Te Deum

[ tey dey-oom, -uhm, tee dee-uhm ]

noun
  1. (italics) an ancient Latin hymn of praise to God, in the form of a psalm, sung regularly at matins in the Roman Catholic Church and, usually, in an English translation, at Morning Prayer in the Anglican Church, as well as on special occasions as a service of thanksgiving.

  2. a musical setting of this hymn.

  1. a service of thanksgiving in which this hymn forms a prominent part.

Origin of Te Deum

1
<Late Latin, first two words of the hymn, which begins: Tē Deum laudāmus we praise thee God

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British Dictionary definitions for Te Deum

Te Deum

/ (ˌtiː ˈdiːəm) /


noun
  1. an ancient Latin hymn in rhythmic prose, sung or recited at matins in the Roman Catholic Church and in English translation at morning prayer in the Church of England and used by both Churches as an expression of thanksgiving on special occasions

  2. a musical setting of this hymn

  1. a service of thanksgiving in which the recital of this hymn forms a central part

Origin of Te Deum

1
from the Latin canticle beginning Tē Deum laudāmus, literally: Thee, God, we praise

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

Cultural definitions for Te Deum (1 of 2)

Te Deum

[ (tay day-uhm, tee dee-uhm) ]


A hymn of praise to God, containing many passages from the Bible (see also Bible), that is used in the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church, and the Roman Catholic Church as part of morning prayers on festive occasions. It begins, “Te Deum laudamus,” meaning, “We praise thee, O God.”

“Te Deum”

[ (tay day-uhm, tee dee-uhm) ]


A hymn of praise to God, with words taken largely from the Bible (see also Bible), that is used by many groups of Christians (see also Christian). The “Te Deum” has been set to music by George Frederick Handel and by many other composers for performance in worship services of thanksgiving (after a victory in war, for example). The Latin words Te Deum laudamus mean “Thee, God, we praise.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.