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Definition of dirge
1 : a song or hymn of grief or lamentation; especially : one intended to accompany funeral or memorial rites a funeral dirge
2 : a slow, solemn, and mournful piece of music
3 : something (such as a poem) that has the qualities of a dirge
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Examples of dirge in a Sentence
bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader
Recent Examples of dirge from the Web
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Not only did supporters of the all-but-vanished pro-Brexit UKIP Party spilt their votes between Conservatives and Labour, but the once-robust Scottish nationalist movement died like the dirge of a bagpipe.
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Rather, this composition was a somber dirge, with each beat of the drums a profound proclamation of sorrow.
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A discussion that had begun with all the enthusiasm of a dirge was quickly moving in a more optimistic direction.
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And then, in what seems to be one breath, the song shifts seamlessly to a slow, dirge-like crawl, and we are transported to a convention where Kendrick details the dangers of gun violence to a group of children.
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Every now and then, though, a glistening sweep of harp would cut through the dirge, sounding the possibility of glory in the wreckage.
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House Republicans pulled their health-care bill shortly before a vote on Friday, and for once the media dirge is right about a GOP defeat.
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Mr. Jackman’s charm can lighten the glummest dirge, but for comic-book agnostics the real appeal is Logan’s reluctance to get involved, an ambivalence that can feel familiar to viewers exhausted by the same fight.
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Lest all this begin to sound too much like a dirge, it must be mentioned that Freeney is broadly smiling these days.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dirge'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
The meaning of English dirge is not directly related to the meaning of the Latin word it comes from. Dirge and its earlier form dirige, meaning “a song or hymn of mourning,” come from the first word of a Latin chant used in the church service for the dead: “Dirige, Domine deus meus, in conspectutuo viam meam” (Direct, O Lord my God, my way in thy sight). Because hymns and chants were often referred to by their first words, dirge became the common word for this chant. Later it was used for ant slow, solemn piece of music.
Origin and Etymology of dirge
Middle English dirige, the Office of the Dead, from the first word of a Late Latin antiphon, from Latin, imperative of dirigere to direct — more at dress
DIRGE Defined for English Language Learners
dirge
playDefinition of dirge for English Language Learners
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: a slow song that expresses sadness or sorrow
Learn More about dirge
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dirge Spanish Central: Translation of dirge Nglish: Translation of dirge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dirge for Arabic speakers
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