Forms: 1–4 antefn(e, 3–6 -tempne (3–4 -tephne, 5 -thephne), 4–6 antem(e, tim(e, 5 tym, 6 -temne, temme, 6–7 -theme, 7 -thym, -thymne, -themne, 7– anthem. [OE. antefn(e a. early Romanic *antéfena, *antéfna:—late L. antífona (Isidore), for antíphōna, a. Gr. ἀντίφωνα: see ANTIPHON.
The Gr. accent was preserved in late L. antíphōna, antífona, whence It. antífona, Pr. antífena, antiéfna, OFr. *antievne, later antievre and antienne, antaine (like OFr. Estievre, Estienne for *Estievne, It. Istéfano:—L. Stephanum). The phonetic development in Eng. was ante·fne, ante·vne, ante·mne, a·ntemn, a·ntem, a·nthem. Cf. (1) efen, even, Stephen, Steven; (2) efn, emn, stefne, stemne, nefnian, nemnian; (3) hym(n, colum(n, autum(n. For the subseq. corruption of antem to anthem, cf. Ant(h)ony, amarant(h, amiant(h; in 15th c. Fr. we also find anthaine for antaine; some Eng. spellings indicate an attempt to explain the word as anti-hymn, ant’hymn. A by-form ANTEYN, adopted from Fr. antaine, also occurs in 13–14th c.; in 16th antiphona was anew adopted as ANTIPHON.]
1. A composition, in prose or verse, sung antiphonally, or by two voices or choirs, responsively; an ANTIPHON. Obs. or arch.
a. 1000. Bæda, I. xxv. (Bosw.). Is ðæt sǽd, ðæt hí ðysne letanían and antefn ʓeleóþre stæfne sungan.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 42. Efter hire viue hexte blissen tel in þe antefnes [v.r. antempnes].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Antym, Antiphona.
a. 1520. Myrr. Our Lady, 95. After the Hympne cometh Antempnes and psalmes. Antem ys as moche to saye as a sownyng before, for yt ys begonne before the Psalmes; yt is as moche to saye as a sownynge ageynste.
1555. Fardle of Facions, II. xii. 272. The Anthemes … Damasus put ordre that the quiere should sing side aftre side.
1623. Cockeram, Anthemne, a Song which Church-men sing by course one after another.
1654. L’Estrange, Charles I. (1656), 114. The King and the Spanish Ambassador descended into the Chappell, continuing … untill an Anthymne was sung.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. VIII. 122. The method of singing by … anthem … introduced.
2. A composition in unmeasured prose (usually from the Scriptures or Liturgy) set to sacred music.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 208. And bad me for to synge This antym [v.r. -theme, -teme, -time, -thephene] verraily in my deyinge.
1530. Palsgr., Antemne, a song, antiesme.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., 1005/2. In the meane time did the quier sing ye antheme beginning ‘Unxerunt regem.’
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. ii. 213. For my voice, I haue lost it with hallowing and singing of Anthemes.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 405, ¶ 2. Those parts of the inspired Writings, which are proper for Divine Songs and Anthems.
1795. Mason, Ch. Music, ii. 108. The first Anthem set to English words after the Reformation … was that of Dr. Tye, beginning ‘I will exalt thee.’
1855. Tennyson, Wellington, 60. The sound of the sorrowing anthem roll’d Thro’ the dome.
3. loosely in poetry: Any song of praise or gladness. Also used of the English ‘National’ or ‘Royal Anthem,’ which is technically a hymn.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 240. Breathe it in mine eare, As ending Antheme of my endlesse dolor.
1735. H. Brooke, Univ. Beauty, III. 15 (R.).
| The floods … in united congregations fall, | |
| And tune their anthems o’er the warbled ball. |
a. 1821. Keats, Nightingale, viii. Thy plaintive anthem fades Past the near meadows, over the still stream.
1866. Engel, Nat. Music, i. 2 (Note to ‘National Anthem’). Anthem is musically an inappropriate title for this tune. It has, however, now been so generally adopted that it would be pedantic not to use it.
1880. Grove, Dict. Music, I. 605. ‘God Save the King,’ the so-called ‘National Anthem’ of England.
4. Comb. and Attrib., as anthem-bell, -book, anthem-wise, in manner of an anthem, antiphonally.
1611. Cotgr., Martinet … a Saints bell, or Antham bell.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Masques (Arb.), 539. Seuerall Quires, placed one ouer against another, and taking the Voice by Catches Antheme-wise.
