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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.
Examples of dirge in a Sentence
Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2024
Following long minutes of silence, a dirge of bagpipes began streaming from the church, suddenly growing loud as 10 pipers emerged with a corps of drummers behind, playing on as pallbearers rolled the casket out.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024
The result is closer in style and rhythm to the doomy slow-cinema dirges of Gus Van Sant, like Elephant or Gerry.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 31 May 2024
Women in black mourning weeds gathered and hummed dirges.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near dirge
Cite this Entry
“Dirge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirge. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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dirge
nounMiddle English dirige "service performed when someone dies," from Latin dirige "direct," first word in a prayer for the dead, from earlier dirigere "to direct"
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