hymn

[ him ]

noun

1. a song or ode in praise or honor of God, a deity, a nation, etc.

   Synonyms: paean, psalm, anthem

2. something resembling this, as a speech, essay, or book in praise of someone or something.

verb (used with object)

1. to praise or celebrate in a hymn; express in a hymn.

verb (used without object)

1. to sing hymns.

hymn

/ ˈhɪmnɪk; hɪm /

noun

1. a Christian song of praise sung to God or a saint
2. a similar song praising other gods, a nation, etc

verb

1. to express (praises, thanks, etc) by singing hymns

Derived Forms

• hymnic, adjective
• ˈhymnˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• hymn·er [him, -er, -ner], noun
• hymnlike adjective
• un·hymned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hymn¹

before 1000; < Latin hymnus < Greek hýmnos song in praise of gods or heroes; replacing Middle English ymne (< Old French ) and Old English ymn (< Late Latin ymnus )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hymn¹

C13: from Latin hymnus, from Greek humnos

Example Sentences

“Our Town,” unfolding at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre like a glorious hymn, was the play I didn’t realize just how badly our country needed right now.

From Los Angeles Times

The young women, wearing dresses in various shades of pink, one of the sorority’s colors, softly sang their national hymn.

From Los Angeles Times

That wished-for breakthrough animated much of the action on the Yard, where students and alumni were dancing even before Howard’s gospel choir sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the hymn adopted by some as a Black national anthem.

From Los Angeles Times

On September 3, Steinbeck’s wife Carol came up with the title “The Grapes of Wrath,” an allusion to Revelations 14:19–20 and a verse from “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe.

From Salon

But it was Coldplay who were left singing a victory 'hymn for the weekend' after getting five correct results with one exact score, for a total of 80 points.

From BBC

Related Words

• chant
• ditty
• oratorio
• paean
• psalm