Miserere

[miz-uh-rair-ee, -reer-ee]

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.

Miserere

¹

/ ˌmɪzəˈrɛərɪ, -ˈrɪərɪ /

noun

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

miserere

²

/ -ˈrɪərɪ, ˌmɪzəˈrɛərɪ /

noun

1. another word for misericord

Word History and Origins

Origin of Miserere¹

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".

Read more on Reuters

Several of his pieces reflect the importance of Byrd, most explicitly “Two Motets,” an orchestration of “Bow thine Ear” and “Miserere mei, Deus.”

Read more on New York Times

It began with the chorus, conducted by Pacific Chorale Artistic Director Robert Istad, in the brief a cappella “Miserere mei, Deus,” written for the Sistine Chapel likely in 1638.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But “Fiat Lux” is something far beyond and above Allegri, a composer only known for his “Miserere,” or early Strauss.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.

Read more on BBC