vespers

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

The evening prayer service in Christian liturgy; the sixth of the canonical hours, traditionally held at sunset, or evensong.

Detailed Definition
"Vespers" derives from Latin "vesper" (evening), referring to the evening prayer service in Christian liturgical tradition, particularly the sixth of seven canonical hours marking monastic daily worship. The term appears in religious poetry, medieval literature, and works depicting Christian observance where specific liturgical vocabulary mattered. Its associations with evening, prayer, and ritual conclusion (vespers marked day's end) gave it symbolic weight beyond technical designation. Poets employed "vespers" when depicting religious communities, daily rhythms structured by prayer, or evening contemplation. The word evoked bells ringing, communities gathering, and the transition from work to prayer marking sunset. Its continued liturgical usage maintained comprehensibility while its formal register suited elevated religious contexts. The term exemplifies how religious vocabulary enriched literary language, offering precise terms that carried cultural and spiritual associations beyond their technical meanings, connecting daily time to sacred rhythm.
Example
Example in poetry:
Evening prayer service in Christian liturgy; Monks chant vespers as the sun sets over the abbey; Milton's "Il Penseroso" evokes the solemn beauty of vespers; The bells rang out calling the faithful to vespers; In monastic poetry, vespers marks the boundary between day and night; The vespers hymn rose through the arched cathedral
Additional Notes
“Vespers” denotes evening prayers in Christian liturgy, typically held at sunset. In poetry, it often symbolises reflection, closure, or the quiet of twilight. Its liturgical association gives it spiritual overtones, linking human rhythms with divine order. Understanding such references enhances readings of religious and meditative verse.
Other Meanings of “vespers”
Also Known As
evening prayer evensong twilight service
Skip to main content