psalter
/ˈsɔːltə(ɹ)/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.43 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Synonym of breviary, which arranges the Psalms for devotional recitation.
noun
Synonym of Book of Common Prayer, which prominently includes the Psalms.
noun
Alternative form of psaltery, a kind of zither as well as the King James translation of certain obscure musical terms in the Old Testament.
Archaic; Obsolete
Example Sentences
- "Confesse ye to our Lord on the harpe: on a psalter of ten strings sing to him."
- "Perhaps the viol d'amour underwent several modifications, as its name was changed to psalter in the belief of its being the ancient instrument so denominated, which is quite different, according to most authorities — not belonging to the fidicinal tribe."
- "Some have supposed that the psalter was not in fact an instrument, but that the term was applied merely to harmony produced by the voice in conjunction with instruments."
Etymology
From Middle English psauter & sauter, from Old French psautier & saltier, from Latin psaltērium (“a kind of lute or zither”), from Ancient Greek ψᾰλτήρῐον (psăltḗrĭon, “harp”). Doublet of psalterion, psalterium, and psaltery.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: psauter, psautier, psaltērium, ψᾰλτήρῐον
Usage
Inflected Forms
Synonyms
Psalms
particularly when printed as a separate work from the Bible
breviary
which arranges the Psalms for devotional recitation
Book of Common Prayer
which prominently includes the Psalms
book of psalms