hymnody

[him-nuh-dee]

noun

the singing or the composition of hymns or sacred songs.
hymns collectively, especially the collective hymns of a specific religion, place, or period.

Origin of hymnody

1705–15; < Medieval Latin hymnōdia < Greek hymnōidía chanting of a hymn, equivalent to hýmn(os) hymn + ōidía singing (aoid- sing (see ode) + -ia -ia)

Related formshym·nod·i·cal

[him-nod-i-kuh l] /hɪmˈnɒd ɪ kəl/, adjectivehym·no·dist, noun

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

Examples from the Web for hymnody

Historical Examples of hymnody

In this accomplishment Evangelical hymnody played a prominent part.
Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark
Jens Christian Aaberg
These songs constitute his whole contribution to hymnody from 1810 to 1825.
Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark
Jens Christian Aaberg
There his Canons are found, which are perhaps his greatest work in hymnody.
Hymns of the Greek Church
John Brownlie
Ideas common to the hymnody of all ages are to be found there.
Music in the History of the Western Church
Edward Dickinson
And how sublime the uprushing flood of hymnody from an assembly of men of like mind!
With God in the World
Charles H. Brent

British Dictionary definitions for hymnody

hymnody

noun

the composition or singing of hymns
hymns collectively

Also called: hymnology

Derived Formshymnodical (hɪmˈnɒdɪkəl), adjective

Word Origin for hymnody

C18: from Medieval Latin hymnōdia, from Greek humnōidia, from humnōidein to chant a hymn, from hymn + aeidein to sing

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