1. Versicle: — O Lord, keep the Queen safe.

2. 1500, "a versicle sung responsively," from French antiphone "hymn" or directly from Medieval Latin Antiphona, from Greek Antiphona (neuter plural), from antiphonos "responsive, sounding in answer," from anti "in return" (see anti-) + phōnē "voice," from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say."

3. 1500, "a versicle sung responsively," from French Antiphone "hymn" or directly from Medieval Latin antiphona, from Greek antiphona (neuter plural), from antiphonos "responsive, sounding in answer," from anti "in return" (see anti-) + phōnē "voice," from PIE root *bha-(2) "to speak, tell, say."