, from Gk. dithyrambos, of unknown origin, perhaps a pre-Hellenic loan-word. A wild choric hymn, originally in honor of Dionysus.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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