versicle
/ˈvər-si-kəl/ (ame, mw)
versicle — noun
1. a brief line from a sacred text that the person leading a religious service reci
a brief line from a sacred text that the person leading a religious service recites or sings, after which the people present give a fixed reply
During the evening service, Emre read the versicle from Psalm 23, and everyone gave the reply.
versicle + congregation response: call-and-repeat pattern
The prayer book showed the versicle on the left page and the answer on the right.
Sana listened carefully as the priest sang the versicle before the morning prayer began.
In many churches the versicle O Lord open our lips begins the daily office.
The choir learned a new versicle for the Easter service, set to a simple tune.
- antiphon
an antiphon is a short sung verse exchanged between two choir halves; a versicle is recited or sung by a leader before a congregational response
- response
the response is the congregation's answer to the versicle, not the leader's line itself — so the two are sequential partners, not true synonyms
- collect
a collect is a longer, self-contained prayer; a versicle is a very brief line that expects an answer
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in Christian liturgical settings. The versicle is the leader's portion of a call-and-response pair; the congregation's part is called the response.
常見錯誤
2. any short piece of writing arranged in lines and often following a pattern of rh
any short piece of writing arranged in lines and often following a pattern of rhythm, such as a small poem or a few lines of verse
Théo wrote a short versicle about the first snowfall and showed it to his teacher.
versicle as short personal poem
The old book contained a versicle of just six lines about the beauty of nature.
Manuela copied a short versicle from the poet into her diary every morning.
Felix read a versicle at the wedding, a short poem about love and commitment.
A versicle in the old manuscript captured the feeling of spring in just eight words.