English
threnody
Threnody comes from Ancient Greek θρηνῳδία ‘lamentation’, and goes back to θρηνῴδης ‘like or fit for a dirge’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEθρηνῴδης‘like or fit for a dirge’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEθρηνῳδίαthrēnōidía‘lamentation’
- Englishearliest quotation 1879threnody
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEθρηνῴδης‘like or fit for a dirge’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEθρηνῳδίαthrēnōidía‘lamentation’
- Englishearliest quotation 1879threnody
Earliest quotation: 1879, John McElroy: “The fifer actually knew but one tune "The Bonnie…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek θρηνῴδης
Today it means
noun A song or poem of lamentation or mourning for a dead person; a dirge; an elegy.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek θρηνῴδης / threnody