hymnbook
Meaning
a book containing hymns for use in religious worship.
Structure
Usage
she reached for the worn hymnbook on the pew to find the next song.
the new edition of the church hymnbook includes both traditional and contemporary music.
during the service, the congregation sang in unison from their hymnbooks.
Etymology
the word 'hymnbook' is a transparent compound formed from two english words of distinct origins. 'hymn' traces back to the greek 'hymnos', a festive song of praise, often dedicated to gods or heroes, which entered english via latin and old english. 'book' originates from the old english 'bōc', related to the germanic word for beech tree, on which runes were carved. the compound logically combines these elements to denote a physical volume containing collections of such sacred songs. its formation follows a common english pattern where a defining noun ('hymn') modifies a head noun ('book') to specify the book's purpose, creating a clear and functional term for religious practice.
Analysis
hymn: from greek 'hymnos', via latin and old english, meaning a song of praise, especially to a god. book: from old english 'bōc', of germanic origin, meaning a set of written, printed, or blank sheets bound together.