Definition

1. Noun:
   • The last of the seven canonical hours of the divine office in Christian liturgy: "Compline" is a fixed time of prayer, traditionally observed just before retiring for the night. It is the final service of the day in the daily cycle of prayers known as the Liturgy of the Hours.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The monks gathered in the chapel for compline.
  • She finds peace in reading compline before going to sleep.

Advanced Usage

• "To say/sing compline": to participate in or conduct this prayer service.
  • The community sings compline every night at 9 PM.

Variants and Related Words

• Complin (n): An alternative, less common spelling for "compline."
• Night Prayer (n): A common modern name for the service of compline.

Synonyms

• Night Prayer: The contemporary term often used for this service.
• Vespers (n): Another canonical hour, but typically observed in the evening, earlier than compline. (Note: This is a related but distinct service.)

Related Phrases

• Office of Compline: A formal term for the set of prayers and readings that constitute the compline service.

Noun

1. last of the seven canonical hours just before retiring