Where does “anthem” come from?
Anthem comes from Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, from Latin antiphona, from Ancient Greek ἀντίφωνα meaning "responsive singing," derived from ἀντί meaning "against" or "in response to."
anthem (English): Antiphon; A choral or vocal composition, often...
Definitions
- Antiphon; A choral or vocal composition, often...
Ancestry of “anthem”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | anteme | A biblically-based chant; especially one sung... |
| 2 | Old English | antefn | anthem |
| 3 | Old French | antienne | — |
| 4 | Latin | antiphōna | antiphon, an ecclesiastical chant used in many Christian rites consisting of psalms and hymns sung responsively |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀντίφωνα | neuter nominative/accusative/vocative plural of... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀντίφωνος | sounding in answer, concordant, as in the octave;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -φωνος | sounding |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | φωνή | sound; Usually of the human voice: voice, cry,... |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰōnā́ | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰoh₂-néh₂ | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |