I. ˈsä]m, ˈsȧ] also ]lm, archaic ˈsam\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English psalm, salm, from Old English psealm, salm, from Late Latin psalmus, from Greek psalmos song sung to the harp, psalm (translation of Heb. mizmōr song, psalm), from psallein to pull, twitch, play upon a stringed instrument; probably akin to Latin palpare to caress — more at feel
: a sacred song, poem, or poetical composition used in the praise or worship of the Deity: as
a. often capitalized : one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms
b. often capitalized : a modern metrical version of one of the biblical psalms used as a liturgical hymn in public worship
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English psalmen, salmen, from psalm, salm psalm
: to sing or extol in psalms : pray over with psalms
intransitive verb
: to sing psalms : hymn
walk in the fields, psalm with the birds — C.E.S.Wood