See Also: dirge(dictionary)
dirge(dictionary)

dirge (iou)



dirge noun & verb. Also (noun, earlier) dirige. ME.
[Latin dirige imper. of. dirigere DIRECT verb, first word of the antiphon Dirige, Domine, Deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam (Ps. 5:8) formerly in the Office of the Dead.]
A. noun.
Roman Catholic Church. The Office of the Dead, esp. the morning office. arch. ME.
A song of mourning sung at a funeral etc. or in commemoration of the dead; a slow mournful song; a lament. E16.
A funeral feast, a wake. Scot. M17.
b. verb.
verb trans. Sing a dirge over, commit with a dirge. rare. M19.
verb trans. & intrans. Sing (as) a dirge. L19.
dirgeful adjective full of lamentation, mournful L18.