elegiac: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “elegiac” mean?
Having a quality of expressing sorrow or lament, especially for something past.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Having a quality of expressing sorrow or lament, especially for something past.
Relating to or characteristic of an elegy (a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead). More broadly, evoking a wistfully mournful mood or atmosphere.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with high literary culture and classical poetry.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; more common in literary, academic, and arts criticism contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “elegiac” in a Sentence
elegiac about [something][noun] with an elegiac [tone/mood/quality]be elegiac in [tone/nature]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “elegiac” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He spoke elegiacally of the old city, now vanished beneath modern towers.
- The cello solo was played elegiacally, drawing out the sorrow.
American English
- She wrote elegiacally about the family farm that was being sold.
- The novel ends elegiacally, with the protagonist reflecting on a lifetime of change.
adjective
British English
- The film's closing scenes had a deeply elegiac quality, mourning the loss of a way of life.
- He wrote a series of elegiac verses for his departed friend.
American English
- The song's elegiac tone perfectly captured the melancholy of the road trip's end.
- Her memoir was less angry and more elegiac about her childhood hometown.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, musicology, history, and cultural studies to describe tone, themes, or periods.
Everyday
Rare; would be considered a very sophisticated word.
Technical
In poetry, a specific metrical form (elegiac couplet). In music, describes a particular mournful quality.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “elegiac”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “elegiac”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “elegiac”
- Using it to mean 'stylish' (confusion with 'elegant').
- Spelling as 'elegic'.
- Using it in casual contexts where 'sad' or 'nostalgic' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they have different origins. 'Elegiac' comes from Greek 'elegeia' (song of mourning), while 'elegant' comes from Latin 'eligere' (to choose out).
Not typically. It implies a mournful or bittersweet sadness about the past. A happy memory might be described as 'nostalgic' or 'sentimental,' but not elegiac.
No. While its origin is poetic (the elegy), it is now commonly used to describe the tone of films, music, prose, and general atmospheres that are sadly reflective.
The primary related noun is 'elegy.' 'Elegaicness' is possible but very rare and awkward. 'Elegiac tone/mood/quality' is the natural phrasing.
Having a quality of expressing sorrow or lament, especially for something past.
Elegiac is usually formal, literary in register.
Elegiac: in British English it is pronounced /ˌel.ɪˈdʒaɪ.ək/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌel.ə'dʒaɪ.ək/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In an elegiac vein”
- “Strike an elegiac note”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Elegiac sounds like 'elegy' + 'ache' — an ache of sadness expressed in an elegy.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PAST IS A LOST WORLD (evoked with mournful reverence).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the word 'elegiac'?