Requiem

or req·ui·em

[ rek-wee-uhm, ree-kwee-, rey- ]

/ ˈrɛk wi əm, ˈri kwi-, ˈreɪ- /

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See synonyms for Requiem on Thesaurus.com

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

Also called Requiem Mass . the Mass celebrated for the repose of the souls of the dead.
a celebration of this Mass.
a plainsong setting for this Mass.

any musical service, hymn, or dirge for the repose of the dead.

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Origin of Requiem

1275–1325; Middle English <Latin, accusative of requiēs rest (the first word of the introit of the mass for the dead)

Words nearby Requiem

reputed, reputedly, req., request, request stop, Requiem, requiem shark, requiescat, requiescat in pace, require, requirement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Requiem in a sentence

The longer it takes for SN Requiem to reappear, the farther from Earth the host galaxy is — which means a lower Hubble constant and an older universe.
A supernova’s delayed reappearance could pin down how fast the universe expands|Ken Croswell|September 13, 2021|Science News
The distribution of dark matter in the galaxy hosting the supernova and the cluster splitting the supernova’s light is so uncertain, Schild says, that the next image of SN Requiem could come outside the years Rodney’s team has specified.
A supernova’s delayed reappearance could pin down how fast the universe expands|Ken Croswell|September 13, 2021|Science News
That’s evident from the title of the gallery’s all-member show, “Requiem,” as well as the artworks’ funereal color schemes.
In the galleries: Middle East artists examine sheltering in place amid pandemic|Mark Jenkins|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
“Requiem for the Croppies” Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon.
Seamus Heaney, 1939-2013: Accessible, Yes, and Beautiful|Jimmy So|August 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Buzz Bissinger writes a four-page sentence that ruins a requiem for welterweight Barney Ross.
Redeeming 'Jewish Jocks'|Spencer Ackerman|October 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Requiem for a Dream (2000) Simply in terms of visually gripping it would be a tie between Trainspotting and Requiem for a Dream.
Oliver Stone: Seven Drug Movies|Oliver Stone|July 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The publication of Requiem was not just sad, it was heavily ironic.
Writing Off Updike|Lee Siegel|February 1, 2009|DAILY BEAST
If you feel as bad as that three-for-a-cent requiem to Pete Hillary sounded, it's cats all right.
The Belted Seas|Arthur Colton
I hear and feel the cool, rustling wind, like a plaintive requiem over the dead.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh|George W. Foote
The officials of the church where my Roman Mass is to be given have already offered to have my Requiem done as well.
Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music|Charles Gounod
I am up to the eyes in a Requiem with full orchestral accompaniment, which will probably be performed in Germany on November 2.
Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music|Charles Gounod
At the expiration of the month the mysterious stranger appeared, and demanded the requiem.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant

British Dictionary definitions for Requiem

Requiem

/ (ˈrɛkwɪˌɛm) /

noun

RC Church a Mass celebrated for the dead

a musical setting of this Mass

any piece of music composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person or persons

Word Origin for Requiem

C14: from Latin requiēs rest, from the opening of the introit, Requiem aeternam dona eis Rest eternal grant unto them

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Requiem

Requiem

[ (rek-wee-uhm) ]

In music, a Mass for one or more dead persons, containing biblical passages and prayers for the admission of the dead to heaven. The term has been loosely applied to other musical compositions in honor of the dead. A German Requiem by Johannes Brahms, for example, uses texts from the Bible (see also Bible) but is not a Mass.