In Latin it appears as *hosanna* or *osanna* (Greek ὡσσεννάς), a rendering of the Hebrew *hôšîʿâ-nāʾ*—“save, we pray” (cf. Ps. 118:25). In practice, as seen in both Christian and Jewish liturgical usage, the original meaning has been attenuated to a simple exclamation of joy and good wishes, akin to our “long live!”—a point already noted by St. Augustine (In Ioannem tract., 51, 2: PL 35, 1764). St. Jerome, at the request of Pope Damasus, composed a short treatise on the word *osanna*. After dismissing several untenable meanings proposed by those ignorant of Hebrew, he examined the various Greek versions and discussed Hebrew philology, finally giving the correct explanation (Ep. 20, 1–6: CSEL, LIV, pp. 104–10).
In Jewish liturgy *osanna* was repeated especially during the Feast of Tabernacles, whose seventh day was also called “the great *osanna*.” In Christian liturgy, besides its use in the *Sanctus* of the Mass, the term recurs notably on Palm Sunday. The *Didachē* (10, 6) already attests the liturgical employment of this word. The ancient custom of greeting bishops with this acclamation, however, has fallen into disuse (cf. St. Jerome, In Matthaeum, 21, 15: PL 26, 158).