psalmist 
l>:ivnl ... the :m.,int,-.l of the God of Jacob, and the 
iweet ftalmiit of Israel 2 8am. will. 1. 
She tun'd to pious notes the pmlmut't lyre. 
J. flughet, Divine Poetry. 
2. In early 1'lirintinu music, a cantor or other 
official of the minor clergy charged with the 
singing of church music. 
psalmister (sa'mis-ter or sal'mis-ter), . [< 
psalmixt + -tr 1 .] Same as psalmist, 2. 
psalmistry (sii'mis-tri or sal'mis-tri), w. [< 
lix'iltiiixt + -ry.] The art, act, or practice of 
Hinging psalms; psalmody. 
He who, from such a kind of pnalmittry, or any other 
verbal devotion, . . . can be penuaded of a zeal and true 
righteousness in the person, hath much ret to learn. 
Milton, Works, I. 408. (JodreU.) 
psalm-melodicon (sam'me-lod'i-kon), w. A 
musical instrument of the wood wind group, 
having several finger-holes and keys and a com- 
pass of four octaves, and so constructed that 
from four to six tones could be produced at 
once. It was invented by 8. Weinrich in 1828, 
and improved by L. Schmidt in 1832. Also 
called apollolyra. 
psalmodic (sal-mod'ik), a. [< psalmod-y + -ic.] 
Belonging or relating to psalmody. 
That glorious body of psalmodic literature or hymnol- 
ogy which constitutes the Book of Psalms. 
J. A. Alexander, On the Psalms, II. 294. 
psalmodical (sal-mod'i-kal), a. [< psalmodic 
+ -al.] Same as psalmodic. 
If Queen Elizabeth patronized cathedral mnslck exclu- 
sively, she did not interdict vtalmodical. 
W. Maton, Church Music, p. 170. 
psalmodist (sal'mo-dist or sa'roo-dist), M. [< 
psalmod-y + -ist.] One who composes or sings 
psalms or sacred songs. 
It will be thought as tit for our lips and hearts as for 
our ears to turn ptalmoditti. 
Hammond, On the Psalms, Pref. (Latham,) 
Prophet in some parts of the Scripture seems to imply 
little more than a mere poet, or pwtmodist, who sung ex- 
tempore verses to the sound of an instrument. 
Dr. Burney, Hist. Music, I. 230. 
psalmodize (sal'mo-diz or sa'mo-diz), r. i. ; pret. 
and pp. psalmodized, ppr. psalmodizing. [< psal- 
mod-y + -ize.] To practise psalmody. 
In short, the bird perform'd his part 
In all tltepmlmiKlviiuj art. 
J. O. Cooper, Ver-Vert, ii. 
psalmody (sal'mo-di or sa'mo-di), w. [< ME. 
psalmody, < OF. (and F.) psalmodic = Pr. pxal- 
modia = Sp. sulmodia = It. salmodia = Pg.]>sal- 
modia, < ML. psalmodia, < Gr. ^*//^><'i, a sing- 
ing to the harp, < (MGr.) Vi?-/<4><fc(v, sing to the 
harp, < \lxtZ/i6f, a song (see psalm), + aeitciv, aAetv, 
sing: see ode 1 .] 1. The art, act, or practice of 
singing psalms or hymns as a part of worship. 
As touching that is lalde to our charge In pmlmodie* 
and songs, wherewith our slaunderers do fray the simple, 
I haue thus to say. t'oxe, Martyrs, p. 1921, an. 15SS. 
Calvin, who had certainly leas music in his soul than the 
other (Luther], rejected both vocal and instrumental har- 
mony, and admitted only unisonous pmlmndy. 
W. Maton, Church Music, 111. 
He was also an expert In ptalmndu. having in his youth 
been the pride of the village singing-school. 
II. B. Stave, Oldtown, p. 34. 
2. Psalms collectively, especially in the form 
of metrical versions prepared for liturgical use. 
psalmody (sal'mo-di or sa'mo-di), r. t. ; pret. 
and pp. ii.iiiliiinilii-il, ppr. psalmodi/ing. [< psal- 
mody, .] To hymn ; celebrate in psalms. 
