Stabat Mater

Sta·bat Ma·ter

 (stä′bät mä′tər, stăb′ăt mā′tər)

n.

1. A medieval Latin hymn on the sorrows of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion.

2. A musical setting for this hymn.

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[From Medieval Latin Stābat Māter (dolōrōsa), the Mother was standing (full of sorrow), the first words of the hymn : Latin stābat, third person sing. imperfect tense of stāre, to stand + Medieval Latin Māter, Mother (of God).]

Stabat Mater

(ˈstɑːbæt ˈmɑːtə)

n

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) RC Church a Latin hymn, probably of the 13th century, commemorating the sorrows of the Virgin Mary at the crucifixion and used in the Mass and various other services

2. (Ecclesiastical Terms) a musical setting of this hymn

[from the opening words, literally: the mother was standing]

Sta•bat Ma•ter

(ˈstɑ bɑt ˈmɑ tɛr, ˈsteɪ bæt ˈmeɪ tər)
n.

1. a Latin hymn, composed in the 13th century, commemorating the sorrows of the Virgin Mary at the Cross.

2. a musical setting for this.

[literally, (His) mother was standing, the first words of the hymn]

Stabat Mater

A Latin phrase meaning the mother was standing, used to mean a Roman Catholic hymn that begins with these words.