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Webster 1913 Edition
Melody
Mel′o-dy
,Noun.
pl.
Melodies
(#)
. [OE.
melodie
, F. mélodie
, L. melodia
, fr. Gr. [GREEK] a singing, choral song, fr. [GREEK] musical, melodious; μέλοσ
song, tune + [GREEK] song. See Ode
.] 1.
A sweet or agreeable succession of sounds.
Lulled with sound of sweetest
melody
. Shakespeare
2.
(Mus.)
A rhythmical succession of single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what is technically called a musical thought, at once pleasing to the ear and characteristic in expression.
☞ Melody consists in a succession of single tones; harmony is a consonance or agreement of tones, also a succession of consonant musical combinations or chords.
Webster 1828 Edition
Melody
MEL'ODY
,Noun.
An agreeable succession of sounds; a succession of sounds so regulated and modulated as to please the ear. To constitute melody, the sounds must be arranged according to the laws of rhythms, measure, or the due proportion of the movements to each other. Melody differs from harmony, as it consists in the agreeable succession and modulation of sounds by a single voice; whereas harmony consists in the accordance of different voices or sounds. Melody is vocal or instrumental.
To make melody in the heart, to praise God with a joyful and thankful disposition, ascribing to him the honor due to his name. Eph.5.