elegy
/ˈɛl.ɪ.dʒi/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
elegeia — a mournful poem, a lament
Overview
Meaning Now
- A poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
- A song or musical piece expressing sorrow or melancholy.
Literal older meaning
song of mourning
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
elegie
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term originally referred to a specific metrical form (the elegiac couplet) in Greek poetry, regardless of subject matter. Over time, particularly in Roman and then English literature, the term became exclusively associated with themes of death, loss, and mourning.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
elegeia
“a poem in elegiac couplets”
Derived from 'elegos' (lament).
- Latin
elegia
“a poem of lamentation”
- Middle French
elegie
“a funeral poem”
- Early Modern English
elegy
“a poem of lament for the dead”
Introduced via French.
Connections
Word parts
eleg-
root
lament/sorrow
Related across languages
French
élégie
elegy
German
Elegie
elegy
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.