ves·per

(vĕs′pər)

1. A bell that summons worshipers to vespers.

2. Vesper The evening star, especially Venus.

3. Archaic Evening.

[Middle English, evening star, from Latin, evening; see wes-pero- 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.

vesper

(ˈvɛspə)

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) an evening prayer, service, or hymn

2. an archaic word for evening

3. (Ecclesiastical Terms) (modifier) of or relating to vespers

[C14: from Latin: evening, the evening star; compare Greek hesperos evening; see west]

Vesper

(ˈvɛspə)

(Celestial Objects) the planet Venus, when appearing as the evening star

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

ves•per

(ˈvɛs pər)

n.

1. (cap.) the evening star, esp. Venus.

2. Also called ves′per bell`. a bell rung at evening.

3. vespers, (often cap.)

a. a religious service in the late afternoon or evening; the sixth of the seven canonical hours.

b. Evensong (def. 1).

c. a part of the Roman Catholic office to be said in the afternoon or evening.

4. Archaic. evening.

adj.

5. pertaining to, appearing in, or proper to the evening.

6. of or pertaining to vespers.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: evening, evening star; pl. form < Old French vespres < Medieval Latin vesperae, pl. of vespera, feminine variant of Latin vesper; c. Greek hésperos; akin to west]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	Vesper - a planet (usually Venus) seen at sunset in the western sky evening star, Hesperus
	2.	vesper - a late afternoon or evening worship service divine service, religious service, service - the act of public worship following prescribed rules; "the Sunday service" placebo - (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead

vesper

noun

Archaic. The period between afternoon and nighttime:

dusk, eve, evening, eventide, gloaming, nightfall, twilight.

Archaic: even.

Translations

Abendstern

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

It was far down the afternoon; and when all the spearings of the crimson fight were done: and floating in the lovely sunset sea and sky, sun and whale both stilly died together; then, such a sweetness and such plaintiveness, such inwreathing orisons curled up in that rosy air, that it almost seemed as if far over from the deep green convent valleys of the Manilla isles, the Spanish land-breeze, wantonly turned sailor, had gone to sea, freighted with these vesper hymns.

View in context

The hour hath come for all light-dreading people, the vesper hour and leisure hour, when they do not--"take leisure."

View in context

The bells are going for daily vesper service, and he must needs attend it, one would say, from his haste to reach the open Cathedral door.

View in context

They look so snug and so homelike, and at eventide when every thing seems to slumber, and the music of the vesper bells comes stealing over the water, one almost believes that nowhere else than on the lake of Como can there be found such a paradise of tranquil repose.

View in context

"Horns of Elfland" never sounded more sweetly around hoary castle and ruined fane than those vesper calls of the robins from the twilight spruce woods and across green pastures lying under the pale radiance of a young moon.

View in context

In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, It perched for vespers nine; Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmered the white Moon-shine.

View in context

Despite the doctor's orders that she should not go out early in the morning, Natasha insisted on fasting and preparing for the sacrament, not as they generally prepared for it in the Rostov family by attending three services in their own house, but as Agrafena Ivanovna did, by going to church every day for a week and not once missing Vespers, Matins, or Mass.

View in context

They're singing for vespers, and how carefully that merchant crosses himself!

View in context

Yet the fishers and the peasants raised their heads and looked questions at each other, for the angelus had already gone and vespers was still far off.

View in context

"Gone to Vespers, and to visit some friends, I believe.

View in context

No, little angel, it were better that I should see you tomorrow at Vespers. That will be the better plan, and less hurtful to us both.

View in context

"I will lay a wager," said Don Quixote, "that the same bachelor or beneficiary is a greater friend of Camacho's than of Basilio's, and that he is better at satire than at vespers; he has introduced the accomplishments of Basilio and the riches of Camacho very neatly into the dance." Sancho Panza, who was listening to all this, exclaimed, "The king is my cock; I stick to Camacho." "It is easy to see thou art a clown, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "and one of that sort that cry 'Long life to the conqueror.'"

View in context