Meanings
- archaicpluralplural of cithara
After him followed the Augustians and a choir of singers, bearing citharæ, lutes, and other musical instruments.
1897, Jeremiah Curtin, transl., Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero, translation of Quo vadis. Powieść z czasów Nerona by Henryk Sienkiewicz, page 3552 more examples
In the last voice of Hebrew prophecy, the citharæ were struck by the white-robed elders in the heavenly temple, and as the smoke of the incense ascended from the golden censer, the angels which had the trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
1874, “The Temple Ritual”, in The Congregationalist, volume III, London: Hodder and Stoughton, “No. V”, page 298Two nebels were always to be played in the daily services of the Temple, and the number might not exceed six. But of the citharæ nine was the smallest number, and any number was admissible.
1879, Francis Roubiliac Conder, Claude Reignier Conder, “Part I”, “Chapter VIII. Art and Science among the Israelites”, in A Handbook to the Bible: Being a Guide to the Study of the Holy Scriptures; Derived from Ancient Monuments and Modern Exploration, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., page 167
Origin
- Latincitharae
- Englishcitharæ
From Latin citharae, plural of cithara.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
citharæ. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cithar%C3%A6
“citharæ.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cithar%C3%A6. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “citharæ,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cithar%C3%A6.
Source: citharæ on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.