dirge
UK: dɜːdʒ | US: dɜːrdʒ
n. a mournful song, poem, or musical composition expressing grief or lamentation, especially for the dead.
The word "dirge" originates from the Latin imperative phrase "Dirige, Domine, Deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam" ("Direct, O Lord my God, my way in thy sight"), which was part of the opening line of a medieval funeral hymn. Over time, the phrase was shortened to "dirige" in liturgical use, and eventually entered Middle English as "dirge," shifting in meaning to refer specifically to a funeral lament. The evolution reflects both linguistic contraction and cultural association with mourning rituals.
The mourners sang a solemn dirge as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
The poet composed a dirge to honor the fallen soldiers.
The haunting dirge played on the violin brought tears to the audience.
Ancient cultures often used dirges to commemorate their dead.
The wind howled like a dirge through the empty streets at night.