hymn
[him]
- a song or ode in praise or honor of God, a deity, a nation, etc.
- something resembling this, as a speech, essay, or book in praise of someone or something.
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- to praise or celebrate in a hymn; express in a hymn.
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- to sing hymns.
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Origin of hymn
before 1000; < Latin hymnus < Greek hýmnos song in praise of gods or heroes; replacing Middle English ymne (< Old French) and Old English ymn (< Late Latin ymnus)
Synonyms
See more synonyms for hymn on Thesaurus.com1. anthem, psalm, paean.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hymn
Contemporary Examples
There a professional choir had assembled, repeatedly singing the hymn “Hallelujah” a cappella.
Silvio Berlusconi Steps Down: Protesters Celebrate in Front of His HomeBarbie Latza Nadeau
November 12, 2011
This whimsical story was based on a hymn that she recorded for a CD years ago.
Historical Examples
The hymn, the portion of Scripture, and the prayer of Brother Buster.
After about twenty minutes, he ceased, saying, "We will now sing a hymn."
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Now we know a proper evening hymn, and you may go quickly to rest, my children.
Rico and WiseliJohanna Spyri
The latter, who had given out the hymn, was a man of very different caliber.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
Then the sailors sang a hymn of praise, and the hymn was of the king and to the king.
A Little Book of Profitable TalesEugene Field
hymn
- a Christian song of praise sung to God or a saint
- a similar song praising other gods, a nation, etc
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- to express (praises, thanks, etc) by singing hymns
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Word Origin
C13: from Latin hymnus, from Greek humnos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for hymn
n.
c.1000, from Old French ymne and Old English ymen, both from Latin hymnus "song of praise," from Greek hymnos "song or ode in praise of gods or heroes," used in Septuagint for various Hebrew words meaning "song praising God." Possibly a variant of hymenaios "wedding song," from Hymen, Greek god of marriage (see hymen), or from a PIE root *sam- "to sing" (cf. Hittite išhamai "he sings," Sanskrit saman- "hymn, song") [Watkins]. Evidence for the silent -n- dates from at least 1530.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper