vesper

[ves-per]

noun

1. (initial capital letter),  the evening star, especially Venus; Hesperus.

2. Also called vesper bell. a bell rung at evening.

3. (sometimes initial capital letter),  vespers,

   1. a religious service in the late afternoon or the evening.

   2. the sixth of the seven canonical hours, or the service for it, occurring in the late afternoon or the evening.

   3. Roman Catholic Church.,  a part of the office to be said in the evening by those in major orders, frequently made a public ceremony in the afternoons or evenings of Sundays and holy days.

   4. Anglican Church.,  evensong.

4. Archaic.,  evening.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, appearing in, or proper to the evening.

2. of or relating to vespers.

vesper

¹

/ ˈvɛspə /

noun

1. an evening prayer, service, or hymn

2. an archaic word for evening

3. (modifier) of or relating to vespers

Vesper

²

/ ˈvɛspə /

noun

1. the planet Venus, when appearing as the evening star

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesper¹

1350–1400; Middle English, partly < Latin: evening, evening star; partly < Old French vespres evening service < Medieval Latin vesperās, accusative plural of Latin vespera, feminine variant of vesper; cognate with Greek hésperos; akin to west

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesper¹

C14: from Latin: evening, the evening star; compare Greek hesperos evening; see _west

Example Sentences

In the film, you have Blake Lively making the Vesper Martini exactly the way that you make it.

From Salon

Ms. Brourman often stands out in the usually staid court, showing up in outfits chosen by the fashion designer Mia Vesper, who has been dressing her for the trial.

From New York Times

The incident was reported around 11:20 a.m. at the school in the 5000 block of Vesper Lane.

From Los Angeles Times

Aside from the taste, though, Vesper said the spring water is no better for you than what comes out of the tap at home.

From Washington Times

But there’s something touchingly profound in Vesper’s predicament.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• evening