Acathistus

noun

Ac·​a·​this·​tus
ˌakəˈthistəs
variants or Acathistos
äˈkäthēˌstȯs
 or less commonly Akathist
ˈakəˌthist
 or Akathistos
äˈkäthēˌstȯs
plural Acathisti
ˌakəˈthiˌstī,
-(ˌ)stē
 or Acathistoi
äˈkäthēˌstē
 also Akathists
ˈakəˌthis(t)s
 or Akathistoi
äˈkäthēˌstē
: any of several Lenten hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church sung with the people standing in honor of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or one of the saints

Word History

Etymology

Middle Greek akathistos (hymnos), literally, standing hymn, from akathistos standing, from a- a- entry 2 + -kathistos (from Greek kathizein to seat, set, sit, from kata down + -izein -ize)

First Known Use

circa 1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Acathistus was circa 1721

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Dictionary Entries Near Acathistus

Acathist hymn

Acathistus

acaulescence

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Acathistus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Acathistus. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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