dith·y·ramb

(dĭth′ĭ-răm′, -rămb′)

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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dithyramb

(ˈdɪθɪˌræm; -ˌræmb)

1. (Poetry) (in ancient Greece) a passionate choral hymn in honour of Dionysus: the forerunner of Greek drama

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) any utterance or a piece of writing that resembles this

[C17: from Latin dīthyrambus, from Greek dithurambos; related to iambos iamb]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dith•y•ramb

(ˈdɪθ əˌræm, -ˌræmb)

n.

1. a Greek choral song or chant of vehement or wild character and usu. of irregular form.

2. any wildly enthusiastic speech or writing.

[1595–1605; < Latin dīthyrambus < Greek dīthýrambos]

dith`y•ram′bic (-bɪk) adj.

dithyramb

Ancient Greece. a choral chant of a wild and abandoned nature; hence, any poem or similar composition of this nature, especially one of irregular form. — dithyrambic, adj.

See also: Greece and Greeks

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	dithyramb - a wildly enthusiastic speech or piece of writing piece of writing, written material, writing - the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect); "the writing in her novels is excellent"; "that editorial was a fine piece of writing" speech, address - the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience; "he listened to an address on minor Roman poets"
	2.	dithyramb - (ancient Greece) a passionate hymn (usually in honor of Dionysus) hymn, anthem - a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation) Ellas, Greece, Hellenic Republic - a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil antiquity - the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe

Translations

ditirambo

dityrambe

дифирамб