elegy

Where does the word "elegy" come from? It comes from Greek elegeia, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Elegy’s story begins in Greek: elegeia meant “a song of mourning.” A mournful poem, from elegos (a song of lament). It reached English by 1500s as elegy. Settled as the English word for a poem of serious reflection, typically mourning the dead. Today, elegy means a poem or song expressing sorrow, especially for someone who has died.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient elegeia "a song of mourning", a mournful poem, from elegos (a song of lament).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s elegy "a poem of mourning or serious reflection", settled as the English word for a poem of serious reflection, typically mourning the dead.