Other forms: odes
An ode is a poem written in praise of somebody or something. An ode to autumn, write an ode, a Pindaric ode.
It addresses its subject directly, which is what distinguishes it, and the form is formal and serious. Keats wrote the famous English ones. In loose modern use, an ode to anything means a tribute in any form at all, including a film or a meal.
1nounodeA poem written in praise of somebody or something.
“John Keats wrote a famous ode to a nightingale in 1819.”
ode is a poem.
Greek oide means a song, from aeidein, to sing. Melody and parody are relatives.
Ancient Greek
ᾠδή — song
Latin
ōda
Middle French
ode
English, today
ode
From Middle French ode, from Latin ōda, from Ancient Greek ᾠδή (“song”). a doublet of Aoede.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA