Also 4–6 kyrieleyson, 6 Kyrie-eleyson, Kirie-eleeson, 7 (Kerry-Elison). [The Greek words Κύριε ἐλέησον ‘Lord, have mercy,’ occurring in the Gr. text of Ps. cxxii. 3, Matt. xv. 22, xvii. 15, etc. The Gr. words were written in L. kyrie (med.L. also kirie), and (by itacism of η) eleison. As in other Christian words (e.g., Maria, Sophia, Helena, Jacobus, etc.), the Gr. accent was retained, giving ele·īson, later elē·ison, or elei·son. Since the Renascence, some have represented the Gr. more literally and quantitatively by elelé·son. Hence many varieties of pronunciation in Eng., some retaining the med.L. (which is also mod.Gr.) given above, some following the school pronunciation of ancient Gr. or L., or with various Eng. modifications of the vowels, as ki·rie, kəi·rilī, kəi·ri, ėlī·isǫn, elilīsǫn, eliləi·sǫn, ėləi·sǫn.]
1. Eccl. The words of a short petition used in various offices of the Eastern and Roman Churches, esp. at the beginning of the Mass; represented in the Anglican service by the words, ‘Lord, have mercy upon us,’ etc., in the Response to each Commandment in the Communion Service. b. A musical setting of these words, esp. as the first movement of a Mass.
[a. 1225. Ancr. R., 30. Hwose wule, mei siggen þesne psalm, ‘Ad te levavi’ biuoren þe Paternostres, & seoþen ‘Kirieleison, Christeleison, Kirieleison.’ Ibid., 22.]
13[?]. St. Alexius, 422, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 183. Þe folk on knees fell … And kyrieleyson thries þai sange.
? 14[?]. in Q. Eliz. Acad. (1879), 34. Att every Kyrie lyson, one to say with an high voice for ye sowle A Pater noster.
1551. Bp. Hooper, Later Writ. (Parker Soc., 1852), 145. They were wont to sit when they said or sang the psalms, kneel at Kyrie-eleyson, and stand up at Magnificat.
1563. Pilkington, Confut., C iv b. Platina … affirmes, that Pope Sixtus appoynted the Sanctus to be songe, Gregory the Kirie-eleeson.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., II. iv. § 27. 454. That very Form of Prayer … Kyrie Eleeson, Lord have mercy upon us, was anciently part of the Pagans Litany to the Supreme God.
1834. Beckford, Italy, II. xiv. 71. I have had pretty nearly my fill of motets, and Kyrie eleisons.
1885. Catholic Dict. (ed. 3), s.v., The Second Council of Vaison,… which met in 529, ordered the Kyrie Eleison to be said at Mass and other services.
† 2. transf. A complaint; a scolding. Obs.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, 130 b. He gave me a Kyrie-leyson.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Navy Land Ships, Wks. I v b/1. I would … haue sung him a Kerry-Elison, that should haue made him beene glad to haue promist me a brace of Bucks more, to haue stop’d my mouth withall.
