Hymn

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Hymn, n. [OE. hympne, ympne, F. hymne, OF. also ymne, L. hymnus, Gr. ; perh. akin to web, to weave, and so to E. weave.].

 An ode or song of praise or adoration; especially, a religious ode, a sacred lyric; a song of praise or thanksgiving intended to be used in religious service; as, the Homeric hymns; Watts' hymns.  [1913 Webster]
"Admonishing one another in psalms and hymns."  [1913 Webster]
"Where angels first should practice hymns, and string
Their tuneful harps."  [1913 Webster]

Hymn book, a book containing a collection of hymns, as for use in churches; a hymnal.

Hymn, v. t. [Cf. L. hymnire, Gr. .].

 To praise in song; to worship or extol by singing hymns; to sing.  [1913 Webster]
"To hymn the bright of the Lord."  [1913 Webster]
"Their praise is hymned by loftier harps than mine."  [1913 Webster]

Hymn, v. i. 

 To sing in praise or adoration.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Hymn, n. & v.
--n.
1 a song of praise, esp. to God in Christian worship, usu. a metrical composition sung in a religious service.
2 a song of praise in honour of a god or other exalted being or thing.
--v.
1 tr. praise or celebrate in hymns.
2 intr. sing hymns.

Idiom

hymn-book a book of hymns.

Derivative

hymnic adj.

Etymology

ME ymne etc. f. OF ymne f. L hymnus f. Gk humnos

THESAURUS

Hymn

Agnus Dei, Benedicite, Gloria, Gloria Patri, Gloria in Excelsis, Introit, Magnificat, Miserere, Negro spiritual, Nunc Dimittis, Te Deum, Trisagion, Vedic hymn, acknowledgment, alleluia, answer, anthem, antiphon, antiphony, aria, ballad, benediction, bless, bless the Lord, cantata, canticle, carol, celebrate, chant, chirp, chirrup, choir, chorale, chorus, church music, cognizance, credit, crediting, croon, cry up, descant, ditty, do-re-mi, doxologize, doxology, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, glorify the Lord, gospel, gospel music, grace, hallelujah, hosanna, hum, hymn of praise, hymn-tune, hymnody, hymnography, hymnology, intonate, intone, introit, laud, lay, lied, lilt, magnify, mantra, mass, minstrel, motet, offertory, offertory sentence, oratorio, paean, panegyrize, passion, pipe, praise, praise God, prayer of thanks, prosodion, psalm, psalmody, quaver, recessional, recognition, report, requiem, requiem mass, response, responsory, roulade, sacred music, serenade, shake, sing, sing in chorus, sing praises, sol-fa, solmizate, spiritual, thank offering, thank-you, thanks, thanksgiving, tremolo, trill, troll, tweedle, tweedledee, twit, twitter, versicle, vocalize, warble, whistle, white spiritual, yodel

ROGET THESAURUS

Hymn

Worship

N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.

Music

N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.