[a. L. Allēlūia, a. Gr. ἀλληλούΐα, the Septuagint representation of Heb. hallēlū-yāh, i.e., praise ye Jah or Jehovah, now more commonly written as in the A.V. of the O.T., HALLELUJAH.] An exclamation meaning ‘Praise the Lord,’ which occurs in many psalms and anthems. Hence, A song of praise to God.

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1382.  Wyclif, Rev. xix. 6. A vois of a greet trumpe … seiynge alleluya [Tindale Alleluya, Rhem. Allelu-ia, 1611 Alleluia].

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1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. xxviii. (1495), 364. At Ester Alleluya is songe.

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c. 1400.  Epiph. (Turnb., 1843), 1880. They song all ther with myld chere Aleluya with vocys soo clere.

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1691.  J. Norris, Pract. Disc., 121. The Burthen of whose Devotion lay in Anthems and Alleluiahs.

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1864.  Engel, Mus. Anc. Nat., 99. Trilling the tongue against the roof of the mouth … is all that constitutes the Alleluia of the ancients.

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