n. 1 a lament for the dead, esp. forming part of a funeral service. 2 any mournful song or lament. dirgeful adj.
[ ME f. L dirige (imper.) direct, the first word in the Latin antiphon (from Ps. 5:8) in the Matins part of the Office for the Dead ]
n. 1 a lament for the dead, esp. forming part of a funeral service. 2 any mournful song or lament. dirgeful adj.
[ ME f. L dirige (imper.) direct, the first word in the Latin antiphon (from Ps. 5:8) in the Matins part of the Office for the Dead ]
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012