Choir

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kwaɪə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A group of singers who perform together, typically in a church or during musical performances
2. A musical ensemble composed of individuals who sing together, often in harmony, for religious services or concerts
3. An assembly of vocalists who collaborate to produce choral music, usually in a formal setting or community event

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "choir" is that its spelling no longer matches its sound: the word was once pronounced and spelled close to "quire," and the "ch" was added later to echo the Latin and French. Its ancestor is the Ancient Greek "khorós," meaning a company of dancers or singers, which the Romans borrowed as "chorus." Old French turned it into "quer," and Middle English took that over as "quer" or "quere." The word also has a twin that sounds identical. "Quire," meaning a set of printed sheets folded together, comes from the same Latin source, and the two drifted apart in meaning over the centuries. Their shared ancestry shows up in the "chorus" and "hora" lineage as well, since all these forms descend from the same Greek root. English already had a native word for this idea, "hād," which was displaced by the imported term. The modern spelling was reshaped under the influence of "chorus" and the French "chœur," which is why the silent-looking "ch" now sits at the front.

Synonyms: chorus, singing group, vocal ensemble, gospel choir, a cappella group