Glossary

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Aurora, æ, the dawn. In alleg. the Blessed Virgin, who was the Dawn that heralded the rising Sun of Justice. (Mal. 4, 2.)
Avernus, i, hell. The Humanistic revisers of the Breviary hymns introduced many pagan poetical names for heaven and hell.
Bethlem, another form of Bethlehem, the birthplace of David and of Christ. It is five miles south of Jerusalem.
Christiades, um, pl. Christians. This word occurs twice. It is not found in the dictionaries, not even in Du Cange. See hymns 94, 104.
circulus, i, circle. Used in the hymns in such expressions as “dierum circulo,” “dierum circulis,” and in the Vulgate—“post anni circulum”—“after the course of a year.” “Now the circling years disclose.”—Pope: Odyssey.
cœlites (pl. of cœles, itis), the blessed, the heavenly spirits. This word and jubar were great favorites with the revisers of the Breviary hymns.
compos, potis, with genitive, partaking of, sharing in, participating in.
confiteor 2, to praise. Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo (Ps. 9, 2).
denus for the pl. deni. The singular form of the distributive numerals is quite common.
edo, edidi 3, to beget, bring forth, cause.
Flamen, inis (from flare, to blow), the Holy Spirit; just as “spirit” is from spirare, to blow.
Genitor, oris, the Father; Genitus, the Son.
in, prep., in, into; as, for. Et dederunt in (as, for) escam meam fel (Ps. 68, 22).
jubar, aris, ray, beam, splendor, glory.
jugis, adj., continual, perpetual; jugiter, adv., forever.
livor, oris, fig., envy, spite, malice, ill-will; mostly poet. And post-Aug. for invidia.
lubricus, adj., slippery, dangerous; impure, unclean. See “lubricous” in any unabridged English dictionary.
lumbi, orum, the loins, reins, considered as the seat of the passions or affections.
machine, æ, structure, fabric, frame, order.
Numen, inis, God, the Godhead, the Divine Will.
obvius, adj., in the way so as to meet, meeting.
Olympus, i, heaven. See “Avernus.”
Orcus, i, hell, See “Avernus.”
palma, æ, a palm, palm branch; victory, the palm branch as a symbol of victory.
pango, to fasten; to compose, to write, hence “to sing.”
plaga, æ, wound, blow, stripe. See following word.
plaga, æ, region, quarter, lands. See preceding word.
polus, I (or pl.), heaven, the heavens.
præsepe, is, a manger. Also præsepes, is; præsepia, æ; præsepium, i.
Sion, lit., a hill in Jerusalem on which stood the royal palace; fig., the Church, esp. the Church Militant, the faithful. In general, Sion is the Church on earth; Jerusalem, the Church in heaven. The necessities of meter do not always permit this distinction to be observed.
Solymæ, arum, and Solyma, orum are poetical forms of Hiersolyma, orum, Jerusalem.
Tartarus, I, and Tartara, orum, hell. See “Avernus.”
Verbum, i, The Word, the Eternal Son, the second Person of the Holy Trinity.
votum, i (mostly pl.), prayer, wish, desire, “votum solvere,” to fulfull one’s vows of obligations, “voti compotes,” having obtained their wish.