epicedium

[ep-uh-see-dee-uhm, -si-dahy-uhm]

noun

plural

epicedia 

1. a funeral song; dirge.

epicedium

/ ˌɛpɪˈsiːdɪəm /

noun

1. rare,  a funeral ode

Other Word Forms

• epicedial adjective
• epicedian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicedium¹

1580–90; < New Latin < Greek epikḗdeion, noun use of neuter of epikḗdeios of a funeral, equivalent to epi- epi- + kēde- (stem of kêdos care, sorrow) + -ios adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicedium¹

C16: Latin, from Greek epikēdeion, from _epi- + kédos care

Example Sentences

Epicedium, ep-i-sē′di-um, n. a funeral ode.—adjs.

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Sir Henry Bishop has certainly written an "Epicedium," or funeral dirge, for the end of the play, for the production at Covent Garden; but though no author's name save Shakespeare's appears on the title-page, I can trace no text of Shakespeare's in this "Epicedium."

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The Latin poems include the panegyric already referred to, an Epicedium in obitum Thoma Rhodi; Basia, sive Strena ad Jacobum Hayum; Lessus in funere Raphaelis Thorei; Carina Caro; and minor pieces, occasional and epitaphic.

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The Tears of Peace, which contains his finest work, is in honour of Prince Henry—a worthy work on a worthy subject, which was followed up later by an epicedium on the prince's lamented death.

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Countenances of such amazement were turned towards him, that Small, who had a keen sense of the ludicrous, could scarcely forbear smiling as he proceeded; and if we could suspect so grave a personage of waggery, we should almost think that, by way of retaliation, he had palmed some abstruse, monkish epicedium upon his astounded auditors.

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