Elegy
mediumEL-uh-jee
noun
Definition
a mournful poem, especially a lament for the dead
Examples
“The poet composed an elegy for the soldiers who never returned home.”
“Critics read the novel's final chapter as an elegy for a vanished way of life.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Elegy is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "lament" or "dirge" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "celebration".
Related GRE Words
allusion
An indirect reference, especially to something in literature or history
ambivalent
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
animosity
Strong hostility or hatred
antipathy
a deep, settled feeling of dislike or aversion
apprehension
Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
contempt
The feeling that a person or thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn
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