Tenebrae
/ˈtɛn.ə.briː/noun
The Roman Catholic office of matins and lauds for the last three days of Holy Week, performed in darkness.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin tenebrae, a plural noun meaning “darkness” or “gloom,” and its liturgical use turned that simple word into one of Christianity’s most haunting ceremonies.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tem-
“to darken, be dark”
Latin
Latin
tenebrae
“darkness, gloom, shadows”
Late Latin
Latin
tenebrae (officium tenebrarum)
“the “office of darkness” in Holy Week”
Middle English
English
tenebres / tenebrae
“the Holy Week service of darkness”
Modern English
English
Tenebrae
“the Holy Week service marked by extinguished candles and darkness”
Explore more surprising origins