Psalter

[sawl-ter]

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noun

the Biblical book of Psalms.

(sometimes lowercase) a psalmbook.

Origin of Psalter

before 900; < Late Latin psaltērium the Psalter, Latin: a psaltery < Greek psaltḗrion stringed instrument; replacing Middle English sauter (< Anglo-French < Late Latin) and Old English saltere (< Late Latin, as above)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for psalter

canon, breviary, lectionary, psalmbook, scripture

Examples from the Web for psalter

Historical Examples of psalter

The Psalter, portions of the Bible, lives of saints, were put into verse.
A Literary History of the English People
Jean Jules Jusserand
You will read out from the psalter all the evening, and up to midnight.
Russian Fairy Tales
W. R. S. Ralston
There was no help for it, so the Soldier took to his psalter and read and read.
Russian Fairy Tales
W. R. S. Ralston
In 1568 other printers produced in Moscow the Psalter, and other books.
A Survey of Russian Literature, with Selections
Isabel Florence Hapgood
Mildred adorned her psalter with the ravished hair and sent it to her mother.
Early Double Monasteries
Constance Stoney

British Dictionary definitions for psalter

Psalter

noun

another name for Psalms, esp in the version in the Book of Common Prayer

a translation, musical, or metrical version of the Psalms

a devotional or liturgical book containing a version of Psalms, often with a musical setting

Word Origin for Psalter

Old English psaltere, from Late Latin psaltērium, from Greek psaltērion stringed instrument, from psallein to play a stringed instrument

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

Word Origin and History for psalter

"the Book of Psalms," Old English saltere, psaltere, from Church Latin psalterium "the songs of David," in secular Latin, "stringed instrument played by twanging," from Greek psalterion "stringed instrument, psaltery, harp," from psallein "to pluck, play on a stringed instrument" (see psalm).