Agnus Dei

American  

[ag-nuhs dee-ahy, de-ee, ah-nyoos de-ee] / ˈæg nəs ˈdi aɪ, ˈdɛ i, ˈɑ nyʊs ˈdɛ i /

noun

1. Ecclesiastical.

   1. a figure of a lamb as emblematic of Christ.

   2. such a representation with the nimbus inscribed with the cross about its head, and supporting the banner of the cross.

2. a prayer addressed to Christ as Savior preceding the communion in the Mass.

3. a musical setting of this prayer.

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Agnus Dei British  

/ ˈæɡnʊs ˈdeɪɪ /

noun

1. the figure of a lamb bearing a cross or banner, emblematic of Christ

2. a chant beginning with these words or a translation of them, forming part of the Roman Catholic Mass or sung as an anthem in the Anglican liturgy

3. a wax medallion stamped with a lamb as emblem of Christ and blessed by the pope

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Etymology

Origin of Agnus Dei

< Latin: lamb of God

Example Sentences

It's a trait Abigail explores on the opening track, Agnus Dei, which depicts one of her exes as a heavenly apparition, descending from the clouds onto London Bridge.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

Leonard Bernstein led a choir and a pickup orchestra in Haydn’s “Mass in Time of War,” whose Agnus Dei section reverberated with the desperate plea, “Dona nobis pacem” — “Grant us peace!”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2017

The vocal soloists were talented, particularly the countertenor Daniel Moody, his upper register as plangent as a clarinet’s in his Agnus Dei aria.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2014

So much so, that Mozart was actually re-using the melody here from the Agnus Dei of his earlier Coronation Mass transposed from the original F major to C major.

From The Guardian • Jul. 10, 2013

Then he unlocked the door of the back room and brought out one of his albums of Gregorian music and he put a Pater Noster and Agnus Dei on the turntable and started it going.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck