Acathistus

noun

Ac·​a·​this·​tus

ˌakəˈthistəs

variants or Acathistos

äˈkäthēˌstȯs

or less commonly Akathist

ˈakəˌthist

or Akathistos

äˈkäthēˌstȯs

plural Acathisti

ˌakəˈthiˌstī,

-(ˌ)stē

or Acathistoi

äˈkäthēˌstē

also Akathists

ˈakəˌthis(t)s

or Akathistoi

äˈkäthēˌstē

: any of several Lenten hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church sung with the people standing in honor of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or one of the saints

Word History

Etymology

Middle Greek akathistos (hymnos), literally, standing hymn, from akathistos standing, from a- a- entry 2 + -kathistos (from Greek kathizein to seat, set, sit, from kata down + -izein -ize)

First Known Use

circa 1721, in the meaning defined above

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