encomium

the word 'encomium' entered english in the 16th century directly from latin, where it meant "a formal eulogy or panegyric." latin borrowed it from the greek word 'enkomion' (ἐγκώμιον), which referred to a song or ode of praise, typically sung at a victory celebration or in honor of a hero. the greek term itself is derived from 'en' (in) and 'komos' (a revel, festive procession), literally meaning "in the revel" or "pertaining to a festive procession." the semantic journey thus moved from a specific context of public, celebratory praise in ancient greece to a more general term for formal, written or spoken laudation in modern english.

the word is a simplex loanword from latin. it cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes using its modern english spelling.