Stabat Mater

[stah-baht mah-ter, stey-bat mey-ter]

noun

1. (italics),  a Latin hymn, composed in the 13th century, commemorating the sorrows of the Virgin Mary at the Cross.

2. a musical setting for this.

Stabat Mater

/ ˈstɑːbæt ˈmɑːtə /

noun

1. RC Church a Latin hymn, probably of the 13th century, commemorating the sorrows of the Virgin Mary at the crucifixion and used in the Mass and various other services

2. a musical setting of this hymn

Word History and Origins

Origin of Stabat Mater¹

Literally, “the mother was standing, the first words of the hymn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Stabat Mater¹

from the opening words, literally: the mother was standing