English
elegy
Elegy comes from Middle French elegie ‘elegy (poem)’, and goes back to Ancient Greek ἔλεγος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεγοςélegos‘poem or song of lament’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεγείᾱelegeíā
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEelegīa
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600elegie‘elegy (poem)’
- Englishtodayelegy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεγοςélegos‘poem or song of lament’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεγείᾱelegeíā
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEelegīa
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600elegie‘elegy (poem)’
- Englishtodayelegy
Linked words
through Ancient Greek ἐλεγείᾱ
Today it means
noun A mournful or plaintive poem; a funeral song; a poem of lamentation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἔλεγος / elegy