Nuts and Bolts: versicle.

A versicle is a line said or sung by a priest at a religious ceremony to which a response is required.

For example:

Hear my prayer, O Lord:

[The response to that should be: And let my cry come unto you.]

that sort of thing.

A versicle can also be a line of a verse (especially if it's in a hymn) which is shorter than most of the others, as in the last line of:

Where light, and life, and joy, and peace
In undivided empire reign,
And thronging angels never cease
Their deathless strain;  

A versicle can also be a short verse:

A longer verse

Is often worse.

so, basically, in that case a versicle is an ickle verse.

Geddit?

Word To Use Today: versicle. The Old French version of this word was versicule, from the Latin versiculus. Yes, which really does mean little verse.