elegy
Say it: EL-uh-jee /ˈɛlədʒi/ · noun
What “elegy” means
A sad poem or piece mourning someone who has died.
More precisely: A mournful poem or piece, especially a lament for someone who has died.
Example: “Her speech at the funeral was a moving elegy for a life well lived.”
When to use it
When discussing a poem or other work mourning a death, in a thoughtful, literary or solemn tone.
Similar words
lament, dirge, requiem
Where it comes from
Greek elegos, 'mournful poem'.
Quick check
You write a sorrowful poem remembering your grandmother after her death and read it at her memorial. It is…
an elegy or a eulogy?
Show the answer
an elegy
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