Where does “countermelody” come from?
countermelody (English) comes from English Melody, from Middle English melodie, from Old French melodie, from Latin melōdia, from Ancient Greek μελῳδία, from Ancient Greek μελῳδός, from Ancient Greek μέλος, from Proto-Indo-European mel- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
countermelody (English): a secondary or supplemental melody played...
Definitions
- a secondary or supplemental melody played...
Ancestry of “countermelody”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Melody | A sequence of notes that makes up a musical phrase |
| 2 | Middle English | melodie | Melodiousness; the quality of being musically harmonious or pleasant |
| 3 | Old French | melodie | — |
| 4 | Latin | melōdia | melody |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μελῳδία | song, singing; chant; music, melody |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μελῳδός | musical |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | μέλος | part of a body, limb, member, part; part of a... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |