Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A hymn of praise or loyalty.
  • noun A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.
  • noun A popular song, especially a rock song felt to sum up the attitudes or feelings associated with a period or social group.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Originally, a hymn sung in alternate parts; in modern usage, a piece of sacred music set to words usually taken from the Psalms or other parts of the Scriptures; a developed motet.
  • To celebrate or salute with an anthem or song.
  • noun Hence A song or hymn expressive of praise, patriotism, loyalty, etc., and set to music.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb poet. To celebrate with anthems.
  • noun Formerly, a hymn sung in alternate parts, in present usage, a selection from the Psalms, or other parts of the Scriptures or the liturgy, set to sacred music.
  • noun A song or hymn of praise or devotion.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic Antiphon.
  • noun A choral or vocal composition, often with a religious or political lyric.
  • noun A hymn of praise or loyalty.
  • noun informal A very popular song or track.
  • verb transitive, poetic To celebrate with anthems.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
  • noun a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphōna, from Late Greek, from neuter pl. of antiphōnos, sounding in answer : anti-, in return; see anti– + phōnē, voice; see bhā- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphōna, from Ancient Greek ἀντίφωνα (antiphona), from ἀντί (anti, "over against") + φωνή (phone, "voice, sound"). Compare antiphon.

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Examples

  • The first stanza of the anthem translates as: 'Germany, Germany above all/Above all in the world.

    Undercover Music News 2009

  • "I've always wanted to be a rock star, so starting out with the anthem is a good way," Thompson said.

    USATODAY.com - Thompson anchors U.S. team to gold 2003

  • Ireland's Call - now that's what I call an anthem... followed by the inevitably more staid sounds of Botha's dibbly dobblies will be missed but Wilson, who is usually a keeper, is breaking through for Surrey so should provide good batting depth.

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • The first stanza of the anthem translates as: "Germany, Germany above all/Above all in the world.

    unknown title 2009

  • The first stanza of the anthem translates as: "Germany, Germany above all/Above all in the world.

    The Bosh 2009

  • It was during the war that Emmett gained national prominence for his most famous song, which today is known as the anthem of Southern racism, but for Emmett was actually a wish to be a slave:

    A Renegade History of the United States Thaddeus Russell 2010

  • What do you think the Shores of Tripoli in the Marine anthem is referring to?

    I Can’t Figure It Out « Tai-Chi Policy 2009

  • The daily anthem is back, and the NB government is considering legislation to make it mandatory.

    Archive 2009-02-01 2009

  • Nina, the anthem is so familiar to me now that it's hard to remember my first impressions, but I think it did take me a while (3 or 4 live hockey games) to get it memorised!

    Archive: Oct 08 - Mar 09 Cath@VWXYNot? 2009

  • Lisa Leslie, center, and Team USA sing the national anthem from the top of the podium after capping a gold-medal Olympics performance with a 27-point romp in the tournament final.

    Leslie, USA women capture fourth consecutive gold, third straight against Australia 2008

Comments

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  • I hate America, Louis. I hate this country. Nothing but a bunch of big ideas, and stories, and people dying, and then people like you. The white cracker that wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing, he set the word "free" to a note so high nobody could reach it. That was deliberate. Nothing on Earth sounds less like freedom to me.

    (from Angels in America, episode 5)

    February 28, 2009

  • US Railway Association, Standard Cipher Code, 1906: railroad telegraphers' shorthand for "Unable to give definite answer".

    January 19, 2013