nocturn
/ˈnɑktərn/
noun
- A part of the Christian liturgy (the office of matins) that is recited or sung at night, typically divided into three sections.
- The monks gathered in the chapel to chant the first nocturn before dawn.
- In the medieval tradition, the nocturn was an essential part of the nightly prayer service.
- Each nocturn consists of several psalms and readings from scripture.