Definition of Tenebrae in English:
Tenebrae
plural noun ˈtɛnɪbreɪˈtɛnɪbriː-ˌbrē
(in the Roman Catholic Church) matins and lauds for the last three days of Holy Week, at which candles are successively extinguished. Several composers have set parts of the office to music.
Example sentencesExamples
- On Wednesday night it was the service of Tenebrae at church.
- The Tenebrae church service last night was really moving.
- On Good Friday, there is a Tenebrae Service at 7pm.
- Matins and Lauds were often combined; on the last three days of Holy Week this combined Office was called Tenebrae.
- Give him a Latin text, whether of the Mass or the Tenebrae responsories, and he seems at once able to tap a vein of profound yet simple music that embodies the words.
Origin
Latin, literally 'darkness'.