dithyrambic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   wildly or extravagantly enthusiastic in expression

   The critic's dithyrambic review praised every scene as a masterpiece.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to or resembling a dithyramb, an impassioned ancient Greek choral hymn

   The composer gave the final movement a dithyrambic rhythm associated with Dionysian celebration.

From Greek dithyrambikos, through Latin dithyrambicus, from dithyrambos, a passionate choral hymn sung in honor of Dionysus. The adjective's figurative sense arose from the hymn's ecstatic, highly enthusiastic style.

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