vespern.
/ˈvɛspə/, U.S. /ˈvɛspər/ I. In the singular form.in extended use.1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xlvi. 22 Assume thy winged throne, thou Vesper of our throng!figurative.1701 J. Norris Ess. Ideal World I. iii. 160 There cannot be any vespers in the great sun of truth.
1. poetic (or rhetorical). With capital. The evening star; Hesper, Hesperus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > inferior planet > [noun] > Venus > as evening star
evenstarOE
Hesperusc1374
eve stara1387
vesper1390
evening star1535
night star1595
Vesperugo1600
shepherd's lamp1827
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 109 Whan that thi liht is faded And Vesper scheweth him alofte.
1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 184 Ryght as the stern of day begouth to schyne, Quhen gone to bed war Vesper and Lucyne, I raise.
1577 J. Grange Garden in Golden Aphroditis sig. Riijv Phebus..His course was done, & Vesper she with Luna playde their partes.
1593 G. Peele Honovr of Garter sig. B1 About the time when Vesper in the West Gan set the euening watch.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island v. lxx. 64 Vesper fair Cynthia ushers, and her train: See, th' apish earth hath lighted many a starre.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 59 Red Vesper kindles there the Tapers of the Night. View more context for this quotation
1769 W. Falconer Shipwreck (ed. 3) i. 36 Now radiant vesper leads the starry train.
1820 J. Keats Ode to Psyche in Lamia & Other Poems 118 Fairer than Phœbe's sapphire-region'd star, Or Vesper, amorous glow-worm of the sky.
2. Evening, eventide; an evening. Also personified. Now rare or Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > evening > [noun]
evenOE
eventideOE
eveningOE
eventimeOE
evea1250
evetimec1300
even whilea1375
evetidea1382
supper timec1390
supper whilea1425
forenight1513
evening-tide1521
supperwardc1563
after-supperc1596
Vesperugo1600
vesper1613
far-day1650
eveg1675
evg1777
dew-falla1822
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 123 From which ninth houre the Iewes began their Vespera or Euening... In these Vespers, as also on the Euen of euery Feast and Sabbath, after the euening sacrifice, they which doe any worke..shall neuer see good signe of a blessing.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. xv. 8 Thou hast seene these Signes, They are blacke Vespers Pageants. View more context for this quotation
1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 425. ¶3 The one [companion] was Aurora..: The other was Vesper in a Robe of Azure beset with Drops of Gold.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere i, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 10 In mist or cloud on mast or shroud It perch'd for vespers nine.
1849 H. D. Thoreau Week Concord & Merrimack Rivers 26 From highest noon till the red vesper sinks into the west.
3. Vespers, evensong. (See 6.) Also transferred †In early use with a or the.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > canonical hours > vespers, evensong > [noun]
evensongOE
evesonga1250
evening prayer1539
evening song?1548
evening service1561
vesper1611
vespera1640
vespertine1651
vesper service1797
a1640 P. Massinger Bashful Lover i. i. 96 in 3 New Playes (1655) If you miss him when She goes to the Vesper or the Mattins, hang me.
1657 G. Thornley in tr. Longus Daphnis & Chloe Ep. Ded. sig. A3v I will tell you a storie, one I had at a Tavern vesper.
1737 J. Ozell tr. F. Rabelais Wks. I. xl. 315 A Mass, a Matine, a Vesper well sung is half said.
1816 P. B. Shelley Alastor 48 Mighty Earth From sea and mountain, city and wilderness, In vesper low or joyous orison, Lifts still its solemn voice.
1844 tr. M. T. Asmar Mem. Babylonian Princess II. 309 I knew that many of those with whom I was acquainted attended mass and vesper at this chapel.
4. elliptical. The vesper-bell.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > canonical hours > vespers, evensong > [noun] > bell indicating
evesongc1400
vesper-bell1794
vesper1808
society > faith > artefacts > implement (general) > bell > [noun] > at or for vespers
vesper-bell1794
vesper1808
1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. xxxiii. 112 Even in the vesper's heavenly tone, They seemed to hear a dying groan.
1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 440 But, hark! the vesper calls to pray'r.
1875 O. W. Holmes Songs of Many Seasons 215 How blest to the toiler his hour of release When the vesper is heard With its whisper of peace!
