vesper

Vesper is a term derived from the Latin vesper, meaning “evening.” The word appears in several domains, including religion, astronomy, and modern culture.

In liturgical use, vesper refers to Vespers, the evening prayer or service of the Divine Office. It is observed in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Protestant traditions and typically includes psalms, canticles, hymns, and prayers, traditionally held in the late afternoon or early evening.

In classical and medieval Latin, vesper was used to denote Venus, the evening star, a usage related to the Greek name Hesperus. In modern astronomy, Venus is the standard designation for the planet, but vesper survives in historical texts and literary contexts.

Notable uses in popular culture include Vesper Lynd, a character in Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, whose name inspired the widely discussed Vesper Martini, a cocktail associated with the Bond story and named in her honor. As a given name, Vesper is used in contemporary settings for both real people and fictional characters, reflecting its literary and mythological associations with the evening.