zemirahhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zemirah_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezemirah, n.
Revised 2018

zemirahnoun

Judaism.
  1. 1767–
    Usually in plural (in form zemirot). A religious song or hymn typically in Hebrew or Aramaic; spec. (a) (in the Ashkenazi tradition) a song of praise or celebration sung during or after the Sabbath meal; (b) (in the Sephardi tradition) any of various psalms recited daily at the beginning of the morning service.
    1. 1767
      The Jews are said to have..their Zemiroth, verses of songs of thanksgiving, unto this day.
      Annual Register 1766 Antiquities 148/2
    2. 1831
      If these three Misvot as well as the Misva of saying the Zemirot, shall have been given..it shall not be given to any other.
      Ascamot, or Laws & Regulations Jewish Congregation vii. 52
    3. 1892
      When supper was over grace was chanted, and then the Zemiroth were sung—songs summing up, in light and jingling metre, the very essence of holy joyousness.
      I. Zangwill, Children of Ghetto vol. II. 82
    4. 1949
      A survey of the morning service for week days..indicates that these particular rites contain two groups of Pesuke de-Zimra or Zemirot.
      Proceedings Amer. Acad. Jewish Research vol. 18 255
    5. 1955
      The Sabbath hymns, or z'miroth, lyrical exaltations of thankfulness to God for his wonders and kindness to the children of Israel.
      Notes vol. 12 634/2
    6. 1969
      A man might drop in at any time of the day..to pray..talk of this and that, and, on a festive occasion, sing a zemirah (religious song).
      C. Bermant, Troubled Eden xvi. 213
    7. 1993
      An exception is made in the case of the two Aramaic prayers..and the Aramaic Zemirah (Sabbath table hymn), Yah Ribon, which are endowed with an accompanying translation.
      J. M. Cohen, Blessed are You (1997) vi. 81
    8. 2002
      A sabbath evening in Jerusalem..when shabbat zmirot segued effortlessly into Broadway show tunes.
      Jewish History vol. 16 220

zemirah, n. was revised in June 2018.

zemirah, n. was last modified in December 2024.