matins

1. a. Ecclesiastical The office that formerly constituted together with lauds the first of the seven canonical hours.
   b. The time of day appointed for this service, traditionally midnight or 2 A.M. but often sunrise.
2. often Matins See Morning Prayer.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English matines

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin (vigiliae) mātūtīnae, morning (vigils)

Origin: , feminine pl. of Latin mātūtīnus, of the morning

Origin: , from Mātūta, goddess of dawn; see mā-¹ in Indo-European roots