adjective
- of or relating to a recession of the clergy and choir after the service.
- of or relating to a recess, as of a legislative body.
noun
- a hymn or other piece of music played at the end of a service while the congregation is filing out.
adjective
- of or relating to recession
noun
- a hymn sung as the clergy and choir withdraw from the chancel at the conclusion of a church service
1858, from recession + -al (1). As a noun, “hymn sung while the clergy and choir are leaving church,” 1864, with -al (2).