Definition of elegy
elegies
1 : a poem in elegiac couplets
2a : a song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation especially for one who is deadb : something (such as a speech) resembling such a song or poem
3a : a pensive or reflective poem that is usually nostalgic or melancholyb : a short pensive musical composition
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Examples of elegy in a Sentence
“O Captain! My Captain!” is Walt Whitman's elegy on the death of President Lincoln
Origin and Etymology of elegy
Latin elegia poem in elegiac couplets, from Greek elegeia, elegeion, from elegos song of mourning
First Known Use: 1501
ELEGY Defined for English Language Learners
elegy
playDefinition of elegy for English Language Learners
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: a sad poem or song : a poem or song that expresses sorrow for someone who is dead
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for elegy Spanish Central: Translation of elegy Nglish: Translation of elegy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of elegy for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elegy
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