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hallelujah

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hal⋅le⋅lu⋅jah

[hal-uh-loo-yuh]
–interjection
1. Praise ye the Lord!
–noun
2. an exclamation of “hallelujah!”
3. a shout of joy, praise, or gratitude.
4. a musical composition wholly or principally based upon the word “hallelujah.”
Also, hal⋅le⋅lu⋅iah.


Origin:
1525–35; < Heb halălūyāh praise ye Yahweh; cf. alleluia
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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hal·le·lu·jah   (hāl'ə-lōō'yə)   
interj.  Used to express praise or joy.
n.  
  1. An exclamation of "hallelujah."

  2. Music A composition expressing praise and based on the word "hallelujah."


[Hebrew halləlû-yāh, praise Yahweh : halləlû, masculine pl. imperative of hillēl, to praise; see hll in Semitic roots + yāh, Yahweh; see hwy in Semitic roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hallelujah 
1535, from Heb. hallalu-yah "praise Jehovah," from hallalu, pl. imper. of hallel "to praise" also "song of praise," from hillel "he praised," of imitative origin, with primary sense being "to trill." Second element is yah, shortened form of Yahweh, name of God. Replaced variant formation alleluia (12c.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Hallelujah

praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD," stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106, 111-113, 135, 146-150), hence called "hallelujah psalms." From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Rev. 19:1, 3, 4, 6.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Encyclopedia

hallelujah

Hebrew liturgical expression meaning "praise ye Yah" ("praise the Lord"). It appears in the Hebrew Bible in several psalms, usually at the beginning or end of the psalm or in both places. In ancient Judaism it was probably chanted as an antiphon by the Levite choir. In the New Testament it appears only in Revelation 19, where it occurs four times. It was translated in the Septuagint (Jewish Greek version of the Bible made in the pre-Christian period) and became "alleluia" in the Vulgate (4th-century Christian Latin version). The early Christians adopted the expression in their worship services, and it appeared in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant liturgies and in hymns.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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