n. pl. par·o·dies 1. a. A literary or artistic work that uses imitation, as of the characteristic style of an author or a work, for comic effect or ridicule. b. A genre, as in literature, comprising such works. 2. Something so bad as to be equivalent to intentional mockery; a travesty: The trial was a parody of justice. 3. Music The practice of reworking an already established composition, especially the incorporation into the Mass of material borrowed from other works, such as motets or madrigals. [Latin parōdia, from Greek parōidiā : para-, subsidiary to; see PARA-1 + aoidē, ōidē, song; see wed-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pa·rodic (pə-rŏdĭk), pa·rodi·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj. paro·dist n. par′o·distic adj. |
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