Psalter
Americannoun
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the Biblical book of Psalms.
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(sometimes lowercase) a psalmbook.
noun
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another name for Psalms, esp in the version in the Book of Common Prayer
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a translation, musical, or metrical version of the Psalms
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a devotional or liturgical book containing a version of Psalms, often with a musical setting
Etymology
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)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The challenge of reconciling the dilemma was even more formidable than the Protestant ideal of literacy that expected converts to read the Bible and sing out of the Psalter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
The show includes a fragment from the 1459 Mainz Psalter, the second-oldest dated piece of printing from movable type in the West.
From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2022
The Breeches Edition recently returned to Pittsburgh also had an attached hymnal known as a metrical Psalter - the book of Psalms set to musical notation, he said.
From Washington Times • May 11, 2019
Where Latin versions of a psalm say God "impedivit" the Israelites, the Psalter translates this as "empedecad".
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2016
Of course there is no Psalm 166; the Psalter stops with 150.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
