Dirge
A dirge is a somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral. The word is also commonly used to describe singing in an un-tuneful manner. The English word dirge is derived from the Latin Dirige, Domine, Deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam ("Direct my way in your sight, O Lord my God"), the first words of the first antiphon in the Matins of the Office for the Dead. The original meaning of dirge in English referred to this office.
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Famous quotes containing the word dirge:
“Living, just by itself—what a dirge that is! Life is a classroom and Boredom’s the usher, there all the time to spy on you; whatever happens, you’ve got to look as if you were awfully busy all the time doing something that’s terribly exciting—or he’ll come along and nibble your brain.”
—Louis-Ferdinand Céline (1894–1961)