noun
Angelus
AND-zhuh-luhs
Angelus (noun) means a Catholic prayer devotion commemorating the Annunciation, said three times a day. Example: “The nuns paused their work to recite the angelus at noon.”
noun
1
A Catholic prayer devotion commemorating the Annunciation, said three times a day.
"The nuns paused their work to recite the angelus at noon."
2
The bell rung to call worshippers to this prayer.
"The angelus tolled from the village church tower at six."
"The yodel in it brought to mind incongruous images, full of holes as a Swiss cheese: among the alpenhorns and cuckoo clocks, cowbells clunked and donged like angeluses gone awry."
— Ciaran Carson, Last Night's Fun: A Book About Irish Traditional Music (1998)
How to use Angelus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional prayer and its bell, not the angel itself.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Angelus.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Angeluses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nuns paused their work to recite the _____ at noon.
Etymology
Named after the opening Latin word of the prayer, "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae" ("The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary").
Synonyms
View more →
angelus bell
Frequently asked questions
What does “Angelus” mean?
The word “Angelus” means a Catholic prayer devotion commemorating the Annunciation, said three times a day. In plain terms, a traditional prayer and its bell, not the angel itself.
How do you pronounce “Angelus”?
“Angelus” is pronounced AND-zhuh-luhs (/ˈænd͡ʒələs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Angelus” in a sentence?
Here is “Angelus” used in a sentence: “The nuns paused their work to recite the angelus at noon.”
What part of speech is “Angelus”?
“Angelus” is a noun.
Where does the word “Angelus” come from?
The word “Angelus” comes from Latin. Named after the opening Latin word of the prayer, "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae" ("The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary").
How many meanings does “Angelus” have?
“Angelus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Catholic prayer devotion commemorating the Annunciation, said three times a day.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Angelus:
