A song or chant, especially a hymn, psalm, or biblical poem sung in religious services or worship.
From Latin 'canticulum,' a diminutive of 'canticum' (song), which itself derives from 'cantare' (to sing). This word entered English during the medieval period and remains central to religious music terminology.
The 'Song of Solomon,' 'Magnificat,' and 'Te Deum' are all famous canticles—they're not just songs, they're the backbone of religious worship across Christianity and Judaism! The word is so old it appears in the King James Bible itself, making it one of the most historically important musical terms.
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