EL'EGY, noun [Latin elegia; Gr. to speak or utter.; Latin lugeo. The verbs may have a common origin, for to speak and to cry out in wailing are only modifications of the same act, to throw out the voice with more or less vehemence.] 1. A mournful or plaintive poem, or a funeral song; a poem or a song expressive of sorrow and lamentation. 2. A short poem without points or affected elegancies.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI