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hymnody

[him-nuh-dee]
noun
  1. the singing or the composition of hymns or sacred songs.
  2. hymns collectively, especially the collective hymns of a specific religion, place, or period.
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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

  • 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.

  • There his Canons are found, which are perhaps his greatest work in hymnody.

  • Ideas common to the hymnody of all ages are to be found there.

  • 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
  1. the composition or singing of hymns
  2. hymns collectively
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Also called: hymnology
Derived Formshymnodical (hɪmˈnɒdɪkəl), adjective

Word Origin

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