Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dirge” come from?

Dirge comes from Middle English dirige, from Latin dirige, the imperative of dirigo meaning to direct or guide, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- meaning to rule.

dirge (English): A mournful poem or piece of music composed or...

Definitions

  1. A mournful poem or piece of music composed or...

Ancestry of “dirge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdirigeThe portion of a Christian remembrance service...
2Latindirigesecond-person singular present active imperative...
3LatindirigoI lay straight; arrange in lines; I direct,...
4LatinregoI rule, govern; I guide, steer; I oversee, manage
5Proto-Italicregō—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃réǵetito be straightening, to be setting upright
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just

Words derived from “dirge”

  • dirgelike
  • dirgeful
  • dirgy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- →