Dirge
/dɜrdʒ/
nounC1
Definition
A dirge is a type of music or song that is very slow and sad. People usually play or sing a dirge when they want to express grief (deep sadness) or remember someone who has died. It is often part of funeral ceremonies or moments of mourning.
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See It in Action
A mournful song or piece of music played at funerals or times of sadness
- •The choir sang a dirge as the coffin was carried out.
- •The old dirge echoed through the empty church.
- •A slow dirge played on the violin filled the room with sorrow.
A poem or speech expressing grief for someone who has died (less common)
- •The poet wrote a dirge to honor the fallen hero.
- •His words were like a dirge, full of sadness and respect.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "dirge" like "song," but a very sad and slow one that makes you feel sorrow or loss
- ✓Picture a quiet, slow melody played on a flute or sung softly at a funeral, with people feeling sad
- ✓It's the feeling when you remember someone you loved who is no longer alive and your heart feels heavy
- ✓Sounds like "dirge" → imagine a gentle "urge" to remember and honor someone who passed away
- ✓In stories or movies, dirges often play during scenes of loss or farewell to create a sad mood
- ✓NOT like "happy song" (fast and joyful), a dirge is slow and full of sadness
- ✓NOT like "anthem" (strong, proud song), a dirge is quiet and mournful
- ✓NOT like "lullaby" (soft song to help sleep), a dirge is about sorrow, not comfort
Try Other Words
- •Lament: a sad song or poem (Use when expressing deep sadness but not always at funerals)
- •Elegy: a poem or song for someone who died (Use in poetry or formal writing)
- •Funeral song: a song played at funerals (Use in simple, clear contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; the word is a noun on its own)
- •Etymology: From Latin "dirige" meaning "direct" or "guide," from a phrase used in prayers for the dead
- •Historical development: Originally a part of religious prayers in Latin, it came to mean a song or music for mourning
- •Modern usage: Used mainly to describe slow, sad music or poetry connected to death and mourning
Reflect & Connect
•How does music like a dirge help people express feelings that are hard to say with words?
•Can you think of a time when hearing a sad song helped you feel better or understand a loss?
Fill in the blanks
1.At the funeral, the band played a dirge to ___ the sadness everyone felt.
2.A dirge is usually ___ and slow, unlike a happy or fast song.
3.People listen to a dirge to remember someone who has ___.
4.Unlike a lullaby, a dirge expresses ___, not comfort or sleepiness.
5.The poet’s dirge was a way to ___ the person who had passed away.
6.A dirge often ___ feelings of grief and loss in listeners.
7.When a dirge is played, you can ___ that the event is serious and sad.