n. [ OE. psalm, salm, AS. sealm, L. psalmus, psalma, fr. Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to pull, twitch, to play upon a stringed instrument, to sing to the harp: cf. OF. psalme, salme, F. psaume. ] 1. A sacred song; a poetical composition for use in the praise or worship of God. [ 1913 Webster ]

Humus devout and holy psalms
Singing everlastingly. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Especially, one of the hymns by David and others, collected into one book of the Old Testament, or a modern metrical version of such a hymn for public worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To extol in psalms; to sing; as, psalming his praises. Sylvester. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. psalmista, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. psalmiste. See Psalm. ] 1. A writer or composer of sacred songs; -- a title particularly applied to David and the other authors of the Scriptural psalms. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (R. C. Ch.) A clerk, precentor, singer, or leader of music, in the church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The use of psalms in devotion; psalmody. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. psalmodique. ] Relating to psalmody. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who sings sacred songs; a psalmist. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To practice psalmody. “ The psalmodizing art.” J. G. Cooper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; psalm + &unr_; a song, an ode: cf. F. psalmodie, LL. psalmodia. See Psalm, and Ode. ] The act, practice, or art of singing psalms or sacred songs; also, psalms collectively, or a collection of psalms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Psalmographer. ] A writer of psalms; a psalmographer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. psalmographus, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; a psalm + &unr_; to write. ] A writer of psalms, or sacred songs and hymns. [ 1913 Webster ]