What does "miserere" mean?
An expression of lamentation or complaint.
Miserere
/mɪzəˈɹɛəɹi/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An expression of lamentation or complaint.
- Grammar: miserere is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: agnus dei, alleluia, answer, anthem.
- Usage evidence: One of the most impressive ceremonies of Holy Week is the chanting of the Miserere.
How to use "miserere"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "miserere" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "miserere" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "miserere" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "miserere" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "miserere" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agnus dei" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "miserere", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An expression of lamentation or complaint.
- 2 A medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe; misericord.
- 3 A small projecting boss or bracket on the underside of the hinged seat of a church stall, intended to give some support to a standing worshipper when the seat is turned up; a misericord.
- 4 Ileus.
Proper Noun
- 1 The 51st Psalm (50th in the older Greek and Latin numbering), beginning “Have mercy upon me, O God …” in the King James Version; sometimes set to music.
"One of the most impressive ceremonies of Holy Week is the chanting of the Miserere."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Miserere (“the 51st/50th Psalm”). alt-of
"The miserere, that is to say, have mercy on us, is a psalm, composed of stanzas, which are sung alternately in a very different manner."
Example
"One of the most impressive ceremonies of Holy Week is the chanting of the Miserere."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "miserere"?
Common synonyms include: agnus dei, alleluia, answer, anthem, antiphon, antiphony.
How do you use "miserere" in a sentence?
One of the most impressive ceremonies of Holy Week is the chanting of the Miserere.
How do you pronounce "miserere"?
Pronounced /mɪzəˈɹɛəɹi/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Latin miserēre (“have pity”), the first word of the psalm in that language.
Etymology 2
From Middle English miserere, a borrowing from Latin miserēre (“have pity”), first word of the 51st Psalm (50th in the older Greek and Latin numbering), translating Ancient Greek ἐλέησον (eléēson) and Biblical Hebrew חָנֵּנִי (ḥānnēnî), inflected form of חָנַן (ḥānan, “have mercy”).