monophonous

From mono- +‎ -phonous. Compare Ancient Greek μονόφωνος (monóphōnos, “with only one voice or tone”).^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /məˈnɒ.fə.nəs/

monophonous (not comparable)

1. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) Able to produce only one sound at a time.
2. (music) Characterized by monophony.

   Synonym: monophonic

   • 1974 March 18, “A Forgotten Melody”, in Time, volume 103, number 11, →ISSN, page 57:

     It was a short monophonous melody with a delicate Oriental redolence, much like a lullaby or love song.

   • 1979, Karl Weinmann, History of Church Music, →ISBN, page 40:

     A real danger arose for monophonous Church music through the introduction of polyphony and through the humanistic movement, which influenced, especially in Italy, the musicians of the 16th century.

   • 1986, Fanny Davis, The Ottoman Lady: A Social History from 1718 to 1918, →ISBN, page 166:

     Ottoman music, even the classical music played by the bands, was monophonous, consisting simply of the melodic line, with infinite variations but without harmony or counterpoint