n. [ Contraction of Lat. dirige, direct thou (imperative of dirigere), the first word of a funeral hymn (Lat. transl. of Psalm v. 8) beginning, “Dirige, Domine, in conspectu tuo vitam meam.” See Direct, a., and cf. Dirige. ] A piece of music of a mournful character, to accompany funeral rites; a funeral hymn. [ 1913 Webster ]
The raven croaked, and hollow shrieks of owls
Sung dirges at her funeral. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Funereal; moaning. [ 1913 Webster ]
Soothed sadly by the dirgeful wind. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]