ˈmat ə nz noun plural but sometimes singular in construction
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: Middle English matines, from Old French, from Late Latin matutinae, from Latin, feminine plural of matutinus, adjective, of the morning
1. : a liturgical night office forming with lauds the first and chief of the canonical hours and including psalms, other scriptural and patristic readings, hymns, and prayers — see nocturn
2. : morning prayer