monody
noun
mon·o·dy ˈmä-nə-dē 
plural monodies
1
: an ode sung by one voice (as in a Greek tragedy)
2
: an elegy or dirge performed by one person
3
a
: a monophonic vocal piece
b
: the monophonic style of 17th century opera
monodic
mə-ˈnä-dik
adjective or monodical
mə-ˈnä-di-kəl
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin monodia, from Greek monōidia, from monōidos singing alone, from mon- + aeidein to sing — more at ode
First Known Use
circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1
monody
noun
as in elegiac
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- elegiac
- elegy
- requiem
- dirge
- taps
- threnody
- lament
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- panegyric
- eulogy
- paean
- encomium