Dictionary

evensong en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio

Etymology

From Old English ǣfensang, equivalent to even + song. The use of even to mean evening is now obsolete except in poetry.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A religious service, most commonly seen in the Anglican or Episcopal Church, that takes place in the early hours of the evening; originally, and sometimes still, an alternative name for vespers or a service combining vespers and compline.
   • On Wednesday last, after taking Evensong at the church, I was leaving the vestry when a lady stepped forward and asked if she might speak to me privately. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:

Forms

Relateds

Magnificat and Nunc dimittis

Translations (11)

cy gosber (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · ga easparta (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · fi iltajumalanpalvelus (luth.) (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · mk ве́черна (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · kw gwesper (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · pl nieszpory (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · fi ehtoopalvelus (orth.) (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · fi iltahartaus (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · kw gosper (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · bg вечерня (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers) · fi vesper (cath.) (religious service that takes place in the evening — see also vespers)