nēnĭa (naenĭa), ae (abl. neniā, dissyl., Ov. F. 6, 142), f., a funeral song, song of lamentation, dirge: naenia est carmen quod in funere laudandi gratiā cantatur ad tibiam, Paul. ex Fest. p. 161 Müll.; cf. Macr. Somn. Scip. 2, 3; Diom. p. 482 P.: honoratorum virorum laudes cantu ad tibicinem prosequantur, cui nomen nenia, Cic. Leg. 2, 24, 62: absint inani funere neniae, Hor. C. 2, 20, 21; Suet. Aug. 100.— Transf. A mournful song or ditty of any kind: Ceae retractes munera neniae, Hor. C. 2, 1, 38: huic homini amanti mea era dixit neniam de bonis, has sung the death-dirge over his property, i. e. has buried, has consumed it, Plaut. Truc. 2, 1, 3.—Prov.: nenia ludo id fuit, my joy was turned to grief, Plaut. Ps. 5, 1, 32.— A magic song, incantation: Marsa, Hor. Epod. 17, 29.— A common, trifling song, popular song; a nursery song, lullaby; a song in gen.: puerorum Nenia, quae regnum recte facientibus offert, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 62: dicetur meritā Nox quoque neniā, id. C. 3, 28, 16: legesne potius viles nenias? mere songs, Phaedr. 3 prol. 10: lenes neniae, lullabies, Arn. 7, 237: histrionis, id. 6, 197.— Nenia soricina, the cry of the shrewmouse when caught and pierced through, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 8, 48.— Personified: Nēnia, the goddess of funeral songs, the dirge-goddess, to whom a chapel was dedicated before the Viminal gate, Arn. 4, 131; Aug. Civ. Dei, 6, 9.