1. A song of praise: This is the most common meaning. A hymn is a song of praise, adoration, or worship, often addressed to a deity or a higher power. It's typically sung in a religious context, but hymns can also be secular, praising nature, love, or other subjects.
2. A poetic form: While not a strict poetic form like a sonnet or haiku, hymns often follow certain conventions:
* Regular rhyme scheme: Hymns often use simple and consistent rhyme schemes like AABB or ABAB.
* Metered lines: They frequently follow a regular meter, like iambic pentameter.
* Simple and straightforward language: Hymns are meant to be easily understood and sung, so they usually avoid complex or obscure language.
* Emotional and devotional tone: They often convey a strong sense of emotion, whether it's joy, sorrow, or awe.
3. A poem of spiritual or religious content: While not necessarily a song, a hymn in this sense is a poem that deals with spiritual themes, such as faith, hope, or the divine.
Examples of famous hymns (in the poetic sense):
* "Amazing Grace" by John Newton
* "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" by Isaac Watts
* "Nearer, My God, to Thee" by Sarah Adams
* "The Lord's Prayer" (Biblical text often presented in poetic form)
In short, a "hymn" in poetry refers to a type of poem that often expresses praise, worship, or spiritual themes, and often follows certain structural and linguistic conventions.