Word of the Day - 11/02/25
threnody
/'θrɛnədi/(n.): a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
The poet composed a quiet threnody to honor her late friend.
Word Origin
The word 'threnody' originates from the Greek word "thrēnōidia" (θρηνῳδία). This word is a compound of "thrēnos" (θρῆνος), meaning 'wailing' or 'lamentation', and "ōidē" (ᾠδή), meaning 'ode' or 'song' (derived from 'aeidein' meaning 'to sing'). Thus, a threnody is literally a 'lamentation song' or a 'wailing ode'.
Words with similar origins include 'rhapsody', 'prosody', 'episode', and 'melody', all of which derive their '-ody' or '-ode' suffix from the Greek 'ōidē' (song).
Sunday Special
As a reminder, here are all of the words from this week:
psithurism
augury
commodious
discursive ignis fatuus abrogate
threnody
discursive ignis fatuus abrogate
threnody
See if you can remember all of this week's words! Here is a sentence that includes all seven, followed by a version that simplifies them to help you remember:
The psithurism through the ancient trees offered a subtle augury to the lone traveler, who sought a commodious shelter after a day of discursive wandering. He realized his pursuit of fame was an ignis fatuus he needed to abrogate, lest his life become a prolonged threnody.The rustling of leaves through the ancient trees offered a subtle sign of the future to the lone traveler, who sought a spacious shelter after a day of rambling wandering. He realized his pursuit of fame was a false hope he needed to cancel, lest his life become a prolonged mournful song.