What is "octonary"

Octonary \Oc`to*na*ry\, a. [L. octonarius, fr. octoni eight each, fr. octo eight.] Of or pertaining to the number eight.
--Dr. H. More.

a. 1 Of eighth rank or order. 2 Consisting of eight things n. A group of eight things

n. the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one [syn: eight, 8, VIII, eighter, eighter from Decatur, octad, ogdoad, octet]

An octonary is an eight-line section in a poem, song or psalm. The most notable example is found in Psalm 119

In the French renaissance the octonaire became a form of moralizing chanson.