melodrama

Where does the word "melodrama" come from? It comes from Greek melos, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Melodrama’s story begins in Greek: melos meant “a song.” A song, combined with French drame (drama). By 1770s, the word had taken hold in French as melodrame. Coined for a stage play combining spoken drama with music. It reached English by 1800s as melodrama. Broadened to mean a sensational, exaggerated dramatic style. Today, melodrama means a sensational dramatic story with exaggerated emotion, characters, or events.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient melos "a song", a song, combined with French drame (drama).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1770s melodrame "a play combining drama and music", coined for a stage play combining spoken drama with music.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s melodrama "a sensational, exaggerated dramatic story", broadened to mean a sensational, exaggerated dramatic style.