Requiem
noun /ˈrek.wi.əm/ — A mass or musical composition for the dead
Definition
The Catholic mass for the repose of the souls of the dead — or a musical composition setting parts of this mass. Also used more broadly for any solemn memorial tribute.
Beyond the definition
The formal acknowledgment that a life deserves more than silence. A requiem insists that what is gone should be honoured with structure and beauty.
Origin & history
From Latin 'requiem', accusative of 'requies' (rest) — from the opening words 'Requiem aeternam dona eis' (Grant them eternal rest). The first word became the name of the whole.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Brahms wrote his German Requiem not as a Catholic mass but as a human one — for everyone who grieves.
She held a small requiem for the tree that had stood in the garden for a hundred years.
A requiem doesn't deny death. It gives it somewhere worthy to rest.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Requiem” when the meaning fits your context: The Catholic mass for the repose of the souls of the dead — or a musical composition setting parts of this mass. Also used more broadly for any solemn memorial tribute.
Synonyms
Antonyms
celebration, paean
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Solemn Memorial Tribute
An adult sits alone in a quiet, somber room looking at an empty chair, with low, dim lighting emphasizing the heavy emotional atmosphere.
A requiem is a solemn memorial for the dead. This image, capturing the somber, heavy atmosphere of a person grieving in solitude, functions as a visual memorial; the empty chair and the person's posture serve as a tribute to the loss, much like the liturgical music of a requiem.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Requiem" mean?
Requiem is noun meaning: A mass or musical composition for the dead. The Catholic mass for the repose of the souls of the dead — or a musical composition setting parts of this mass. Also used more broadly for any solemn memorial tribute.
Where does the word "Requiem" come from?
From Latin 'requiem', accusative of 'requies' (rest) — from the opening words 'Requiem aeternam dona eis' (Grant them eternal rest). The first word became the name of the whole.