elegy

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἐλεγείᾱ
2. Latin · derived fromelegīa
3. Middle French · borrowed fromelegie
4. English todayelegy

From Middle French elegie, from Latin elegīa, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐλεγείᾱ (elegeíā), ellipsis of ἐλεγείᾱ ᾠδή (elegeíā ōidḗ, “an elegiac song”).

First known use, by meaning

• from early 16th c. A mournful or plaintive poem; a funeral song; a poem of lamentation.