Te Deum

[ tey dey-oom, -uhm, tee dee-uhm ]

noun

1. (italics) an ancient Latin hymn of praise to God, in the form of a psalm, sung regularly at matins in the Roman Catholic Church and, usually, in an English translation, at Morning Prayer in the Anglican Church, as well as on special occasions as a service of thanksgiving.
2. a musical setting of this hymn.
3. a service of thanksgiving in which this hymn forms a prominent part.

Te Deum

/ ˌtiː ˈdiːəm /

noun

1. an ancient Latin hymn in rhythmic prose, sung or recited at matins in the Roman Catholic Church and in English translation at morning prayer in the Church of England and used by both Churches as an expression of thanksgiving on special occasions
2. a musical setting of this hymn
3. a service of thanksgiving in which the recital of this hymn forms a central part

“Te Deum”

¹

1. A hymn of praise to God, with words taken largely from the Bible (see also Bible ), that is used by many groups of Christians (see also Christian ). The “Te Deum” has been set to music by George Frederick Handel and by many other composers for performance in worship services of thanksgiving (after a victory in war, for example). The Latin words Te Deum laudamus mean “Thee, God, we praise.”

Te Deum

²

1. A hymn of praise to God, containing many passages from the Bible (see also Bible ), that is used in the Anglican Communion , the Lutheran Church , and the Roman Catholic Church as part of morning prayers on festive occasions. It begins, “Te Deum laudamus,” meaning, “We praise thee, O God.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Te Deum¹

< Late Latin, first two words of the hymn, which begins: Tē Deum laudāmus we praise thee God

Word History and Origins

Origin of Te Deum¹

from the Latin canticle beginning Tē Deum laudāmus, literally: Thee, God, we praise

Example Sentences

The contemporary composer Arvo Pärt’s “Te Deum” is the other extreme, a mystical rendering of a Christian hymn accompanied by samples of a wind harp’s low drone.

From Los Angeles Times

This Baroque program began with a vigorous account of the Prelude from Charpentier’s “Te Deum,” music that deftly mixes martial-like rigor and sparkling ebullience.

From New York Times

Lully stabbed himself in the toe with his own invention while conducting the “Te Deum” and consequently died of gangrene: “High-handedness is what / The mass holds dear, but poets love / Your sacrificial foot.”

From New York Times

“What’s important is that we can breathe life back into the cathedral, that the archbishop can return, that we can pray inside once more and sing a beautiful Te Deum,” Rev. Chauvet said.

From Washington Times

Greeted along the way by a mass of jubilant Parisians and the occasional sniper, the cortege filed into the cathedral to hear the “Te Deum.”

From Washington Post