versicle

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

versicle
    n 1: a short verse said or sung by a priest or minister in
         public worship and followed by a response from the
         congregation

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Versicle \Ver"si*cle\, n. [L. versiculus, dim. of versus. See
   {Verse}.]
   A little verse; especially, a short verse or text said or
   sung in public worship by the priest or minister, and
   followed by a response from the people.
   [1913 Webster]

         The psalms were in number fifteen, . . . being digested
         into versicles.                          --Strype.
   [1913 Webster] Versicolor