canticle

Where does the word "canticle" come from? It comes from Latin canere, passing through Latin before entering English (1200s).

Canticle’s story begins in Latin: canere meant “to sing.” The root of 'chant', 'cantata' and 'incantation'. Within Latin, it grew into canticulum by ancient. A little song, diminutive of cantus (song, from canere). It reached English by 1200s as canticle. Settled as the English word for a hymn or chant, especially a biblical one. Today, canticle means a hymn or chant, especially one with words drawn from scripture.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient canere "to sing", the root of 'chant', 'cantata' and 'incantation'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient canticulum "a little song", a little song, diminutive of cantus (song, from canere).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s canticle "a hymn or chant, especially one drawn from scripture", settled as the English word for a hymn or chant, especially a biblical one.