Tenebrae

[ ten-uh-brey ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

1. the office of matins and lauds for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week, sung respectively on the afternoon of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week, at which the Crucifixion is commemorated by the gradual extinguishment of candles.

Tenebrae

/ ˈtɛnəˌbreɪ /

noun

1. functioning as singular or plural RC Church (formerly) the matins and lauds for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week, usually sung in the evenings or at night

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tenebrae¹

1645–55; < Latin: literally, darkness

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tenebrae¹

C17: from Latin: darkness

Example Sentences

It arose thus: Lafontaine went one day with Racine to tenebrae, and was given a Bible.

From Project Gutenberg

On Easter Eve the new fire, symbol of the light of the newly Tenebrae.

From Project Gutenberg

Si ergo lumen, quod in te est, tenebrae sunt, ipsae tenebrae quantae erunt?

From Project Gutenberg

It seemed to them that they were ready to enter a church on the day of Tenebrae.

From Project Gutenberg