elegy
UK: ˈel.ə.dʒi | US: ˈel.ə.dʒi
n. a mournful poem or song, especially one written to lament the dead
n. a piece of music expressing sorrow or melancholy
The word "elegy" traces back to the Greek elegeia, derived from elegos (a mournful poem or song). The root ele- carries the sense of lamentation, while -gy (via Latin -ia and Greek -eia) forms a noun denoting a type of composition. Originally, Greek elegies were written in alternating hexameter and pentameter lines, often expressing sorrow or reflection. Over time, the term narrowed to specifically denote poems mourning the dead. The English adaptation preserved both the form and the melancholic essence of the original.
The poet composed an elegy to honor his late friend.
The composer’s latest work is a haunting elegy for solo violin.
Ancient Greek elegies often blended personal grief with philosophical musings.
She read an elegy at the memorial service, moving everyone to tears.
The anthology includes a famous elegy written after the war.