Psalm

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

Psalm, n. [OE. psalm, salm, AS. sealm, L. psalmus, psalma, fr. Gr. , , fr. to pull, twitch, to play upon a stringed instrument, to sing to the harp: cf. OF. psalme, salme, F. psaume.].

•  A sacred song; a poetical composition for use in the praise or worship of God.  [1913 Webster]

  "Humus devout and holy psalms
  Singing everlastingly."  [1913 Webster]
•  Especially, one of the hymns by David and others, collected into one book of the Old Testament, or a modern metrical version of such a hymn for public worship.  [1913 Webster]

Psalm, v. t. 

 To extol in psalms; to sing; as, psalming his praises.  Sylvester.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Psalm, n.
1 a (also Psalm) any of the sacred songs contained in the Book of Psalms, esp. when set for metrical chanting in a service. b (the Psalms or the Book of Psalms) the book of the Old Testament containing the Psalms.
2 a sacred song or hymn.

Idiom

psalm-book a book containing the Psalms, esp. with metrical settings for worship.

Derivative

psalmic adj.

Etymology

OE (p)sealm f. LL psalmus f. Gk psalmos song sung to a harp f. psallo pluck

THESAURUS

Psalm

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

ROGET THESAURUS

Psalm

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.