vesper

[ ves-per ]

noun

1. (initial capital letter) the evening star, especially Venus; Hesperus.
2. Also called vesper bell. a bell rung at evening.
3. vespers, (sometimes initial capital letter) Ecclesiastical.
   1. a religious service in the late afternoon or the evening.
   2. the sixth of the seven canonical hours, or the service for it, occurring in the late afternoon or the evening.
   3. Roman Catholic Church. a part of the office to be said in the evening by those in major orders, frequently made a public ceremony in the afternoons or evenings of Sundays and holy days.
   4. Anglican Church. evensong ( def 1 ).
4. Archaic. evening.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, appearing in, or proper to the evening.
2. of or relating to vespers.

Vesper

¹

/ ˈvɛspə /

noun

1. the planet Venus, when appearing as the evening star

vesper

²

/ ˈvɛspə /

noun

1. an evening prayer, service, or hymn
2. an archaic word for evening
3. modifier of or relating to vespers

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesper¹

1350–1400; Middle English, partly < Latin: evening, evening star; partly < Old French vespres evening service < Medieval Latin vesperās, accusative plural of Latin vespera, feminine variant of vesper; cognate with Greek hésperos; akin to west

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesper¹

C14: from Latin: evening, the evening star; compare Greek hesperos evening; see west

Example Sentences

Moore was known on campus as a powerful speaker, tasked as first captain with addressing the student body during weekday vespers in the cavernous chapel with its stained-glass windows depicting historical military scenes.

From Washington Post

In the afternoon, he presides at a vespers service in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Quebec City.

From Reuters

Presiding would have required standing, kneeling and holding aloft a monstrance, a heavy gold vessel used to hold the communion host during vespers.

From Reuters

It was my vespers, my evening prayer, my way of honoring creation and the sacred.

From Washington Post

The spring birder may see trumpeter swans, secretive vesper sparrows, indigo buntings and blue-winged warblers.

From New York Times

Related Words

• evening