[mag-nif-i-kat, -kaht; mahg-nif-i-kaht, mahn-yif-] 
| 1. | (italics ) the hymn of the Virgin Mary in Luke, 1:46–55, beginning “My soul doth magnify the Lord,” used as a canticle at evensong or vespers. |
| 2. | a musical setting for this. |
| Mag·nif·i·cat (māg-nĭf'ĭ-kāt') n.
[Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin magnificat, it magnifies, third person sing. present tense of magnificāre, to magnify, extol; see magnify.] |