Agnus Dei

noun

Ag·​nus Dei ˌäg-ˌnu̇s-ˈdā(-ˌē) 

-ˌnüs-;

ˌän-yu̇s-;

ˌag-nəs-

1

: a liturgical prayer addressed to Christ as Savior

2

: an image of a lamb often with a halo and a banner and cross used as a symbol of Christ

Illustration of Agnus Dei

• Agnus Dei 2

Examples of Agnus Dei in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The choir begins to sing Agnus Dei as the Archbishop performs the Holy Communion. —Maria Mercedes Lara, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin Agnus Deī "lamb of God," translation of Greek Amnòs toû Theoû; from its opening words

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1