dirge

noun

ˈdərj 

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

dirgelike

ˈdərj-ˌlīk 

adjective

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 conspectu tuo 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 any slow, solemn piece of music.

Synonyms

• lament
• elegy
• requiem

Examples of dirge in a Sentence

bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader

Recent Examples on the Web

At first a dirge, then the tempo rises, and the hymnal swells. —Jenny Adams, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

Further down the lineup, Friday has Bieber collaborator and indie fave Dijon alongside the melodic dirges of Ethel Cain. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025

The Season 3 finale of the sci-fi series delivers on that promise, unfolding with the solemn rhythm of a funeral dirge. —Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

There’s nothing shiny and new to get excited about and so the apathy and dirge hasn’t been replaced. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dirge

• merge
• purge
• scourge
• serge
• splurge
• spurge
• sturge
• surge
• urge
• verge
• converge
• diverge

Kids Definition

dirge

noun

ˈdərj 

: a song or hymn of mourning

especially : one intended for funeral or memorial ceremonies

Etymology

Middle English dirige "service performed when someone dies," from Latin dirige "direct," first word in a prayer for the dead, from earlier dirigere "to direct"

Word Origin

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 conspectu tuo 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 a slow, solemn hymn of mourning.