versicle

American  

[vur-si-kuhl] / ˈvɜr sɪ kəl /

noun

1. a little verse.

2. Ecclesiastical. a short verse, usually from the Psalms, said or sung by the officiant, after which the congregation recites a response.

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versicle British  

/ ˈvɜːsɪkəl /

noun

1. a short verse

2. a short sentence recited or sung by the minister at a liturgical ceremony and responded to by the choir or congregation

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Etymology

Origin of versicle

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word versiculus. See verse, -i-, -cle ¹

Example Sentences

And at the end of what seemed to be a versicle of his chant he called Bluebeard.

From Stories of Comedy by Johnson, Rossiter

After the Purification, until Holy Thursday the anthem is Ave regina coelorum, with versicle Dignare me …, Da mihi, Oremus, Concedemisericors.

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.

It is in the words of Holy Scripture, it is the precise metrical equivalent of "O Lord, save the queen," and it is directly antiphonal to the versicle which follows.

From A Short History of the Book of Common Prayer by Huntington, William Reed

In this responsory the versicle Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris is sometimes changed, e.g., in paschal time it is, Qui surrexisti a mortuis.

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.

The antiphon, versicle and prayer of the commemoration at an hour should never be repetitions of others said in the same hour.

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.