canticle
Americannoun
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one of the nonmetrical hymns or chants, chiefly from the Bible, used in church services.
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a song, poem, or hymn especially of praise.
noun
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a nonmetrical hymn, derived from the Bible and used in the liturgy of certain Christian churches
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a song, poem, or hymn, esp one that is religious in character
Etymology
Origin of canticle
1175–1225; Middle English (< Old French ) < Latin canticulum, equivalent to cantic ( um ) song ( canticum ) + -ulum -ule
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Telegraph reported lyrics from the canticle written by a chorister included "Lord, how long shall the ungodly triumph?" and "how long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully?"
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
The first was Bach’s glorious 12-part canticle, premiered in 1723 as the conclusion of the Christmas Vespers in Leipzig as a sort of meet-your-new-cantor demonstration of his powers.
From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2021
These tiny brown natives with a spring canticle that’s been described as a “pinnacle of song complexity” hold their tail upright and shake with sound when they sing.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2021
On February 8th 1996 in Davos, Switzerland, he wrote his most famous and controversial canticle: “A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace.”
From Economist • Feb. 18, 2018
On Saturday afternoon Ben rounded the corner of River Street and heard Toomer’s voice calling out in a wailing summer canticle to the last shoppers of the day.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
