lyric

Where does the word "lyric" come from? It comes from Greek lyrikos, passing through Latin before entering English (1580s).

Lyric’s story begins in Greek: lyrikos meant “for the lyre.” Sung to the lyre; Sappho of Lesbos was the most famous lyric poet. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as lyricus. Horace imitated the Greek lyric metres. It reached English by 1580s as lyric. The plural 'lyrics' for the words of a song dates from the 1870s. Today, lyric means expressing personal emotion; the words of a song.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient lyrikos "for the lyre", sung to the lyre; Sappho of Lesbos was the most famous lyric poet.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient lyricus "lyric", Horace imitated the Greek lyric metres.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s lyric "expressing feeling; words of a song", the plural 'lyrics' for the words of a song dates from the 1870s.