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
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.
[lawd] 
) Ecclesiastical. a canonical hour, marked esp. by psalms of praise, usually recited with matins.