It Is an event which can be looked on ; which may still 
I * execrated, still feecelebrated and ptahnodied; but which 
It were better now to begin understanding. 
Carliile, Misc., Iv. 119. (Dana.) 
psalmographt (sal'mo-graf ), . [< LL. pxalmo- 
(iraplius, < Gr. ^a^.ftoyp&^of, a psalm-writer, < 
jia/.tiof, a psalm, + ypfyecv, write.] Same as 
jisalmograplitr. 
That great King-Prophet, Poet, Conqueror, 
Sweet Pmlmograph. 
r, tr. of Im Baku's Triumph of Faith, III. 10. 
4812 
psalm-singer (sam'sing'er), n. One who sings 
pxalras ; especially, one who holds that the con- 
gregational singing of psalms is a necessary 
part of all church worship. 
psalm-singing (sam'sing'ing), n. The act or 
practice of singing psalms or similar sacred 
poems as a part of church worship. 
psalm-tone (s&m'ton), n. In medieral music, a 
melody or tone to which a portion of the Psalter 
was habitually sung. 
psalpid (sa'loid), . [< Gr. y>a/U'c, an arch, vault, 
+ cidof, form.] Resembling an arch. Thoman, 
Med. Diet. 
psalter (sal'ter), n. [< ME. psauter, psautere, 
sauter, sautre,< OF.psaultier, sautier, F.psautier 
= Pr. psalteri, salteri, gauteri = Sp. salterio = Pg. 
psalterio = It. saltero, salterio, \ L. pgalterium, 
a song sung to the psaltery, LL. the psalms 
of David, < Gr. jnfofpunt, a psaltery, LGr. the 
Psalter, Book of Psalms: see psaltery.] 1. 
[cap.] The Book of Psalms, considered as a 
separate book of the Old Testament: usually 
restricted to those versions of or compends 
from it which are arranged especially for the 
services of the church, such as the version of 
the Psalms in the Book of Common Prayer. 
The translation of the Psalter In the Book of Common 
Prayer is not that of the authorized version, but that of 
the earlier version of Cranmer's Bible. 
The prophete his payn eet in penaunce and weprng ; 
o dude moni othere. 
Piert Ploicman (A), viil. 107. 
ayn 
eith, 
As the psauttr vs seith, so dude moni othere. 
This, the most sweet and sacred ptalmograph. 
Middleton, World Tot at Tennis. 
psalmographer (sal-mog'ra-fer), n. [< psalmo- 
i/rnph + -w 1 .] A writer of psalms or sacred 
songs. 
Therefore our Pnlmorrnpher, ver. 1& (Pa. cxv ill. ], hav- 
ing shewed that " the voice of rejoicing and salvation Is 
In the tabernacles of the righteous," he adds, "The right 
hand of the Lord hath done valiantly." 
Rtt. T. Adamt, Works, I. 110. 
psalmographist (sal-mog'ra-f'iHt ), . [< psalmo- 
nnijih -r -int.] Same as i>*<iliograplier. 
psalmography (sal-mog'ra-fi), n. [< Gr. ixduAf., 
song, -f -wiofia, < ypAqetv, write. Cf. pialmo- 
i/rniili. ] The art or practice of writing psalms 
or sacred songs. 
As David seythe In the Pmutere, Qnonlam persequeba 
tur unus mille, & duo fugarent decem milia. 
Mandeville, Travels, p. 261. 
2. In liturgies, that portion of the Psalms ap- 
pointed for a given day or service. 
And [let] each brother of common condition (sing) two 
psalters of psalms, one for the living and one for the dead. 
Quoted in Erujlih Gilds (E. E. T. 8.), Int, p. xviii. 
3. In the Horn. Cath. ('ft.: (a) A series of devout 
utterances or aspirations, 150 in number, in 
honor of certain mysteries, as the sufferings 
of Christ. 
Euery brother and sister filial payen, of ye commoun 
catel, a peny to a gauter for ye dedes soule. 
English Oildi (E. E. T. S.X p. 26. 
