-ode

¹

1. a suffix of nouns, appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “like”; used in the formation of compound words.

   phyllode.

-ode

²

1. a combining form meaning “way,” “road,” used in the formation of compound words.

   anode; electrode.

ode

³

[ohd]

noun

1. a lyric poem typically of elaborate or irregular metrical form and expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion.

2. (originally) a poem intended to be sung.

-ode

¹

combining form

1. denoting resemblance

   nematode

-ode

²

combining form

1. denoting a path or way

   electrode

ode

³

/ əʊd /

noun

1. a lyric poem, typically addressed to a particular subject, with lines of varying lengths and complex rhythms See also Horatian ode Pindaric ode

2. (formerly) a poem meant to be sung

ode

1. A kind of poem devoted to the praise of a person, animal, or thing. An ode is usually written in an elevated style and often expresses deep feeling. An example is “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” by John Keats.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ode¹

< Greek -ōdēs, probably generalized from adjectives describing smells, as kēṓdēs smelling like incense; base ōd- of ózein to smell, give off odor

Origin of ode²

< Greek -odos, combining form of hodós

Origin of ode³

1580–90; < Middle French < Late Latin ōda < Greek ōidḗ, contraction of aoidḗ song, derivative of aeídein to sing

Word History and Origins

Origin of ode¹

from Greek -ōdēs, from eidos shape, form

Origin of ode²

from Greek -odos, from hodos a way

Origin of ode³

C16: via French from Late Latin ōda, from Greek ōidē, from aeidein to sing

Example Sentences

No one writes an ode to a high OPS.

From Los Angeles Times

The record-breaking album is an ode to Puerto Rico — its people, its land and its culture.

From Los Angeles Times

But she wanted to create an “uplifting” environment, an ode to the spaces that have brought her joy and positive memories.

From Los Angeles Times

A city that was once an ode to the freeway is fast becoming a globally recognized source of innovations in multimodal transport.

From Los Angeles Times

It was an ode to my mother and my wife, just telling them that I wasn’t giving up every time I relapsed.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does -ode mean?

The combining form -ode is used like a suffix that has two distinct senses.The first of these senses is “like,” and this form of -ode is very occasionally used in a variety of scientific terms, especially in biology. This sense of -ode comes from Greek -ōdēs, roughly meaning “smell.” This suffix in Greek likely comes from words that describe smells and is related to the verb ózein, which means "to smell."The second of these senses is “way” or "road," and this form of -ode is occasionally used in a variety of technical terms, especially in electrical terms. This sense of -ode comes from Greek hodós, meaning "way."

When To Use

What else does ode mean?

In literature, an ode is a type of lyrical poem enthusiastically praising a person or event. The slang ode, pronounced [ oh-dee ], is an intensifying adverb meaning "really" or "very."How is ode pronounced?[ ohd ] or [ oh-dee ]What are other forms of ode?odeeWhat are some other words related to ode?

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