-dē noun
( -es )
Etymology: Late Latin hymnodia, from Greek hymnōidia, from hymnōidein to sing a hymn or song of praise (from hymnos hymn, song of praise + aeidein to sing) + -ia -y — more at ode
1. : the singing of hymns
2. : the writing of hymns
a pioneer in Byzantine hymnody , whose compositions were to come into extensive use — K.S.Latourette
3.
a. : a study of hymns and their composition
an authority on hymnody
b. : a body of hymns of a specified kind or period
hymnody of the early church