(ft) A large chaplet orrosarv, consisting of 150 
beads, corresponding to the number of the 
Psalms, 
psalterial (sal-te'ri-al), a. [< psalterium + -al.~\ 
In zofil., of or pertaining to the psalterium : as, 
the psalterial aperture of the reticulum ; the 
psalterial lamina?, 
psalterian (sal-te'ri-an), a. [< psaltery + -an.] 
Pertaining to a psaltery; resembling the music 
of a psaltery; musical. 
Then once again the charmed God began 
An oath, and through the serpent's ears it ran 
Warm, tremulous, devout, pmltrrian. 
Kealt, Lamia, L 
psalterion (sal-te'ri-on), n. ; pi. pxalteria (-&). 
[< Gr. ijn/.T>//>to>': see psalterium.] Same as 
pxaltcry, 1. 
He was driven, for revenge and his own defence, to an- 
swer with great and stout words, saying that Indeed he 
had no skill to tune a harp, nor a viol, nor to play on a 
pmllerion. North, tr. of Plutarch, p. 96. 
psalterium (sal-te'ri-um), n. ; pi. psalteria (-&). 
[L. : see psalter, psalter//.] 1. Same AS psal- 
ter. 2. Same as psaltery, 1. 
The pttalterium was a kind of lyre of an oblong square 
shape ; ... It was played with a rather large plectrum. 
South Kennngton Art Handbook, No. v., p. 35. 
3. In :o<il., the third division of the stomach of 
a typical ruminant, between the reticulum or 
honeycomb and the abomasum ; the omasum : 
also called manypliea, from the numerous folds 
of mucous membrane which nearly fill the in- 
terior. It Is reduced to a mere tube, without folds, in 
the less typical ruminants, as the Traywlidee. See cut un- 
der raininnnl. 
When this portion of the stomach Is silt open longitu- 
dinally, the lamella; fall apart like the leaves of a book, 
whence It has received the fanciful name of the Ptalteri- 
inn from anatomists, while 
luitchi-rs give It that of 
Many-piles. 
Huxley, Anat Vert, p. 823. 
4. In iinat.: (a) The 
Ivra of the fornix. (6) 
The pectunculug. 
psaltery (s&l'ter-i), .; 
ill. pxaltrricK (-iz). [< 
ME. jisiitttrii . suiiti'ii'. 
< OF. psalterie, < L. 
l>*iiUprium, psaltery, 
also a psalter, < Gr. V*- 
Tlifunv, a stringed in- 
strument, a psaltery. Pullny of 0,t nth century. 
Psammophis 
also the Psalms of David, the Psalter, < 
touch, twitch, play on a stringed instrument: 
see psalm.] 1. A musical instrument of the 
zither group, having several or many strings 
variously tuned, which are sounded by the fin- 
ger with or without the aid of a plectrum. Its 
use has been extensive, beginning In Biblical times, and 
continuing to the seventeenth century. It Is similar to 
the dulcimer, except that its tone Is produced by twitch- 
ing or picking instead of by striking. It differs from the 
harp proper In having a sound-board behind and parallel 
with the strings. In some cases two or three strings 
tuned In unison were provided for a single tone. 
And al above ther lay a gay autrie, 
On which he made a nyghtes melodie, 
So swetely that al the cliambre rong. 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 27. 
PralK the Lord with harp ; sing to him with the ptallery, 
and an instrument of ten strings. Ps. xxxiil. 2. 
Deep rob'd In white, he made the Levltes stand 
With cymbals, harps, and jmalteriei in their hand. 
Parnttt, Gift of Poetry. 
2. Hame as psalter. 
She knew all the Pmllery by heart, ay, and a great part 
of the Testament besides. 
Lamb, Dream-Children. (Daviet.) 
psaltress (sal'tres), n. [< Gr. "V^W, equiv. 
to ^xi/trr/f, a harper (< <l*ti.'Aeiv, play on a string- 
ed instrument), + -ess.] A woman who plays 
upon the psaltery. 
