dithyramb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareLiterary, poetic, academic (classics, literary criticism, musicology). Highly formal.
Quick answer
What does “dithyramb” mean?
A passionate, choral hymn in ancient Greece, dedicated to Dionysus, characterised by wild, irregular and ecstatic poetry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A passionate, choral hymn in ancient Greece, dedicated to Dionysus, characterised by wild, irregular and ecstatic poetry.
Any impassioned, enthusiastic, or emotionally unrestrained speech, poem, or piece of writing; a rhapsody or extravagant praise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes deep literary/historical scholarship, classical education, or deliberate poetic archaism.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpuses. Slightly more likely to appear in UK publications due to stronger traditional emphasis on classical education, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “dithyramb” in a Sentence
[verb] a dithyramb (to/on/about [object of praise])a dithyramb of [abstract noun, e.g., praise, joy]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dithyramb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The critic accused the poet of merely dithyrambing rather than constructing a reasoned argument.
American English
- His speech didn't just praise the founder; it dithyrambed for a full twenty minutes.
adverb
British English
- He spoke dithyrambically about the virtues of the old composer.
American English
- The reviewer wrote dithyrambically, calling the novel a flawless masterpiece.
adjective
British English
- The essay's tone was unacceptably dithyrambic, lacking all critical distance.
American English
- She dismissed the biography as a piece of dithyrambic hero-worship.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in Classics, Theatre History, and Literary Criticism to discuss ancient Greek poetry or its influence.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used in Musicology to refer to the origins of tragedy and choral lyric poetry.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dithyramb”
- Misspelling as 'dithyram' (dropping the 'b').
- Mispronunciation with /aɪ/ (as in 'thy') instead of /ɪ/.
- Using it as a synonym for any praise, losing the connotation of wild, archaic, or poetic ecstasy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and confined to literary, academic, or highly formal poetic contexts. Most native speakers would not know or use it.
Yes. While it neutrally describes a form of ancient poetry, in modern extended use it can imply a speech or writing that is excessively emotional, unrestrained, and lacking in intellectual rigour or critical judgement.
The dithyramb was originally a choral hymn sung and danced in honour of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ecstasy, and theatre. Its wild and irregular nature was meant to channel his divine frenzy.
Fragments of dithyrambs by poets like Pindar and Bacchylides survive. The form itself is more historically significant than any single surviving example, as it is considered a key precursor to Greek tragedy.
A passionate, choral hymn in ancient Greece, dedicated to Dionysus, characterised by wild, irregular and ecstatic poetry.
Dithyramb is usually literary, poetic, academic (classics, literary criticism, musicology). highly formal. in register.
Dithyramb: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪθɪræm(b)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪθəˌræm(b)/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "DITHYramb" sounds a bit like "dither" but with wild energy. Imagine a frenzied poet named DITHY rambling (ramb) on in an ecstatic, uncontrolled hymn.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNRESTRAINED EMOTION IS A WILD RITUAL SONG / ENTHUSIASTIC PRAISE IS A DIONYSIAN HYMN.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the use of the word 'dithyramb'?