Psalmist
/ˈsɑːmɪst/noun
A person who writes, composes, or sings psalms.
Did you know?Psalmist comes through Greek and Latin from a root meaning “to pluck” or “twang,” because early psalms were songs accompanied by a stringed instrument, not silent reading.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰel-
“to strike, sound, or swell”
Ancient Greek
grc
ψάλλω (psállō)
“to pluck or twang a string; later, to sing to a harp”
Ancient Greek
grc
ψαλμός (psalmós)
“a song sung to the harp; a psalm”
Late Latin
la
psalmus
“a psalm, sacred song”
Old French
fro
psalme
“a psalm”
Middle English
enm
psalme
“a psalm”
Modern English
en
psalmist
“one who writes or sings psalms”