Earth Is a wintry clod ; 
But spring-wind, like a dancing pxaltrex*. passes 
Over it - breast to waken it. IlrotcHinff, Paracelsus. 
Psaltria (sal'tri-ft), n. [NL. (Temminck, 
1832), < L. pnaltria, <. Gr. -tycd.Tpia, fern, of y*iAn/r , 
a harper: see psaltress, rsaltriparus.] A genus 
of 1'aridee, the type of which is /'. ejrilis, a very 
small Javan titmouse: extended to various 
American species. See I'saltrijxirus. 
Psaltriparus (sal-trip'a-rus), n. [NL. (Bona- 
parte, 1851), < Gr. foAr/xo, fern, of '^la'/.ri/p, a 
harper, + L. parux, a titmouse.] An Ameri- 
can genus of Paridee, containing several species 
of diminutive tits, with long tails, building very 
large pensile nests and laying pure-white eggs ; 
the bush-tits. P. melanotu, P. minimut, and P. plum- 
beta are three species found in western parU of the I nlted 
States, respectively known as the black-eared, leaM, and 
plumbfuiu btith-tit. See cut under Inuh-tit. 
Psammat (sam'a), w. [NL. (P. de Beauvois, 
1812), < Gr. yj////of, sand.] A former genus of 
grasses: same as Ammophila, 1. 
Psamminae (sa-mi'ne), n.pl. [NL., < Gr. i>afi- 
/'of, sand, + -IMS?.] A subfamily of Spongillidf, 
without flesh-spicules, the skeleton consisting 
of foreign bodies cemented by indistinct spon- 
gin. 
psammismus (sa-mis'mus), H. [NL., < Gr. V"J/'- 
IIHC,, sand. Cf. Gr. iba/i/iia^f, a burying in the 
sand.] In pathol., the passage of gravel in the 
urine. 
psammite (sam'it), . [< F. psammite, < Or. 
ifa/t/ilrr/f, of sand, sandy, < i^/j/jof, sand.] Sand- 
stone; gritstone. [Little used by American 
geologists.] 
psammitic (sa-mit'ik), a. [< paammite + -ic.] 
In geol., having a structure like that of sand- 
stone made up of rounded grains of sand. If 
the grains are sharp, the structure is called 
gritty, and the rock a grit or gritstone. 
psammocarcinoma (sam-o-kiir-si-no'ma), w. 
[NL., < Gr. \l*atipoc,, sand, + NL. carcinoma.] 
A carcinoma with a calcareous deposit. 
psammoma (sa-mo'ma), n. [NL., < Gr. V^W'Of. 
sand, + -oma.] A tumor containing abundant 
calcareous deposit, usually growing from the 
membranes of the brain, and most frequently 
a myxoma or fibroma. 
Psammonemata (sam-o-ne'ma-tjl), n. pi. [NL.. 
< Gr. Tlriufiof, sand, + vijua (yrntar-), thread.] A 
group of horny or fibrous sponges, having sand 
or other foreign substance in the axis of the 
spongin. The common bath-sponge is an ex- 
ample. 
Psammophidae (sa-mof'i-de), M. pi. [NL., < 
1'nammophis + -W.] A family of Harmless co- 
lubrine Opliidia, typified by the genus l'sa>iim- 
pliis, now reduced to a subfamily of Colubriiiir; 
the sand-snakes. In Gunther's cUaslflcatlon It con- 
tained four genera, represented chiefly by African and 
Indian species. Also Ptnmmophididjr. 
Psammophinae (sam-6-fi'ne), . pi. [NL., < 
I'niimmophiH + -I'M*.] A subfamily of (.'olu- 
briilte, represented by three genera, Psiimmii- 
l>liix, I'mimmiiili/nafteii, and Mimopliia; the sand- 
snakes or desert-gnakes. They have the head dis- 
tinct, the body moderately slender, not compreised. the 
middle teeth elongated, and the posterior ours grooved. 
The specie* are all tropical. Also Ptammophidinx. K. 
D.Copt. 
Psammophis (sam'o-fis), n. [NL. (Wagler), < 
Gr. y4////or, sand, + tyic, a serpent.] The typi- 
