ben·e·dic·tion

(bĕn′ĭ-dĭk′shən)

1. A blessing.

2. An invocation of divine blessing, usually at the end of a church service.

3. often Benediction Roman Catholic Church A short service consisting of prayers, the singing of a Eucharistic hymn, and the blessing of the congregation with the host.

4. An expression of good wishes.

[Middle English benediccioun, from Old French benedicion, from Latin benedictiō, benedictiōn-, from benedictus, past participle of benedīcere, to bless : bene, well; see deu- in Indo-European roots + dīcere, to speak; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]

ben′e·dic′tive, ben′e·dic′to·ry (-dĭk′tə-rē) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

benediction

(ˌbɛnɪˈdɪkʃən)

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) an invocation of divine blessing, esp at the end of a Christian religious ceremony

2. (Roman Catholic Church) a Roman Catholic service in which the congregation is blessed with the sacrament

3. the state of being blessed

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

ˌbeneˈdictory adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ben•e•dic•tion

(ˌbɛn ɪˈdɪk ʃən)

n.

1. an utterance of good wishes.

2. the invocation of a blessing, esp. the short blessing closing a religious service.

3. (usu. cap.) a Roman or Anglo-Catholic service that includes a blessing of the congregation with the Host in the monstrance.

4. something that imparts a benefit.

[1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin benedictiō]

ben•e•dic•to•ry (ˌbɛn ɪˈdɪk tə ri) adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	benediction - the act of praying for divine protection blessing prayer, supplication - the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving); "the priest sank to his knees in prayer"
	2.	benediction - a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection blessing orison, petition, prayer - reverent petition to a deity benison - a spoken blessing

benediction

noun

1. blessing, favour, grace, prayer, devotion, gratitude, thanksgiving, communion, litany, invocation, consecration, supplication, thankfulness, benedictus (Latin), benison, orison The minister pronounced the benediction.

2. beatitude, favour, grace, felicity, exaltation, beatification, saintliness, holy joy She could only raise her hand in a gesture of benediction.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

benediction

noun

A short prayer said at meals:

blessing, grace, thanks, thanksgiving.

Translations

منْح البَرَكَه مِنَ

blahořečenípožehnání

velsignelse

Segnung

bénédiction

blessun, blessunarbæn

benedizione

palaiminimas

svētība

benediksjon takksigelse velsignelse

hayır duatakdis

祝福

benediction

[ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən] N → bendición f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

benediction

[ˌbɛnɪˈdɪkʃ^ən] n

(= final prayer) → bénédiction f

(= blessing) → bénédiction m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

benediction

(= blessing) → Segen m; (= act of blessing) → Segnung f

(= consecration) → Einsegnung f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

benediction

[ˌbɛnɪˈdɪkʃ/ən] n → benedizione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

benediction

(benəˈdikʃən) noun

a prayer giving blessing.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"Tomorrow; If you ask me, I should say, the benediction today and the wedding tomorrow."

View in context

Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God's favor.

View in context

The chief justice flung out his hands with a gesture, as if he were bestowing a parting benediction on his countrymen.

View in context

The officiating priest was just finishing mass whilst D'Artagnan was looking at Bazin; he pronounced the words of the holy Sacrament and retired, giving the benediction, which was received by the kneeling communicants, to the astonishment of D'Artagnan, who recognized in the priest the coadjutor* himself, the famous Jean Francois Gondy, who at that time, having a presentiment of the part he was to play, was beginning to court popularity by almsgiving.

View in context

The priest and the negro knelt and murmured together the evening benediction and a prayer for the dead.

View in context

The man's face glowed into the benediction that had trembled there.

View in context

But a bird sang blithely on a budding bough, close by, the snowdrops blossomed freshly at the window, and the spring sunshine streamed in like a benediction over the placid face upon the pillow, a face so full of painless peace that those who loved it best smiled through their tears, and thanked God that Beth was well at last.

View in context

Returning to the Spouter-Inn from the Chapel, I found Queequeg there quite alone; he having left the Chapel before the benediction some time.

View in context

Bagration called to him, and Tushin, raising three fingers to his cap with a bashful and awkward gesture not at all like a military salute but like a priest's benediction, approached the general.

View in context

Anne and Leslie bowed as those receiving a benediction. Gilbert suddenly brushed his hand over his eyes; Owen Ford was rapt as one who can see visions.

View in context

Immediately after the service Father Sergius, having pronounced the benediction on those present, went over to the bench under the elm tree at the entrance to the cave.

View in context

He gave the benediction afterwards in Latin, but either Will Atkins did not know but it was French, or else did not take notice of it at that time.

View in context