hallelujah
/ˌhæl.əˈl(j)uː.jə/ interjection, noun, verb
Forms hallelujahs hallelujahing hallelujahed halleluia halleluiah halleluja alleluia aleluia
- interjection An exclamation used in songs of praise or thanksgiving to God.
- interjection (by extension) A general expression of gratitude or adoration. “Hallelujah! It’s finally the weekend!”
- noun A shout of “Hallelujah”.
- noun (music) A song of praise to God; a musical composition based on the word "Hallelujah".
- noun (in the plural) General praise.
- verb (intransitive) To cry "hallelujah" in praise.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Biblical Hebrew הַלְּלוּיָהּ (halləlūyɔh), from הַלְּלוּ (halləlū, “praise!”) + יָהּ (yɔh, “Lord, Jah”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Praise ye Jehovah; praise ye the Lord; --an exclamation used chiefly in songs of praise or thanksgiving to God, and as an expression of gratitude or adoration. Rev. xix. 1 (Rev. Ver. ) So sung they, and the empyrean rung With Hallelujahs. Milton.
Etymology [Heb. See Alleluia.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “hallelujah”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details