prokeimenon means in the liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church and Byzantine Rite, a psalm or canticle refrain sung responsorially at certain points of the Divine Liturgy or the Divine Office, usually to introduce a scripture reading. It carries an Arena rating of 1479, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, prokeimenon ranks #1,586 of 13,102 for Most Exacting Words, #2,283 of 13,102 for Most Sublime Words, #2,291 of 13,102 for Most Beautiful Words, #2,327 of 13,102 for Most Ponderous Words.
Why “prokeimenon” is a great word
A short psalm or canticle refrain sung responsorially to introduce a scripture reading. From the Ancient Greek προκείμενον (prokeímenon), neuter singular present participle of προκεῖμαι (prokeîmai, "to lie before, be set forth"), from πρό (pró, "before") and κεῖμαι (keîmai, "to lie"). Unlike a sticheron, a hymnographic verse interwoven with psalmody, or a Western gradual, which follows a reading, the prokeimenon is a herald. It is the deacon's steady chant that stills the congregation, the congregational echo that hangs in the incense-thick air, the formal threshold of velvet and voice over which the sacred text is carried—a deliberate, sonic antechamber for the waiting word.
Etymology
Ancient Greek προκείμενον (prokeímenon).
noun
- In the liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church and Byzantine Rite, a psalm or canticle refrain sung responsorially at certain points of the Divine Liturgy or the Divine Office, usually to introduce a scripture reading.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- sticheron 86% match — A hymn, often written in cycles and sung in alternation with psalm verses, used in the Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite. vs prokeimenon →
- troparion 84% match — A short hymn of one stanza, or organised in more complex forms as a series of stanzas. vs prokeimenon →
- apolytikion 84% match — A troparion chanted at Orthodox Christian worship services, summarizing the feast being celebrated that day. vs prokeimenon →
- introit 84% match — A prayer, typically part of a psalm or other portion of the Bible, read or sung at the start of Mass while or immediately after the priest ascends to the altar. vs prokeimenon →
- kontakion 83% match — A form of hymn or poem recited as a dialogue between a chanter and the choir. vs prokeimenon →
- triodion 83% match — The liturgical book used by the Eastern Orthodox Church, containing the propers for the fasting period preceding Easter and for the weeks leading up to the fast. vs prokeimenon →
- canticle 82% match — A chant, hymn or song, especially a nonmetrical one, with words from a biblical text. vs prokeimenon →
- orthros 82% match — The divine office or service at dawn. vs prokeimenon →