Elegy
mediumNegative toneEL-uh-jee
noun
Definition
a mournful poem, especially a lament for the dead
Memory hook
ELEGY sounds like 'ELEGANT GRIEF': an elegant, slow poem of grief read at a funeral.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
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.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The poet composed an ______ for the soldiers who never returned home.”
Show answer
elegy
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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