melody

The word 'melody' originates from the Late Latin melodia, which itself was borrowed from the Greek melōidia, meaning "singing, chanting" or a "tune for lyric poetry." The Greek term is a compound of melos (song, musical phrase, or limb) and aoidē/ōidē (song, ode). Thus, the word is essentially a tautological compound, literally translating to "song-song." This reflects the ancient Greek conception of melody as the organized, singable component of music. Over time, through Latin and Old French (melodie), the term entered English, shedding its purely poetic association to denote the principal, linear tune in a piece of music, distinct from harmony or rhythm.

Structure: mel (song) + ody (song) - mel: From Greek melos, meaning "song, tune, or limb/member" (in the sense of a part of a whole). In this word, it functions as the core root conveying the concept of song or music. - ody: From Greek ōidē, meaning "song" or "ode". In this word, it functions as a reinforcing or complementary root, also meaning song.