1927 A. Clarke Son of Learning 18 Brother: I must ring the Vesper.
II. In collective plural † 5. † b. The eve of a festival, or of the Passion.
vespers n.
a. In Univ. use: The public disputations and accompanying ceremonies which immediately preceded the inception or commencement of a Bachelor of Arts; esp. in later use at Oxford, the day on which these were held, the eve of the Act. Cf. vespery n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > academic or public disputation > [noun] > preceding university degree
vesper1574
vesper disputations1715
vespery1886
1574 M. Stokys in G. Peacock Observ. Statutes Univ. Cambr. (1841) App. A. p. xxii The Bedyll shall bryng the Inceptours in Arte to the Place where the commensement shall be kepte, and so shall begynn the Vespers in Arte and in Civill.
1574 M. Stokys in G. Peacock Observ. Statutes Univ. Cambr. (1841) App. A. p. xxiv The Father in Arte in the Ve [s] pers shall sytt in the West ende off the Chyrche.
1657 J. Owen Vind. Treat. Schism i, in Wks. (1855) XIII. 217 A learned gentleman, whom I had prevailed withal to answer in the Vespers of our Act, sent me his questions.
1681 N. Grew Musæum Regalis Societatis iv. ii. 361 I read two Publique Lectures at Oxford, on the Vespers of the Publique Act.
1715 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1901) V. 93 Lectures in the Vespers. The Vespers on Saturday.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > [noun] > eve of
eveneOE
holinight?c1225
evec1300
vespera1631
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 154 What a dimme vespers of a glorious festivall.
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Worthy Communicant i. §3. 49 The Sacrament of the Lords Supper..being instituted in the vespers of the passion.
1663 Bp. J. Taylor Serm. 1 Cor. xv. 23 33 And as the Apostles in the vespers of Christs passion, so he in the Eves of his own dissolution was..heavie unto death.
1697 G. Burghope Disc. Relig. Assemblies 132 Our blessed Lord in the vespers of his death.
6. Christian Church.† b. Applied to the Evening Prayer or Evensong of the Church of England. Obsolete. rare.
a. The sixth of the Canonical Hours of the breviary, said or celebrated towards evening; = evensong n. 1; also, the time of this office.Usually without article, but occasionally with the, and sometimes with a singular verb.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > canonical hours > vespers, evensong > [noun]
evensongOE
evesonga1250
evening prayer1539
evening song?1548
evening service1561
vesper1611
vespera1640
vespertine1651
vesper service1797
1611 T. Coryate Crudities sig. D8v I came into their Church at the time of prayers in the afternoone, the Nunnes being then at their Vespers.
1644 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Apr. (1913) 341 The parish Church in Ruell where the King and Queene were at Vespres.
1702 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1909) 7 127 Afternoon we went to Vespers to ye Abbay of St Floraux, a Benedictine Order.
c1731 Diary Blue Nuns in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1910) 8 92 About three a clock in the afternoon whilst we were at vespers.
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. III. 265 On Ascension-eve, vespers are performed with great pomp and splendor.
1832 G. Downes Lett. from Continental Countries I. 34 I stopped to attend vespers at the Cathedral of St. Denis.
1871 D. M. Mulock Fair France iv. 142 Vespers is, I conclude, a litany rather than a mass.
1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 24 Then we went into the Capella del Coro to wait for the vespers.
ΚΠ
1660 S. Pepys Diary 2 Oct. (1970) I. 257 At Wills I met with Mr. Spicer; and with him to the abby to see them at vespers.
c. With distinctive modifiers denoting special forms of this office.Sicilian vespers: see Sicilian Vespers at Sicilian adj. 2a.
ΚΠ
a1700 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1911) 9 368 At ye first vespers of ye Assomption of or Blessed Lady.
1762 Evening-Office of Church (ed. 2) 300 In the second Vespers, is a commemoration of S. Paul.
1762 Evening-Office of Church (ed. 2) 363 After Benedicamus Domino, the Vespers of the Dead are said.
1908 Church Times 13 Mar. 347/2 Vespers for the Dead, in the form sanctioned by Bishop Creighton, was sung.
d. poetic. Evening prayers or devotions.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > prayer > kinds of prayer > [noun] > evening
vesper1814
sandhya1913
1814 P. B. Shelley in Dowden Life (1887) I. 496 Adieu; remember love at vespers before sleep, I do not omit my prayers.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 96 Her vespers done, Of all its wreathed pearls her hair she frees.
7. transferred. The evening song of a bird. Cf. evensong n. 2. Chiefly poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > [noun] > making sound > singing > song
descant1576
trillo1651
vesper1678
nesting-song1879
the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [noun] > song > time of or defined by time
matins1645
vesper1678
song period1884
dawn chorus1927
1678 H. Vaughan Pious Thoughts 225 I heard last May..The pleasant Philomel her vespers sing.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby v. 207 Hoarse into middle air arose The vespers of the roosting crows.
