psalm

noun

ˈsäm 

ˈsälm,

ˈsȯm,

ˈsȯlm 

often capitalized

: a sacred song or poem used in worship

especially : one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms

Synonyms

• anthem
• canticle
• carol
• chorale
• hymn
• spiritual

Examples of psalm in a Sentence

after the sermon we sang a brief psalm

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Francisco, the composers represented no less than 30 print collections of solo songs, cantatas, motets, polyphonic works, settings for psalms and masses, a magnificat, a vespers service, a dozen sonatas, and scores for nine operas and other staged works. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024

A little less than half these psalms are attributed to King David, about a third are anonymous, and the rest are attributed to a variety of authors. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 29 Oct. 2023

Psalm 40 was one of the psalms composed by King David, according to Jim Showers, DMin. EMERGENCY PRAYERS FOR ‘PEACE OF JERUSALEM’ FROM RABBI BEAR WEIGHT OF YEARS AND HISTORY: ‘GOD BLESS ISRAEL' Showers is the executive director of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, based in New Jersey. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 29 Oct. 2023

David was also reputed to be a talented harpist and the author of many psalms, or devotional songs. —V.m. Braganza, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English psealm, from Late Latin psalmus, from Greek psalmos, literally, twanging of a harp, from psallein to pluck, play a stringed instrument

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

psalm

noun

ˈsäm  ˈsälm 

1

: a sacred song or poem

2

capitalized : one of the hymns that make up the Old Testament Book of Psalms

Etymology

Old English psealm "psalm," from Latin psalmus (same meaning), from Greek psalmos "psalm," literally, "twanging of a harp," from psallein "to pluck, play a stringed musical instrument"

Word Origin

The Greek word psallein originally meant "to pull" or "to pluck." It then came to be used with the meaning "to play a stringed musical instrument." From this verb came the noun psalmos, which literally meant "the twanging of a harp." Since harp music often accompanied singing, psalmos took on the meaning of "a song sung to harp music" and later simply "a song or poem." It was borrowed into Latin as psalmus and came into English as psalm.