innomine

noun

in·​nom·​i·​ne

(ˈ)inˈnäməˌnā,

-ˌnē,

-ˈnōməˌnā

plural -s

: an English polyphonic composition of the 16th and 17th centuries written for an instrumental ensemble (as for viols and keyboard) and using as a cantus firmus a fragment of plainsong from the antiphon for Trinity Sunday

Word History

Etymology

Latin in nomine (in in nomine Jesu in the name of Jesus, the opening words of an introit for which such compositions were originally written)

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