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion iv. 193 If the solemn Nightingale be mute And the soft Woodlark here did never chaunt Her vespers . View more context for this quotation
1854 H. D. Thoreau Walden 135 The whippoorwills chanted their vespers for half an hour.
Compounds
General attributive. C1. With the sense ‘of or belonging to, used at or for, vespers or evensong’.In general use frequently passing into Compounds 2.
a.
vesper-bell n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > canonical hours > vespers, evensong > [noun] > bell indicating
evesongc1400
vesper-bell1794
vesper1808
society > faith > artefacts > implement (general) > bell > [noun] > at or for vespers
vesper-bell1794
vesper1808
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. xi. 392 The monastery, whose vesper-bell she had heard, on the preceding evening.
1844 C. Dickens Pictures from Italy (Collins) 244 To the ringing of vesper-bells, darkness sets in.
1864 W. W. Skeat tr. J. L. Uhland Songs & Ballads 223 The sun sinks down, the vesper-bell bids men to rest and pray.
vesper-carol n.
ΚΠ
1818 J. Keats Endymion iv. 199 Therefore for her these vesper-carols are.
vesper-chime n.
ΚΠ
a1835 F. D. Hemans To my own Portrait in Poet. Remains (1836) 219 Even as a sound of vesper-chimes, Can wake departed things.
vesper-hymn n.
ΚΠ
1808 F. Skurray Bidcombe Hill 7 The blackbird from the ivied temple chants His vesper-hymn.
1866 C. Engel Introd. Study National Music viii. 281 The Roman Catholics..have their Vesper Hymns, and the singing of these appears to be customary in most countries where the Roman Catholic faith prevails.
vesper light n.
ΚΠ
1892 Church Times 4 Nov. 1094/2 An oaken altar..with vesper lights.
vesper-prayer n.
ΚΠ
1823 F. D. Hemans Vespers of Palermo iii. iii. 54 Here..meet me, when the bell Doth sound for vesper-prayer!
vesper psalm n.
ΚΠ
1896 H. B. Swete Church Services 62 The vesper Psalms were five in number, recited as at Mattins in regular course.
vesper-song n.
ΚΠ
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 127 To-morrow eve..My vesper song [may be] thy wail, sweet maid!
1872 H. W. Longfellow Baron St. Castine in Three Bks. Song i. 99 No day is so long But it comes at last to vesper-song.
1893 Scribner's Mag. June 764/1 Our little vesper sparrow is said to have had the same end in view when he made his soft sweet carol the vesper-song of the uplands.
vesper strain n.
ΚΠ
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain i. i. 16 Holy as hermit's vesper strain.
vesper summons n.
ΚΠ
1866 J. M. Neale Sequences & Hymns 81 It shall blend its vesper summons With the day's departing smile.
vesper tide n.
ΚΠ
1808 W. Scott Marmion v. vi. 250 There must the Baron rest, Till past the hour of vesper tide.
vesper toll n.
ΚΠ
a1849 J. C. Mangan Poems (1859) 49 From streaky gleam of morning's light Until the vesper-toll.
vesper-verse n.
ΚΠ
1845 R. S. Hawker Cornish Ballads (1869) 45 Teach me, Father John, to say Vesper-verse and matin-lay.
b.
vesper-book n. (also †vespers books) Obsolete a vesperal.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > book (general) > music books > [noun] > antiphonary > containing vesper-chants
vesper-book1772
vesperal1869
society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > [noun] > music book > church music > antiphonary > vesper book
vesper-book1772
vesperal1869
1772 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1905) 1 138 4 Vols: of Mass Books,..Vesperse Book.
1850 (title) Vesper-Book; containing the complete Order for Vespers for the entire Year, according to the Roman Breviary.
1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 20 July 3/1 The vesper book used by Roman Catholics.
vesper music n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > church music > plainchant > [noun]
Ambrosiana1225
plainsong1445
plain singing1537
Gregorian chant1653
plainchant1740
Gregoriana1873
vesper music1888
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > religious or devotional > [noun] > chanted > plainchant
plainsong1445
plain singing1537
Gregorian chant1653
plainchant1740
canto fermo1789
Gregoriana1873
vesper music1888
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 151 Vesper music, plain chant or Gregorian music is thus designated.
vesper service n. vespers, evensong.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > canonical hours > vespers, evensong > [noun]
evensongOE
evesonga1250
evening prayer1539
evening song?1548
evening service1561
vesper1611
vespera1640
vespertine1651
vesper service1797
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. vi. 161 The vesper-service of the monks.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) v. 55 The old cathedral bell began to ring for vesper service.
