What does ELEGY mean?

Parts of Speech

Noun

Definitions

1. A poem or song that expresses sorrow for someone who has died.
2. A mournful or melancholy poem or piece of music.

Pronunciations

• US: /ˈɛlədʒi/
• UK: /ˈɛlɪdʒi/

Origin and Usage

The word "elegy" comes from the Greek word "elegeia," meaning "elegiac verse," which was a type of poetry that was typically written in elegiac couplets and used to express sorrow or lamentation. Over time, the term "elegy" came to be used more broadly to refer to any poem or song that expresses sorrow or mourning, particularly for someone who has died. Today, the term is still used to refer to mournful or melancholy poetry or music.

Synonyms

• Dirge
• Requiem
• Threnody
• Lament

Related Words

• Lyric
• Verse
• Haiku
• Sonnet
• Poem

Example Sentences

1. She wrote an elegy for her father, who had passed away the previous year.
2. The mournful sound of the cello added to the elegiac atmosphere of the funeral.