dithyramb

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an ancient Greek choral hymn sung with passionate intensity in honor of Dionysus

   The chorus performed a dithyramb during the festival of Dionysus.

2. 2
   noun

   an extravagantly enthusiastic speech, poem, or piece of writing

   The review became a dithyramb praising every detail of the production.

Through Latin dithyrambus from Ancient Greek dithyrambos, the name of a choral hymn to Dionysus. Its deeper origin is uncertain and may be pre-Greek.

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