anthem: [OE] Anthem is ultimately an alteration of antiphon ‘scriptural verse said or sung as a response’ (which was independently reborrowed into English from ecclesiastical Latin in the 15th century). It comes from Greek antíphōnos ‘responsive’, a compound formed from anti- ‘against’ and phōné ‘sound’ (source of English phonetic, telephone, etc).
By the time it had become established in Old English, antiphon had already developed to antefn, and gradually the /v/ sound of the f became assimilated to the following n, producing antemne and eventually antem. The spelling with th begins to appear in the 15th century, perhaps influenced by Old French anthaine; it gradually altered the pronunciation.
The meaning ‘antiphon’ died out in the 18th century, having been succeeded by ‘piece of choral church music’ and more generally ‘song of praise’. The specific application to a ‘national song’ began in the 19th century. => antiphon, phonetic, telephone
anthem (n.)
Old English ontemn, antefn, "a composition (in prose or verse) sung antiphonally," from Late Latin antefana, from Greek antiphona "verse response" (see antiphon). Sense evolved to "a composition set to sacred music" (late 14c.), then "song of praise or gladness" (1590s). Used in reference to the English national song (technically, as OED points out, a hymn) and extended to those of other nations. Modern spelling is from late 16c., perhaps an attempt to make the word look more Greek.
例文
1. At his bidding，the delegates rose and sang the national anthem .
彼の要求に応じて、代表たちは起立して国歌を歌う。
2.During the playing of the national anthem the crowd roared and whistled.
国歌が流れている間、人々は叫んで口笛を吹いていた。
3.And then the orchestra struck up the National Anthem .
そしてオーケストラは国歌を演奏した。
4.They were to fire a salvo of blanks，after the national anthem .
国歌を演奏した後、彼らは同時に空弾を発射する。
5.The European anthem was played at the opening and closing ceremonies.