Threnody
noun /ˈθren.ə.di/ — A song or poem of lamentation
Definition
A song, hymn, or poem of mourning — composed to express grief over a death or loss. More literary and less liturgical than a requiem; closer to an elegy in its personal quality.
Beyond the definition
Grief turned to art. A threnody says: this loss matters enough that beauty is the only adequate response.
Origin & history
From Greek 'threnos' (lamentation, wailing) + 'ōdē' (song). A song of wailing — grief structured into music or verse.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Barber's Adagio for Strings has become an unofficial threnody for national mourning.
She wrote a threnody for her teacher that was read at the memorial service.
A threnody is what happens when grief refuses to remain formless.
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 “Threnody” when the meaning fits your context: A song, hymn, or poem of mourning — composed to express grief over a death or loss. More literary and less liturgical than a requiem; closer to an elegy in its personal quality.
Synonyms
Antonyms
paean, anthem, celebration
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Threnody" mean?
Threnody is noun meaning: A song or poem of lamentation. A song, hymn, or poem of mourning — composed to express grief over a death or loss. More literary and less liturgical than a requiem; closer to an elegy in its personal quality.
Where does the word "Threnody" come from?
From Greek 'threnos' (lamentation, wailing) + 'ōdē' (song). A song of wailing — grief structured into music or verse.