Agnus Dei
/ˌæɡ.nəs ˈdeɪ.aɪ/noun
A Latin phrase meaning the Lamb of God, used especially in Christian liturgy and religious art.
Did you know?“Agnus Dei” became a formal section of the Christian Mass, where the phrase is repeated while worshippers invoke mercy and peace.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂egʷnós
“A lamb; the reconstructed ancestor of Latin agnus and related words for a young sheep.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀμνός (amnós)
“A lamb, especially one used in sacrificial or religious contexts.”
Classical Latin
Latin
agnus
“Lamb; a sacrificial lamb.”
Biblical Greek
Greek
ἀμνὸς τοῦ θεοῦ (amnòs tou theoû)
“The Lamb of God, the phrase used in the Gospel of John.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Agnus Dei
“Lamb of God; the Latin rendering adopted by Christian writers and liturgy.”
7th Century
Latin
Agnus Dei
“A repeated liturgical invocation in the Mass, asking for mercy and peace.”
Modern English
English
Agnus Dei
“A Christian liturgical phrase, devotional title, artistic subject, or musical composition.”