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cantique

hymn

noun kahn-TEEK Rare
Arts & Culture Music

Also means

canticle

Usage Note

Cantique refers specifically to a sacred song or hymn, especially in Christian worship; the plural cantiques is used for hymnals. The biblical 'Song of Songs' is called le Cantique des Cantiques in French. Unlike hymne, which can be secular (e.g. a national anthem), cantique is almost exclusively religious.

Examples

"Les enfants ont chanté un cantique de Noël."

Natural Translation

The children sang a Christmas hymn.

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