I. ˈan(t)thəm, ˈaan- noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of Middle English antem, antefn, from Old English antefn, from Late Latin antiphona, antefana, from Late Greek antiphōna, plural of antiphōnon, from Greek, neuter of antiphōnos concordant, responsive, from anti- anti- (I) + -phōnos (from phōnē sound, voice) — more at ban
1.
a. : a psalm or hymn sung antiphonally or responsively
b. : a sacred vocal composition with words usually from the Scriptures that is usually sung by a church choir
2.
a. : a song or hymn of praise or gladness ; typically : a patriotic song
b. : national anthem
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to praise with or as if with an anthem
III. noun
1. : a popular song typical of or identified with a particular group, movement, or subculture
a punk rock anthem
broadly : a piece of music : song
new love anthems and steaming gospel numbers — Nat Hentoff
2. : something (as a slogan or belief) resembling an anthem in being associated with or typical of a group, movement, or period
complex and imaginative art, the anthem of discontent — Earl Shorvis
his novel … became the anthem of the decadent fin-de-siècle 1890s — Paul Gray
• an·them·ic anˈthemik adjective