Acathistus
noun
Ac·a·this·tus
ˌakəˈthistəs
variants or Acathistos or less commonly Akathist or Akathistos
äˈkäthēˌstȯs
ˈakəˌthist
äˈkäthēˌstȯs
plural Acathisti
ˌakəˈthiˌstī,
-(ˌ)stē
or Acathistoi äˈkäthēˌstē
also Akathists ˈakəˌthis(t)s
or Akathistoi äˈkäthēˌstē
: any of several Lenten hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church sung with the people standing in honor of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or one of the saints
Word History
Etymology
Middle Greek akathistos (hymnos), literally, standing hymn, from akathistos standing, from a- a- entry 2 + -kathistos (from Greek kathizein to seat, set, sit, from kata down + -izein -ize)
First Known Use
circa 1721, in the meaning defined above