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Magnificat

American  
[mag-nif-i-kat, -kaht, mahg-nif-i-kaht, mahn-yif-] / mægˈnɪf ɪˌkæt, -ˌkɑt, mɑgˈnɪf ɪˌkɑt, mɑnˈjɪf- /

noun

  1. (italics) the hymn of the Virgin Mary in Luke, 1:46–55, beginning “My soul doth magnify the Lord,” used as a canticle at evensong or vespers.

  2. a musical setting for this.


Magnificat British  
/ mæɡˈnɪfɪˌkæt /

noun

  1. Christianity the hymn of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:46-55), used as a canticle

"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

Etymology

Origin of Magnificat

1150–1200; Middle English < Latin: (it) magnifies (from the first word of the hymn)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Written as a companion piece to Bach’s Magnificat, with which Grant Gershon began the program, Reena’s score could just as easily be a companion to Cage’s “Apartment House 1776,”

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 19, 2018

Still keeping the pews warm in the capital is Doorkins Magnificat, the cat-in-residence at Southwark Cathedral.

From BBC Feb. 2, 2018

Members of the choir will sing to plainsong a verse of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and then the organist will improvise the next verse.

From Washington Post Mar. 31, 2017

Bach’s Christmas Magnificat was written in 1723 when Bach was a very busy and underpaid teacher and music director in Leipzig.

From Seattle Times Dec. 9, 2016

I go up to my room and look for Mango, whose official name is Mango the Magnificat.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass

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