hymn

[him]

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noun

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.

verb (used with object)

to praise or celebrate in a hymn; express in a hymn.

verb (used without object)

to sing hymns.

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)

Related formshymn·er

[him-er, -ner] /ˈhɪm ər, -nər/, nounhymn·like, adjectiveun·hymned, adjective

Can be confusedhim hymn

Synonyms for hymn

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1. anthem, psalm, paean.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hymn

chant, paean, ditty, psalm, oratorio, descant, aria, laud, shout, lay, carol, ode, choral, lied, evensong, chorale, canticle, hallelujah, hosanna, alleluia

Examples from the Web for hymn

Contemporary Examples of hymn

There a professional choir had assembled, repeatedly singing the hymn “Hallelujah” a cappella.
Silvio Berlusconi Steps Down: Protesters Celebrate in Front of His Home
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 12, 2011
This whimsical story was based on a hymn that she recorded for a CD years ago.
Kathie Lee Gifford's Favorite Books
The Daily Beast
June 15, 2011

Historical Examples of hymn

The hymn, the portion of Scripture, and the prayer of Brother Buster.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
After about twenty minutes, he ceased, saying, "We will now sing a hymn."
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Now we know a proper evening hymn, and you may go quickly to rest, my children.
Rico and Wiseli
Johanna Spyri
The latter, who had given out the hymn, was a man of very different caliber.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert 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 Tales
Eugene Field

British Dictionary definitions for hymn

hymn

noun

a Christian song of praise sung to God or a saint
a similar song praising other gods, a nation, etc

verb

to express (praises, thanks, etc) by singing hymns

Derived Formshymnic (ˈhɪmnɪk), adjectivehymnlike, adjective

Word Origin for hymn

C13: from Latin hymnus, from Greek humnos

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hymn

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.