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anthem

Syllabification: (an·them)
Pronunciation: /ˈanTHəm/
Translate anthem | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of anthem

noun

  • 1a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause:the song became the anthem for hippie activists
  • (also national anthem) a solemn patriotic song officially adopted by a country as an expression of national identity.
  • 2a choral composition based on a biblical passage, for singing by a choir in a church service.

Origin:

Old English antefn, antifne (denoting a composition sung antiphonally), from late Latin antiphona (see antiphon). The spelling with th, which began in the 16th century, was on the pattern of similar words, such as Antony, Anthony or amarant, amaranth

anthem in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of anthem in the British & World English dictionary

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