dithyramb
[ dith-uh-ram, -ramb ]
/ ˈdɪθ əˌræm, -ˌræmb /
noun
a Greek choral song or chant of vehement or wild character and of usually irregular form, originally in honor of Dionysus or Bacchus.
any poem or other composition having similar characteristics, as an impassioned or exalted theme or irregular form.
any wildly enthusiastic speech or writing.
Origin of dithyramb
1595–1605; < Latin
dīthyrambus < Greek
dīthýrambos
Words nearby dithyramb
dithionate,
dithionic,
dithionic acid,
dithionite,
dithionous acid,
dithyramb,
dithyrambic,
ditmars,
ditokous,
ditransitive,
ditriglyph
Example sentences from the Web for dithyramb
British Dictionary definitions for dithyramb
dithyramb
/ (ˈdɪθɪˌræm, -ˌræmb) /
noun
(in ancient Greece) a passionate choral hymn in honour of Dionysus; the forerunner of Greek drama
any utterance or a piece of writing that resembles this
Word Origin for dithyramb
C17: from Latin
dīthyrambus, from Greek
dithurambos; related to
iambos
iamb