anthem
noun/ˈænθəm/
/ˈænθəm/
- a song that has a special importance for a country, an organization or a particular group of people, and is sung on special occasions
- The European anthem was played at the opening and closing ceremonies.
- The song could become an anthem for the classless society.
- a short religious song for a choir (= a group of singers), often with an organ
Word OriginOld English antefn, antifne (denoting a composition sung antiphonally, by two groups of people in turn), from late Latin antiphona ‘harmonies’, neuter plural of antiphōnos ‘responsive’, from anti ‘in return’ + phōnē ‘sound’. The spelling with th, which began in the 16th cent., was on the pattern of similar words such as Antony, Anthony.
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anthem