Agnus Dei

[ ag-nuhs dee-ahy, de-ee; ah-nyoos de-ee ]

noun

1. Ecclesiastical.
   1. a figure of a lamb as emblematic of Christ.
   2. such a representation with the nimbus inscribed with the cross about its head, and supporting the banner of the cross.
2. a prayer addressed to Christ as Savior preceding the communion in the Mass.
3. a musical setting of this prayer.

Agnus Dei

/ ˈæɡnʊs ˈdeɪɪ /

noun

1. the figure of a lamb bearing a cross or banner, emblematic of Christ
2. a chant beginning with these words or a translation of them, forming part of the Roman Catholic Mass or sung as an anthem in the Anglican liturgy
3. a wax medallion stamped with a lamb as emblem of Christ and blessed by the pope

Word History and Origins

Origin of Agnus Dei¹

< Latin: lamb of God

Word History and Origins

Origin of Agnus Dei¹

Latin: Lamb of God

Example Sentences

“So we came up with this idea of doing an ‘Agnus Dei,’ and that she would start with the Hindi term ‘He kartar,’ and on that ‘ah,’ it would become ‘Agnus Dei’ in the choir.”

From Los Angeles Times

The ending of the Agnus Dei unfurls a chain of lush harmonic suspensions, underlining the fervency of the plea for peace by one who had seen his share of ecumenical conflict.

From New York Times

Wednesday’s Sanctus was one of divine wonderment; the Agnus Dei resonated from the lower strings with the richness of an organ.

From New York Times

Standing before his parishioners holding the sacred bread of Communion in his hands, Father Vincent De Rosa, the pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Parish, solemnly intoned in Latin, “Ecce Agnus Dei.”

From Washington Post

Various movements of the sprawling “Makrokosmos” take seemingly impossible shapes — “Spiral Galaxy” from Book I curls into a nautilus of notes, and “Agnus Dei” from Book II famously takes the form of a peace sign.

From Washington Post