Psalmody
/ˈsɑːl.mə.di/noun
The singing or chanting of psalms.
Did you know?Psalmody comes through Greek and Latin from a word for “plucking” a stringed instrument, because early sacred song was imagined as something strummed, not just spoken.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ψαλμῳδία (psalmōidía)
“Singing to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument; chanting psalms”
Late Latin
Latin
psalmodia
“Psalm singing, chanting of psalms”
Old French
Old French
psalmodie
“Chanting of psalms”
Middle English
English
psalmodie
“The chanting or singing of psalms”
Modern English
English
psalmody
“The singing or chanting of psalms”