DIRGE Dirge, n. Etym: [Contraction of Lat. dirige, direct thou (imperative of dirigere), the first word of a funeral hymn (Lat. transl. of Psalm v. 8) beginning, "Dirige, Domine, in conspectu tuo vitam meam." See Direct, a., and cf. Dirige.]
Defn: A piece of music of a mournful character, to accompany funeral
rites; a funeral hymn.
The raven croaked, and hollow shrieks of owls Sung dirges at her
funeral. Ford.
DIRGEFUL
Dirge"ful, a.
Defn: Funereal; moaning.
Soothed sadly by the dirgeful wind. Coleridge.
DIRIGE
Dir"i*ge, n. Etym: [L. See Dirge.]
Defn: A service for the dead, in the Roman Catholic Church, being the first antiphon of Matins for the dead, of which Dirige is the first word; a dirge. Evensongs and placebo and dirige. Wyclif. Resort, I pray you, unto my sepulture To sing my dirige with great devotion. Lamentation of Mary Magdalene.
DIRIGENT Dir"i*gent, a. Etym: [L. dirigens, p. pr. of dirigere. See Direct, a.]
Defn: Directing. Baxter.
DIRIGENT
Dir"i*gent, n. (Geom.)
Defn: The line of motion along which a describent line or surface is carried in the genesis of any plane or solid figure; a directrix. Hutton.