lauds, (used with a singular or plural verb) Ecclesiastical. a canonical hour, marked esp. by psalms of praise, usually recited with matins.
Origin: 1300–50; (v.) ME lauden < L laudāre to praise, deriv. of laus (s. laud-) praise; (n.) ME laude, back formation from laudes (pl.) < LL, special use of pl. of L laus praise
laud (lôd) tr.v.
laud·ed, laud·ing, lauds To give praise to; glorify. See Synonyms at praise. n.
Praise; glorification.
A hymn or song of praise.
lauds also Lauds(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
Ecclesiastical The service of prayers following the matins and constituting with them the first of the seven canonical hours.
The time appointed for this service.
[Middle English lauden, from Old French lauder, from Latin laudāre, from laus, laud-, praise.] laud'er n.
Laud (lôd) English prelate who as archbishop of Canterbury (1633-1645) supported Charles I and absolutism in church and state. His attempts to impose High Church doctrine on Protestants in Scotland and England led to his execution for treason by Parliament.
1377, from O.Fr. lauder, from L. laudere "to praise," from laus (gen. laudis) "praise, fame glory." Cognate with O.E. leoð "song, poem, hymn," from P.Gmc. *leuthan (cf. O.N. ljoð "strophe," Ger. Leid "song," Goth. liuþon "to praise"). Lauds (c.1340, from O.Fr.) is the morning Church service in which psalms of praise to God (Psalms 148-150) are sung. Laudable first recorded c.1420.