Kyrie eleison

[ Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church keer-ee-ey e-ley-uh-sawn, -son, -suhn; Greek Orthodox Church kee-ree-e e-le-ee-sawn ]

noun

1. (italics) the brief petition “Lord, have mercy,” used in various offices of the Greek Orthodox Church and of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. the brief response or petition in services in the Anglican Church, beginning with the words, “Lord, have mercy upon us.”
3. Also called Kyr·i·e [keer, -ee-ey, kee, -ree-e]. a musical setting of either of these.

Kyrie eleison

/ ˈkɪrɪɪ əˈleɪsən /

noun

1. a formal invocation used in the liturgies of the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Anglican Churches
2. a musical setting of this

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kyrie eleison¹

1300–50; Middle English kyrieleyson < Medieval Latin, Late Latin Kyrie eleīson < Late Greek Kýrie eléēson Lord, have mercy

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kyrie eleison¹

C14: via Late Latin from Late Greek kurie, eleēson Lord, have mercy

Example Sentences

The fire was then kindled, and his voice as it audibly prayed in the words of the “Kyrie Eleison” was soon stifled in the smoke.

From Project Gutenberg

The first, which was the Kyrie Eleison, is in D major, a movement full of fire and deep religious feeling.

From Project Gutenberg

"Kyrie eleison," repeated the throng in that murmur which runs over all heads, like the waves of a troubled sea.

From Project Gutenberg

Maria Nuova, and the "Kyrie Eleison" was chaunted a hundred times.

From Project Gutenberg

Louder and louder sounded the "Kyrie Eleison," with more and more valour and joy of victory the Christians pressed forward.

From Project Gutenberg