Miserere

American  

[miz-uh-rair-ee, -reer-ee] / ˌmɪz əˈrɛər i, -ˈrɪər i /

noun

1. the 51st Psalm, or the 50th in the Douay Bible.

2. a musical setting for it.

3. (lowercase) a prayer or expression of appeal for mercy.

4. (lowercase) misericord.

---

Miserere ¹ British  

/ ˌmɪzəˈrɛərɪ, -ˈrɪərɪ /

noun

1. the 51st psalm, the Latin version of which begins "Miserere mei, Deus" ("Have mercy on me, O God")

---

miserere ² British  

/ -ˈrɪərɪ, ˌmɪzəˈrɛərɪ /

noun

1. another word for misericord

---

Etymology

Origin of Miserere

From the Latin word miserēre literally, have pity (imperative), first word of the psalm

Example Sentences

Joseph reported pairing the Tourelles successfully with Tom Petty, while Martin Schappeit of Forest, Va., drank the Massaya and the Tourelles with “Miserere” by the English composer Michael Nyman.

From New York Times

In his teens, Gracie could hit the notoriously difficult High C in Gregorio Allegri's Miserere Mei.

From BBC

“Miserere mei, Deus,” they sang.

From The Guardian

Johann Adolf Hasse’s “Miserere” in E minor and a concerto for multiple soloists by Johann Friedrich Fasch bracket a performance of Bach’s dignified “Trauerode.”

From New York Times

Gershon, the artistic director, proved a masterful guide through the first four pieces, which began with the sumptuous sonorities of Antonio Lotti's "Crucifixus" and, astonishingly, the master chorale's first performance of Gregorio Allegri's famous "Miserere," a 17th century setting of Psalm 51.

From Los Angeles Times