doxology

noun dox·ol·o·gy \ däk-ˈsä-lə-jē \

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Definition of doxology

plural doxologies

: a usually liturgical expression of praise to God

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Did You Know?

Doxology passed into English from Medieval Latin doxologia, which in turn comes from the Greek term doxa, meaning "opinion" or "glory," and the suffix -logia, which refers to oral or written expression. It's logical enough, therefore, that "doxology" has referred to an oral expression of praise and glorification since it first appeared in English around 1645. The word ultimately derives from the Greek verb dokein, meaning "to seem" or "to seem good." Two cousins of "doxology" via "dokein" are "dogma" and "paradox." More distant relatives include "decent" and "synecdoche." The Gloria in Excelsis and the Gloria Patri are two of the best-known and most often sung doxologies in contemporary Christianity.

Origin and Etymology of doxology

Medieval Latin doxologia, from Late Greek, from Greek doxa opinion, glory (from dokein to seem, seem good) + -logia -logy — more at decent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1645

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Learn More about doxology

See words that rhyme with doxology Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about doxology

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