Maggie's father asked her if she would read her ode to Thanksgiving to the family before Thanksgiving dinner.

Are you a word wiz?

"Ode" comes from the Greek word "aeidein" (also spelled "aidein"). What do you think "aeidein" means?

A. to sing

B. to memorize

C. to write

D. to praise

The earliest Greek odes were actually songs, and they were often accompanied by a dance. An ode written today doesn't have to inspire you to sing. The singing present in "aeidein" is also missing from two other words descended from that Greek root: "comedy," one meaning of which is "a light amusing play with a happy ending," and "tragedy," one meaning of which is "a serious drama with a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion." Another "aeidein" word has a more apparent connection to the Greek word: one meaning of "melody" is "a series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect."