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psalmist

Historical Office
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A composer or singer of psalms, especially in religious or liturgical contexts

Detailed Definition
The psalmist appears in poetry as a figure of devotional expression and musical prayer. Historically channeling biblical tradition, psalmists gave voice to communal and personal spirituality. In verse, they symbolize lament, praise, and the poetic articulation of faith. Poets use psalmists to explore themes of divine dialogue, emotional honesty, and the enduring power of sacred song to shape individual and collective identity.
Example
Example in poetry:
In cathedral liturgy, the psalmist chants verses with devotional skill; Victorian poets depict psalmists as preservers of scriptural song; The psalmist in George Herbert’s verse models attentive prayer; Psalmists appear in worship odes leading congregational response; In monastic verse, psalmists sing through the night hours; Their voices symbolize dialogue with the divine.
Additional Notes
Psalmists composed or sang psalms, central to Jewish and Christian worship—David is the archetypal psalmist—poetic psalmists represent inspired song, lament, or praise; their work bridges personal emotion and communal liturgy, making them foundational to devotional and lyrical traditions.
Also Known As
cantor psalm singer
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