I. In gen., to play upon a stringed instrument; esp., to play upon the cithara, to sing to the cithara: “psallere saltare elegantius,” Sall. C. 25, 2 (but in Cic. Cat. 2, 10, 23 the correct read. is saltare et cantare; “v. Halm ad h. l.): qui canerent voce et qui psallerent,” Gell. 19, 9, 3; cf.: “cantare et psallere jucunde,” Suet. Tit. 3; Aur. Vict. Epit. 14: “docta psallere Chia,” Hor. C. 4, 13, 7; id. Ep. 2, 1, 33. —Of singing to the cithara: Calliope princeps sapienti psallerat ore, Caesius Bassus ap. Prisc. p. 897 P.; Aur. Vict. Caes. 5; Prud. στεφ. 10, 837.—Impers.: “in caelo cantatur et psallitur,” Arn. 3, 21.—
II. In partic., in eccl. Lat., to sing the Psalms of David, Hier. Ep. 107, 10; Aug. in Psa. 46; 65; Vulg. 1 Cor. 14, 15 et saep.
