benediction

[ben-i-dik-shuh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR benediction ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an utterance of good wishes.

the form of blessing pronounced by an officiating minister, as at the close of divine service.

a ceremony by which things are set aside for sacred uses, as a church, vestments, or bells.

(usually initial capital letter) Also called Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. a service consisting of prayers, at least one prescribed hymn, censing of the congregation and the Host, and a blessing of the congregation by moving in the form of a cross the ciborium or monstrance containing the Host.

the advantage conferred by blessing; a mercy or benefit.

Origin of benediction

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin benedictiōn- (stem of benedictiō). See Benedictus, -ion

Related formspre·ben·e·dic·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for benediction

invocation, gratitude, okay, amen, blessing, beatitude, thanksgiving, orison, favor, consecration, approbation, thanks, praise, approval, grace, benison, sanctification, benedictus

Examples from the Web for benediction

Contemporary Examples of benediction

The resulting pictures of Angelina, dipping her head as she receives the Sovereign's benediction, have gone around the world.
WTF Is Damgelina Doing At The Palace?
Tom Sykes
October 11, 2014
Why do politicians and policy-makers need the benediction of celebrity to do their jobs?
Why Does Congress Listen to Celebrities like Ben Affleck?
Tim Teeman
February 27, 2014
Where their benediction fell, their flocks were sure to go—or that was the idea.
Religious-Right Leaders Say Santorum, But Voters Flock to Gingrich
John Avlon
January 22, 2012
Even so, there was a mystical note missing until they brought on the 87-year-old Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery for the benediction.
Why Black Preachers Are Better
Howell Raines
January 22, 2009

Historical Examples of benediction

After the benediction came one of the saddest moments of the day.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
Then I escaped before the blessing, desiring no benediction at such hands.
American Notes
Rudyard Kipling
The signal was then given to us, and we all knelt to receive the benediction of Monseigneur.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
And, with additions, the nephew repeated the benediction of the uncle.
Jennie Baxter, Journalist
Robert Barr
To some of the services—to Benediction for instance—the public is not admitted.
The Coryston Family
Mrs. Humphry Ward

British Dictionary definitions for benediction

benediction

noun

an invocation of divine blessing, esp at the end of a Christian religious ceremony

a Roman Catholic service in which the congregation is blessed with the sacrament

the state of being blessed

Derived Formsbenedictory, adjective

Word Origin for benediction

C15: from Latin benedictio, from benedīcere to bless; see benedicite

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for benediction

c.1400, from Latin benedictionem (nominative benedictio), noun of action from bene dicere "to speak well of, bless," from bene "well" (see bene-) + dicere "to speak" (see diction). The oldest sense in English is of grace before meat. The older French form, beneiçon passed into Middle English as benison.