elegy

CEFRC1

/ˈɛlɪd͡ʒi/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A poem or song expressing sadness for someone who died.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A classical poem written in elegiac meter

Examples

  • This elegy follows the traditional elegiac couplet format of classical poetry.

  • Tom wrote an elegy for Mary.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A composition of mournful character.

  2. A mournful or plaintive poem; a funeral song; a poem of lamentation.

More examples

In context

  • funeral elegy

  • pastoral elegy

  • solemn elegy

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The poet recited a sorrowful blank for the fallen soldiers at the memorial.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle French elegie, from Latin elegīa, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐλεγείᾱ (elegeíā), ellipsis of ἐλεγείᾱ ᾠδή (elegeíā ōidḗ, “an elegiac song”).