1.
[syn: recession, recessional]
2. a hymn that is sung at the end of a service as the clergy and choir withdraw;
ADJECTIVE (1)
1. of or relating to receding;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Recessional \Re*ces"sion*al\, a.
Of or pertaining to recession or withdrawal.
[1913 Webster]
Recessional hymn, a hymn sung in a procession returning
from the choir to the robing room; a recessional.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
recessional \re*ces"sion*al\ (r[-e]*s[e^]sh"[u^]n*al), n.
a hymn or other piece of music sung or played while a church
congregation is leaving a service, or a choir is returning to
the cloak room; a recessional hymn.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
recessional
adj 1: of or relating to receding
n 1: the withdrawal of the clergy and choir from the chancel to
the vestry at the end of a church service [syn:
recession, recessional]
2: a hymn that is sung at the end of a service as the clergy and
choir withdraw