What does vesper mean?
Vesper is a literary noun for evening, especially the period of fading light near sunset. It can also mean an evening prayer service, and in Christian churches the traditional evening office is commonly known as Vespers. The word now has a formal, poetic, or religious tone rather than the neutral everyday register of evening; for ordinary times of day, speakers usually choose evening, dusk, or sunset. In religious contexts, vespers is more common than the singular vesper. Vesper is especially memorable because its Latin ancestor also gave it a celestial association: Latin vesper meant both “evening” and “evening star.” Borrowed into English through Old French, the word preserves this sense of the close of day while also serving as a name for evening worship. It is therefore useful in literary description, liturgical reference, and precise discussion of the traditional hours of prayer, though it would sound unnecessarily ornate in most casual conversation.
nounVesper is chiefly a literary word for evening, especially the period of fading light near sunset. In religious contexts, it denotes an evening prayer service, particularly the traditional Christian office commonly called Vespers.
- The literary period of evening or dusk, especially the time when daylight is fading.
- An evening prayer service; Vespers also names the traditional Christian office of evening prayer.
"A hush fell over the chapel as vesper began."
"The village grew quiet at vesper, when the last light slipped from the fields."
"The monks gathered in the choir for vesper."
The standard plural of vesper. In references to a Christian office of prayer, it is commonly treated as a singular collective noun.
"The choir sang vespers as evening began."
In Latin, vesper meant both “evening” and the “evening star,” the traditional name for Venus when it appeared after sunset.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vesper come from?
Vesper is recorded in English from the late Middle English period and came through Old French from Latin vesper, meaning “evening.” Latin vesper could also denote the evening star, the traditional name for Venus when seen after sunset. Related forms include English vespertine and Romance cognates such as Italian vespro and Spanishním.
Related word forms
How vesper is actually used
As a word for evening, vesper has a formal, poetic, or archaic tone and is uncommon in everyday speech. In religious writing, Vespers is more usual than the singular vesper, and capitalization varies by denomination and publication.
Easily confused with vesper
Vesper is singular, whereas vespers is the usual plural and also names the Christian office of evening prayer.