‖ Agnus Dei
(ˈægnəs ˈdiːaɪ, ˈagnus ˈdeɪiː)
[L. = lamb of God.]
In R.C. Ch. a. A part of the Mass beginning with the words Agnus Dei; also the music set to it. Now also used in the service of the Church of England. b. A figure of a lamb bearing a cross or flag. c. A cake of wax stamped with such a figure and blessed by the Pope.
| c 1400 Apol. for Loll. 8 Bi-twex þe consecracioun & Agnus Dei. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxx. 245 After the iii agnus dei y seid. 1583 Exec. for Treason (1675) 45 Their Cakes of Wax which they call Agnus Dei. 1629 Owen Spec. Jesuit. 44 Such little Cristall glasses, as Papists do vse to weare about their necks, with an Agnus Dei inclosed betweene them. 1673 Milton True Relig. Wks. 1851, 418 Masses for him both quick and dead, Agnus Dei's, Reliques, and the like. 1845 Holmes Mozart 100 The service lasted till a quarter to eleven, and an Agnus Dei of Haydn's was again performed. 1867 in C. Walker Ritual Reason Why x. 160 What is the Agnus Dei? It is an anthem sung by the choir during the Communion of the priest... The Choir sing thrice: ‘O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world’, adding twice: ‘have mercy upon us’, and the third time: ‘Grant us Thy peace’. 1887 Church Times 30 Dec. 1082/3 The music throughout was of the simplest character, the Kyrie, Benedictus and Agnus Dei being sung to Merbecke. 1974 Oxf. Dict. Chr. Church (ed. 2) 41/2 The Offertory leads directly to the Thanksgiving... The Fraction, which follows, may be accompanied by the Agnus Dei. |