1904 C. Wordsworth & H. Littlehales Old Service-bks. Eng. Church 79 The Evensong or vesper service of Sunday and other days of the week.
C2. With the sense ‘of or belonging to, characteristic of, occurring in, the evening; vespertinal’.
ΚΠ
1791 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. I i. 63 Soft fell the vesper-drops, condensed below, Or bent in air the rain-refracted bow.
1794 Sporting Mag. 4 58 A vesper-blue curricle.
1810 J. Conder et al. Associate Minstrels 6 Fair shines the vesper-star.
1832 G. Downes Lett. from Continental Countries I. 63 To preside over bread and butter at the vesper tea-table.
1839 T. De Quincey Lake Reminiscences in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 5/2 In these eyes of vesper gentleness, there was a considerable obliquity of vision.
1887 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel (1892) 208 When rooms with the vesper tobacco are clouded.
1890 Sat. Rev. 23 Aug. 225/1 Rich in every imaginable tint of vesper beauty.
1928 E. Blunden Retreat 50 O vesper-born, Stiff-necked I stand like that hewn knotty tree, As if heaven were my halo.
C3. (Chiefly U.S.) In the names of animals, birds, or insects.
vesper-beauty n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > unspecified and miscellaneous types > miscellaneous types
high-flyer?1749
nonpareil1749
porphyry1819
satin carpet1819
satin pygmy1828
scopolian1829
chalk carpet1832
sieve lackey1832
sprawler1832
tissue1832
treble bar1832
treble gold stripe1832
vesper-beauty1832
viburnian1832
yellowhead1832
flame carpet1862
sting-moth1863
lilac moth1868
luna-moth1869
melon-caterpillar1884
wood-nymph1885
unicorn-moth1891
geometer moth1897
the suspected1908
porina1929
tomato pinworm1931
mopane worm1966
1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 115 The Vesper Beauty (Epione vespertaria) appears the middle of July.
vesper-bird n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > seed eaters > [noun] > family Emberizidae > subfamily Emberizinae (bunting) > genus Pooecetes (grass-finch)
grass finch1785
grass sparrow1796
vesper-sparrow1869
vesper-bird1884
1884 E. Coues Key to N. Amer. Birds (ed. 2) 364 Passerculus gramineus,..Grass Finch. Bay-winged Bunting. Vesper Bird.
vesper mouse n. a mouse of the genus Hesperomys or Vesperimus or related genera; a white-footed mouse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [noun] > family Muridae > genus Peromyscus (deer-mouse)
white-footed mouse1827
deer-mouse1840
vesper mouse1859
old-field mouse1898
rock mouse1904
whitefoot1912
1859 S. F. Baird Mammals N. Amer. 455 A striking feature of the North American vesper mice, to anglicize Wagner's name, is their diminutive size compared with the South American.
vesper-sparrow n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > seed eaters > [noun] > family Emberizidae > subfamily Emberizinae (bunting) > genus Pooecetes (grass-finch)
grass finch1785
grass sparrow1796
vesper-sparrow1869
vesper-bird1884
1869 J. Burroughs in Galaxy Mag. Aug. They [i.e. grass-finches] sing much after sundown, hence the aptness of the name vesper-sparrow, which a recent writer, Wilson Flagg, has bestowed upon them.
C4. (In sense 5a.)† vesper disputations n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > academic or public disputation > [noun] > preceding university degree
vesper1574
vesper disputations1715
vespery1886
society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > university examinations > dissertation or disputation
act1549
exercise1563
apposition1660
vesper disputations1715
vespery1886
1715 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1901) V. 93 Vesper Disputations in Philosophy. Vesper Disputations in Law.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1390- to burst a-weep
- to burst at the seams
- to burst away
- to burst aweep
- to burst bonds, barriers
- to burst down
- to burst fall apart at the seams
- to burst fall etc at the seams
- to burst forth on weeping
- to burst from, through
- to burst into an open flame
- to burst into blossom
- to burst into flame
- to burst into flame(s
- to burst into laughter
- to burst into open flame
- to burst into tears
- to burst its banks
- to burst on the wing
- to burst on weeping
- to burst one's boiler
- to burst one's brain
- to burst one's buttons
- to burst one's heart
- to burst one's sides