choir

choir
\ \ [13] Modern choirs merely sing, but far back in time they danced too. The word comes ultimately from Greek khorós, which in ancient Greek drama signified a group of singers and dancers who commented on the action of the play (the element of dance is preserved in choreography). In Latin, khorós became chorus – whence English chorus [16], choral, and probably also carol. The Latin form in turn developed to Old French quer, in which form it was borrowed into English; the spelling choir, modelled on Latin and the modern French form choeur, was introduced in the 17th century.
\ \ Cf.CAROL, CHOREOGRAPHY, CHORUS

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • choir — [ ʃwar ] v. intr. <conjug. : je chois, tu chois, il choit, ils choient (les autres personnes manquent au présent); je chus, nous chûmes. Chu, chue au p. p. Formes vieillies : je choirai ou cherrai, nous choirons ou cherrons> • cheoir 1080;… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • choir — (choir), je chois, tu chois, il choit ; chu, chue, il se conjugue avec l auxiliaire être : ils sont chus ; les autres temps et les autres personnes ne sont pas usités ; cependant Bossuet a dit : il chut, et on pourrait se servir de ce temps ; on… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Choir — Choir, n. [OE. quer, OF. cuer, F. ch[oe]ur, fr. L. chorus a choral dance, chorus, choir, fr. Gr. ?, orig. dancing place; prob. akin to ? inclosure, L. hortus garden, and E. yard. See {Chorus}.] 1. A band or organized company of singers,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • choir — [ kwaır ] noun count * 1. ) a group of singers who perform together, for example in a church or school: the church/cathedral/school choir choir practice in a choir: He sings in a church choir. 2. ) the part of a church where the choir sits …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Choir! — ちょいあ! Genre Comedy, Slice of life, Yuri …   Wikipedia

  • choir — CHOIR. v. n. Il ne se dit guère qu à l infinitif, et au participe Chu. Tomber, être porté de haut en bas par son propre poids, ou par impulsion. Prenez garde de choir. Se laisser choir. On lui donna un coup qui le fit choir. Chu, ue. participe.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • choir — c.1300, queor part of the church where the choir sings, from O.Fr. cuer, quer choir of a church (13c., Mod.Fr. choeur), from L. chorus choir (see CHORUS (Cf. chorus)). Meaning band of singers is c.1400, quyre. Re spelled mid 17c. on Latin model …   Etymology dictionary

  • choir — [kwīr] n. [< ME quere < OFr cuer < ML chorus, choir < L (see CHORUS); sp. altered under infl. of L] 1. a group of singers organized and trained to sing together, esp. in a church 2. the part of a church they occupy, as a chancel or… …   English World dictionary

  • choir — [kwaıə US kwaır] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: cuer, from Latin chorus; CHORUS1] 1.) a group of people who sing together for other people to listen to →↑choral ▪ He joined a church choir at the age of eight. 2.) [usually singular] the …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Choir — • Church architecture term. Strictly speaking, the choir is that part of the church where the stalls of the clergy are • A body of singers entrusted with the musical parts of the Church service, and organized and instructed for that purpose… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • choir — ► NOUN 1) an organized group of singers, especially one that takes part in church services. 2) the part of a large church between the altar and the nave, used by the choir and clergy. ORIGIN Old French quer, from Latin chorus (see CHORUS(Cf.… …   English terms dictionary

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