소서

Solemn 'please grant…' to a higher power

-소서 is an archaic, exalted request, and every line here addresses God, a monarch or a ruler: 하나님이여 미국을 축복하소서 'God bless America.' It survives in prayers, hymn translations and slogans, never in everyday requests, where you would say -주세요. Hearing it signals ceremony — or someone poking fun at ceremony.

Register: archaic, liturgical