English Explanatory Dictionary

dirge

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A mournful poem or piece of music composed or performed as a memorial to a deceased person.
  2. A song or piece of music that is considered too slow, bland or boring.
verb
  1. To sing dirges

Pronunciation

dûj /dɜːdʒ/ dûrj /dɝd͡ʒ/ en-us-dirge.ogg

Word forms

dirge dirges dirging dirged

Etymology

From Middle English dirige, from Latin dirige (“steer, direct”), from the beginning of the first antiphon in matins for the dead, Dirige, Domine, deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam. Doublet of dirige.

Synonyms

lament requiem coronach threnody elegy trental

Related words

dirgeful

Derived words

dirgelike dirgy
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