matins

British  

/ ˈmætɪnz /

noun

1. 1. RC Church the first of the seven canonical hours of prayer, originally observed at night but now often recited with lauds at daybreak

   2. the service of morning prayer in the Church of England

2. literary a morning song, esp of birds

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Etymology

Origin of matins

C13: from Old French, ultimately from Latin mātūtīnus of the morning, from Mātūta goddess of dawn

Example Sentences

The early Monday morning “matins” meetings between senior members of both parties set the agenda for the week and iron out disagreements, officials said.

From Reuters

Bells call them to vespers, to matins, to noonday prayer.

From Literature

I crept back into bed and lay there, contemplating the terrible sorts of fates that seem possible only in the small hours, until matins rang.

From Literature

Although lessons drawn from the saint’s vita are inserted between the matins responsories, minor prayers and versicles are omitted, as are all but the first couple of verses of psalms and canticles.

From Washington Post

Each school morning, the 2- to 5-year-olds walk next door to the church, for a small ‘matins’ service, which Henson leads for 20 minutes.

From Washington Times