Miserere

American  

[miz-uh-rair-ee, -reer-ee] / ˌmɪz əˈrɛər i, -ˈrɪər i /

noun

1. the 51st Psalm, or the 50th in the Douay Bible.

2. a musical setting for it.

3. (lowercase) a prayer or expression of appeal for mercy.

4. (lowercase) misericord.

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Miserere ¹ British  

/ ˌmɪzəˈrɛərɪ, -ˈrɪərɪ /

noun

1. the 51st psalm, the Latin version of which begins "Miserere mei, Deus" ("Have mercy on me, O God")

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miserere ² British  

/ -ˈrɪərɪ, ˌmɪzəˈrɛərɪ /

noun

1. another word for misericord

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Etymology

Origin of Miserere

From the Latin word miserēre literally, have pity (imperative), first word of the psalm

Example Sentences

The gala recital drew on Callas' vast repertoire to include arias such as "Casta Diva" from Bellini's "Norma", "Miserere" from Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and a fully-staged performance of Act II of "Tosca".

From Reuters • Nov. 9, 2023

Gershon told the audience that "Miserere" was jealously guarded by the Vatican for exclusive use in the Sistine Chapel for more than two centuries.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2016

It will start with vocal music — the Mozart "Requiem" and Part's "Miserere."

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2015

Later that day, he wrote the piece down entirely from memory, and that was the end of the secret Miserere.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2011

Josquin’s motet Miserere mei, Deus composed in about 1503, shows us how far the musical treatment of texts had come since the death of Dufay.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall