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A lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite; "a funeral dirge."

A mournful song, piece of music, or poem. The word "dirge" comes from its relationship to an old Latin chant used in Church during services for the dead. That chant was “Dirige, Domine deus meus, in conspectutuo viam meam” (Direct, O Lord my God, my way in thy sight). Because hymns and chants were often referred to by their first words, dirge became the common word for this chant. Later it was used for any slow, solemn piece of music. But the word "dirge" itself relates to the Latin word "direct." It's first confirmed uses occur during the 1200's. The word existed in Middle English, as did "dirige" (derived from dirge), which referred to the Office of the Dead, beginning with the antiphon for the first psalm of the first nocturn of matins.

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