'monody' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'monōidía' (μονῳδία), where 'mono-' meant 'single' and 'oide' (from 'ōidē') meant 'song'.

'monody' passed from Greek 'monōidía' into Late Latin/Medieval usage and was adopted into English by way of Late Middle English and early modern poetic and musical usage, eventually becoming the modern English word 'monody'.

Initially, it meant 'a song for one voice' (a solo song); over time it also developed the specialized sense of 'a lament or funeral poem' and is commonly used to mean a mournful poem or lament.