introit

English

Etymology

From French introït, introïte, from Latin introitus (“entering”, “entrance”), from introeō (“I go within”, “I enter”), from intro- (“into”) + eō (“I go”).

Pronunciation

• (RP) enPR: ĭntrōʹĭt, ĭnʹtroit, IPA: /ɪnˈtɹəʊ.ɪt/, /ˈɪntɹɔɪt/, X-SAMPA: /In"tr\@U.It/, /"Intr\OIt/

Noun

introit (plural introits)

1. The action of entering or going in; an entrance.
2. (figuratively, obsolete) An introduction.
3. (Roman Catholicism) A psalm sung or chanted immediately before the collect, epistle, and gospel, and while the priest is entering within the rails of the altar, which begins with this verse: «Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine».
4. (Roman Catholicism) A part of a psalm or other portion of Scripture read by the priest at Mass immediately after ascending to the altar.
5. An anthem or psalm sung before the Communion service.
6. Any composition of vocal music appropriate to the opening of church services.

Quotations

• 1833: Sir Harris Nicolas, K.C.M.G.; The Chronology of History, Containing Tables, Calculations & Statements, Indispensable for ascertaining the dates of Historical Events, and of Public and Private Documents, from the Earliest periods to the present time; preface, page xvii^{1}; glossary of dates, page 111, right-hand column^{2} (printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Longman, Paternoster Row, and John Taylor, Upper Gower Street)

  ^{1} The Glossary of Terms used by ecclesiastics in the middle ages, who describe a day by the “ introit,” or commencement of the service appointed by the church to be performed thereon, and an explanation of the Canonical Hours, Watches, &c. will frequently be found useful.

  ^{2} Circumdederunt. The introit and name of Septuagesima Sunday.

See also

• Introit on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

References

• introit in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• introit in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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Latin

Verb

introit

1. Third-person singular active indicative present form of introeō.