introit

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A hymn or psalm sung when the ministers enter at the opening of a service, especially in the Anglican Church.
2. n. Roman Catholic Church The beginning of the Mass, usually consisting of an antiphon, a psalm verse, and the Gloria Patri.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In liturgics, an antiphon sung by the priest and choir as the priest approaches the altar to celebrate the mass or communion. The name introit (introitus, literally ‘entrance’) is an abridgment of antiphon at the introit (antiphona ad introitum), and has been explained as referring to the entrance of the people into church rather than that of the priest into the sanctuary. The introit seems to have originated in the psalms sung at the beginning of the Jewish liturgy. The name antiphon has been given by preëminence to the introit, as in the Greek Church, where it is threefold, answering to the Western introibo, introit, and Gloria in Excelsis. The Greek antiphons consist of verses from the Psalms with a constant response, or of the psalms called Typica and the Beatitudes. In the liturgies of St. Mark and St. James the hymn “Only-begotten Son” is the introit, in the Armenian liturgy this followed by a psalm and hymn. The “Only-begotten Son” is also subjoined to the Greek second antiphon. The Roman introit (see invitatory) consists of a verse (the introit in the narrower sense), followed by a verse of a psalm, the Gloria Patri, and the repetition of the first verse. In the Ambrosian rite the introit is called the ingressa. An ancient Gallican name for it was the prælegere. In the Mozarabic liturgy, in certain monastic rites, and in Norman and English missals, it is called the officium or office. Psalms as special introits are appointed in the Prayerbook of 1549 and in the Nonjuror's communion office of 1718. In the Anglican Church at the present day a psalm or anthem is sung as the introit. The name is sometimes less properly used for a hymn or any musical composition sung or played at the beginning of the communion office.

Wiktionary

1. n. Roman Catholicism A part of a psalm or other portion of Scripture read by the priest at Mass immediately after ascending to the altar.
2. n. An anthem or psalm sung before the Communion service.
3. n. Any composition of vocal music appropriate to the opening of church services.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A going in.
2. n. A psalm sung or chanted immediately before the collect, epistle, and gospel, and while the priest is entering within the rails of the altar.
3. n. A part of a psalm or other portion of Scripture read by the priest at Mass immediately after ascending to the altar.
4. n. (R. C. Ch.) An anthem or psalm sung before the Communion service.
5. n. Any composition of vocal music appropriate to the opening of church services.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a composition of vocal music that is appropriate for opening church services