What does psalmodic mean?
Psalmodic is an adjective meaning relating to psalms or to the practice of singing them. It is especially associated with religious, liturgical, literary, and musical contexts in which sacred poems or scriptural texts are set to music. A writer might use “psalmodic” to describe a style of verse, a form of communal song, or a tradition of psalm singing. The word is more precise and more specialized than the broad adjective “religious,” and it carries associations with older, often Christian, traditions of worship. It is not generally used for modern secular songs merely because they resemble hymns in rhythm or subject. For readers encountering it in theology, musicology, or the study of literature, the term provides a concise way to identify the specific relationship between a work and the psalter or the act of psalmody.
adjectiveRelating to psalms or the singing of psalms; psalmatic. The term is chiefly literary and theological.
- Relating to psalms, psalmody, or the singing of sacred songs based on psalms.
"The composer arranged the psalmodic verses for choir and congregation."
"The service included psalmodic singing in the old Latin tradition."
"Her study of psalmodic poetry focused on the forms used in communal worship."
Psalmodic points to the ancient tradition of turning sacred scripture into song.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does psalmodic come from?
The word is formed from the Greek root psalmos, meaning a song or hymn, together with a suffix related to the family of words connected with singing. The related English words psalm, psalmist, psalter, and psaltery continue this Greek inheritance. In English, the adjective developed in literary and religious usage to describe psalm singing, psalmic poetry, and related traditions.
Related word forms
How psalmodic is actually used
Psalmodic is a specialized literary and theological adjective rather than everyday vocabulary. It is most often used in discussion of psalms, psalm singing, or related poetic and musical traditions.
Easily confused with psalmodic
Psalmodic is an adjective describing something related to psalms or their singing, whereas psalmody is a noun referring to the practice or act of singing psalms.