Meanings
plural hymnodies
- uncountableThe writing, composing, or singing of hymns or psalms.
Primeval Worſhip, Lord, retrieve, / For whoſe Decays the Faithful grieve, / For as thy Temple-Off'rings fall or riſe, / Hymnody chills or fires, Religion lives or dies.
1721, Thomas Ken, edited by J. Wyat, The Works of the Right Reverend, Learned and Pious, Thomas Ken, D.D., volume IV, Vrania: or, the Spouſe's Garden, page 448 - countableThe hymns of a particular church or of a particular time.
Therefore do we recite this Seraphick Theology delivered to us, that in that cæleſtial Hymnody we may communicate with the Heavenly Hoſt …
1718, William Gordon, edited by J. Bettenham, An Apology for the Use of the English Liturgy and Worship, page 56
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekὑμνῳδία
- Latinhymnodia
- Old Frenchhymnodie
- Englishhymnody
From Old French hymnodie, from Latin hymnodia, from Ancient Greek ὑμνῳδία (humnōidía), from ὑμνῳδέω (humnōidéō, “to sing a hymn”), from ὕμνος (húmnos, “song of praise”) + ἀείδω (aeídō, “to sing”).
More words from Old French, Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish virsien kirjoittaminen, virsien säveltäminen
- virsien kirjoittaminenwriting, composing, or singing of hymns or psalms
- virsien säveltäminenwriting, composing, or singing of hymns or psalms
- virrenveisuuwriting, composing, or singing of hymns or psalms
- virsikokoelmahymns of a particular church or of a particular time
- virsikirjahymns of a particular church or of a particular time
Cite this entry
hymnody. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hymnody
“hymnody.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hymnody. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hymnody,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hymnody.
Source: hymnody on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.