alleluia

1 of 2

interjection

al·​le·​lu·​ia ˌa-lə-ˈlü-yə How to pronounce alleluia (audio)
variants or Alleluia
Synonyms of alleluianext
: hallelujah entry 1
The Washington National Cathedral mourners filled the building with the song, "… Praise Him, praise Him, alleluia!"—Talia Naquin
In Britain it was not yet compulsory to agree with your leader. Alleluia to that.—Quentin Letts

alleluia

2 of 2

noun

plural alleluias
: hallelujah entry 2
The entire season is marked by quiet restraint. Bold colors are removed from altars. Liturgical alleluias are left unsaid.—Maria Mayo
In this cantata, it [the chorale] leads directly into the concluding Alleluia.—Mark DeVoto

Word History

Etymology

Interjection

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Greek allēlouia, from Hebrew halălūyāh praise ye Jehovah

First Known Use

Interjection

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alleluia was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near alleluia

allelopathy

alleluia

alleluiatic

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Alleluia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleluia. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

alleluia

interjection
al·​le·​lu·​ia ˌal-ə-ˈlü-yə How to pronounce alleluia (audio)
: hallelujah entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on alleluia

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alleluia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alleluia

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