hymnology

[him-nol-uh-jee]

noun

1. the study of hymns, their history, classification, etc.

2. the composition of hymns.

3. hymns collectively.

hymnology

/ ˌhɪmnəˈlɒdʒɪk, hɪmˈnɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of hymn composition

2. another word for hymnody

Other Word Forms

• hymnologic adjective
• hymnologist noun
• hymnological adjective
• hymnologically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hymnology¹

First recorded in 1630–40; hymn + -o- + -logy

Example Sentences

Gillette, co-pastor of Overbrook Presbyterian Church, is the news commentator of hymnology, having turned current events into lyrics for more than 300 hymns over nearly 20 years.

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Bristol University's Dr Emma Hornby said the new Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology would be put online in the first instance to give time for corrections and to enable regular updates in the future.

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Previous attempts to update the last, 1907 edition of the hymnology dictionary all ended badly, the publishers said.

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The original Dictionary of Hymnology was published in 1892.

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Among these may be mentioned in particular two hymns of Savonarola, which are rendered so exquisitely that one is tempted to suggest that the "Carmina Sedulii," with much more of the ancient Irish hymnology, are as yet untranslated into the tongue now used in Ireland.

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