an·them

(ăn′thəm)

1. A hymn of praise or loyalty.

2. A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.

3. A popular song, especially a rock song felt to sum up the attitudes or feelings associated with a period or social group.

[Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphōna, from Late Greek, from neuter pl. of antiphōnos, sounding in answer : anti-, in return; see anti- + phōnē, voice; see bhā- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

anthem

(ˈænθəm)

1. (Classical Music) a song of loyalty or devotion, as to a nation or college: a national anthem.

2. (Classical Music) a musical composition for a choir, usually set to words from the Bible, sung as part of a church service

3. (Classical Music) a religious chant sung antiphonally

4. (Pop Music) a popular rock or pop song

[Old English antemne, from Late Latin antiphōna antiphon]

anthemic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

an•them

(ˈæn θəm)

n.

1. a song, as of praise, devotion, or patriotism: the national anthem.

2. a piece of sacred vocal music, usu. with words taken from the Scriptures.

3. a hymn sung alternately by different sections of a choir or congregation.

[before 1000; Old English antemn(e), antefne < Late Latin antefana, antiphōna < Greek antíphōna (see antiphon)]

anthem

A choral piece for use in church services.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	anthem - a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school) song, vocal - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs" national anthem - a song formally adopted as the anthem for a nation
	2.	anthem - a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation) hymn dithyramb - (ancient Greece) a passionate hymn (usually in honor of Dionysus) religious song - religious music for singing doxology - a hymn or verse in Christian liturgy glorifying God choral, chorale - a stately Protestant (especially Lutheran) hymn tune canticle - a hymn derived from the Bible hymeneal - a wedding hymn pean, paean - (ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity) recessional - a hymn that is sung at the end of a service as the clergy and choir withdraw

anthem

noun song of praise, carol, chant, hymn, psalm, paean, chorale, canticle the Olympic anthem

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

نَشيدنَشِيدنَشيد وَطَني

hymnahymnus

hymnelovsangnationalsangsalme

hymni

himna

himnuszanthem

helgisöngur

inno inno nazionale

国歌

송가

giesmėhimnas

himnakorālis

lofzangstrijdliedvolkslied

hymne lovsang nasjonalsang salme

hymn

hino

гимн

hymna

himna

hymn

เพลงสดุดี

ilâhimarşulusal marş

bài hát ca ngợi

圣歌赞美诗颂歌国歌

anthem

[ˈænθəm] N → himno m (Rel) → antífona f
see also national C

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

anthem

[ˈænθəm] n (representing a particular nation, society, or group) → hymne m national anthem

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

anthem

n → Hymne f; (by choir) → Chorgesang m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

anthem

[ˈænθəm] n → inno
national anthem → inno nazionale

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

anthem

(ˈӕnθəm) noun

1. a piece of music for a church choir usually with words from the Bible.

2. a song of praise. a national anthem.

anthem

→ نَشِيد hymna hymne Hymne ύμνος himno hymni hymne himna inno 国歌 송가 lofzang hymne hymn hino гимн hymn เพลงสดุดี marş bài hát ca ngợi 圣歌

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

- An anthem for the queenliest dead that ever died so young - A dirge for her the doubly dead in that she died so young.

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And from behind my shoulder, in the silvery cadence of that dear voice, rose the brave battle anthem of Helium which the nation's women sing as their men march out to victory.

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Through one violet-stained window a soft light glowed, where, no doubt, the organist loitered over the keys, making sure of his mastery of the coming Sabbath anthem. For there drifted out to Soapy's ears sweet music that caught and held him transfixed against the convolutions of the iron fence.

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Jehan go every evening to chapel, and sing there an anthem with verse and orison to Madame the glorious Virgin Mary.--Alas!

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The anthem was interminable, and you had to stand drearily while it was being sung; you could not hear the droning sermon, and your body twitched because you had to sit still when you wanted to move about.

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Verse after verse was sung; and still the chorus of the desert swelled between like the deepest tone of a mighty organ; and with the final peal of that dreadful anthem there came a sound, as if the roaring wind, the rushing streams, the howling beasts, and every other voice of the unconcerted wilderness were mingling and according with the voice of guilty man in homage to the prince of all.

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Deprived of his book and his pipe, he was fain to trust to a memory that rarely failed him on such subjects; and breaking forth in a loud and impassioned strain, he endeavored to smooth his passage into the other world by singing the opening verse of a funeral anthem. The Indians were seasonably reminded of his infirmity, and, rushing into the open air, they aroused the village in the manner described.

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But as the ceremony proceeded, the organ, as if stirred by the sympathies of this impressive scene, poured forth an anthem, first mingling with the dismal knell, then rising to a loftier strain, till the soul looked down upon its woe.

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It was a vision!--a miracle!--an anthem sung in stone, a poem wrought in marble!

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The midnight chant had helped as usual to lift the morning above the level of common days; and then there were the smell of hot toast and ale from the kitchen, at the breakfast hour; the favorite anthem, the green boughs, and the short sermon gave the appropriate festal character to the church-going; and aunt and uncle Moss, with all their seven children, were looking like so many reflectors of the bright parlor-fire, when the church-goers came back, stamping the snow from their feet.

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Those green boughs, the hymn and anthem never heard but at Christmas-- even the Athanasian Creed, which was discriminated from the others only as being longer and of exceptional virtue, since it was only read on rare occasions--brought a vague exulting sense, for which the grown men could as little have found words as the children, that something great and mysterious had been done for them in heaven above and in earth below, which they were appropriating by their presence.

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Yet to him, used as he was to a life of such quiet that the failure of a brewing or the altering of an anthem had seemed to be of the deepest import, the quick changing play of the lights and shadows of life was strangely startling and interesting.

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