From Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, antefen and Old French antiene, anteine, anteivne, from Latin antiphōna, from Ancient Greek ἀντίφωνα (antíphōna), from ἀντί (antí, “over against”) + φωνή (phōnḗ, “voice, sound”). Doublet of antiphon.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæn.θəm/, [ˈæn̪.θəm̥]

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /ˈæn.təm/
• Rhymes: -ænθəm

anthem (plural anthems)

1. (archaic) Antiphon.
2. A choral or vocal composition, often with a religious or political lyric.

   The school's anthem sang of its many outstanding qualities, and it was hard to keep a straight face while singing.

3. A hymn of praise or loyalty.

   The choir sang a selection of Christmas anthems at the service just before the big day.

4. (informal) A very popular song or track.
   • 2003, Peter Buckley, The rough guide to rock:

     In May 2000, they even finally cracked the UK top ten when they teamed up with Paul Van Dyk on the trance anthem "The Riddle"...

• → Welsh: anthem

anthem (third-person singular simple present anthems, present participle antheming, simple past and past participle anthemed)

1. (transitive, poetic) To celebrate with anthems.
   • 1819 (date written), John Keats, “Fancy”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey,[…], published 1820, →OCLC, page 124:

     [T]hou shalt hear / Distant harvest-carols clear; / Rustle of the reaped corn; / Sweet birds antheming the morn: [...]

• Hemant, Manthe, hetman, mentha, nameth, the man

From English anthem, from Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, antefen and Old French antiene, anteine, anteivne, from Latin antiphōna, from Ancient Greek ἀντίφωνα (antíphōna).

• IPA^(key): /ˈanθɛm/

anthem f (plural anthemau)

1. anthem