dithyramb

noun

dith·​y·​ramb ˈdi-thi-ˌram(b) 

plural dithyrambs ˈdi-thi-ˌramz 

1

: a usually short poem in an inspired wild irregular strain

2

: a statement or writing in an exalted or enthusiastic vein

dithyrambic

ˌdi-thi-ˈram-bik 

adjective

dithyrambically

ˌdi-thi-ˈram-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

In ancient Greece, the wine god Dionysus (or Bacchus) was feted several times throughout the year. Processions, feasts, dances, and dramatic performances, accompanied by poems recited or sung in the god's honor, were all part of the revelry. Not too surprisingly, the poems tended to be wild, irregular, and dissonant. We know that the Greeks used dithyrambos as the word for a poem in honor of Dionysus, but beyond that the origin of the word is unknown. The ancient Greeks also had an adjective, dithyrambikos, which gave us our adjective dithyrambic, meaning "pertaining to or resembling a dithyramb."

Synonyms

• accolade
• citation
• commendation
• encomium
• eulogium
• eulogy
• homage
• hymn
• paean
• panegyric
• salutation
• tribute

Examples of dithyramb in a Sentence

a tongue-in-cheek dithyramb in honor of the chocolate chip cookie

Recent Examples on the Web

Ginsberg’s incantatory dithyrambs pulled the Beats, Walt Whitman and much of 20th century poetry into view. —Sesshu Foster, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Greek dithyrambos

First Known Use

circa 1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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