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