dirge Hear it!

dirge definition

dirge (dʉrj)

noun

  1. a funeral hymn
  2. a slow, sad song, poem, or musical composition expressing grief or mourning; lament

Etymology: ME < L dirige, imper. of dirigere, to direct, the first word of an antiphon (Psalm 5:8) in the Office for the Burial of the Dead

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.