From Middle English anteme, from Old English antefn, antefen and Old French antiene, anteine, anteivne, from Latin antiphōna, from Ancient Greek ἀντίφωνα, from ἀντί ("over against") + φωνή ("voice, sound").

• IPA: /ˈæn.θəm/
• (obsolete) IPA: /ˈæn.təm/

anthem (plural anthems)

1. (archaic) Antiphon.
2. A choral or vocal composition, often with a religious or political lyric.

   The school's anthem sang of its many outstanding qualities, and it was hard to keep a straight face while singing.

3. A hymn of praise or loyalty.

   The choir sang a selection of Christmas anthems at the service just before the big day.

4. (informal) A very popular song or track.

• French: hymne
• German: Hymne, Nationalhymne
• Italian: inno nazionale, inno
• Portuguese: hino
• Russian: гимн
• Spanish: himno

• French: hymne
• Italian: inno
• Portuguese: hino
• Russian: гимн
• Spanish: himno

• Portuguese: hino

anthem (anthems, present participle antheming; simple past and past participle anthemed)

1. (transitive, poetic) To celebrate with anthems.
   • 1819 (date written), John Keats, “Fancy”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC ↗, page 124 ↗:

     [T]hou shalt hear / Distant harvest-carols clear; / Rustle of the reaped corn; / Sweet birds antheming the morn: [...]