1150–1200; Middle English < Latin, imperative 2nd person plural of benedīcere ( bene bene- + dīcere to speak)
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The two lower panels represent labourers going to their work singing Benedicite, and a priest and choristers chanting Nunc Dimittis, in allusion to Ken's morning and evening hymns.
From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Wells A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Dearmer, Percy
The citoyenne Gamelin set the soup on the table, said the Benedicite and seated her son and her guest at the board.
From The Gods are Athirst by Jackson, Emilie
From noise of scare-fires rest ye free, From murders Benedicite; From all mischances that may fright Your pleasing slumbers in the night, Mercy secure ye all, and keep The goblin from ye while ye sleep.
From A History of the Cries of London Ancient and Modern by Hindley, Charles
Then to my lodgings driving with me back, He left me with a Benedicite!
From The Woman Who Dared by Sargent, Epes
"Benedicite, good gentlemen!" he said, and went out with bowed head and a rustle of flowing robe.
From The Firebrand by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
