/ ˈænθəm; NAmE / noun
1.
a song which 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.
—see also national anthem
2.
a short religious song for a choir (= a group of singers), often with an organ
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WORD ORIGIN
Old 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 .