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benediction - 5 dictionary results

ben⋅e⋅dic⋅tion

  [ben-i-dik-shuhn]
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–noun
1. an utterance of good wishes.
2. the form of blessing pronounced by an officiating minister, as at the close of divine service.
3. a ceremony by which things are set aside for sacred uses, as a church, vestments, or bells.
4. (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.
5. the advantage conferred by blessing; a mercy or benefit.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME (< MF) < L benedictiōn- (s. of benedictiō). See Benedictus, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ben·e·dic·tion   (běn'ĭ-dĭk'shən)   
n.  
  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-2 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Benediction

Ben`e*dic"tion\, n. [L. benedictio: cf. F. b['e]n['e]diction. See Benison.]

1. The act of blessing.

2. A blessing; an expression of blessing, prayer, or kind wishes in favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of happiness.

So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus Followed with benediction. --Milton.

Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her. --Longfellow. Specifically: The short prayer which closes public worship; as, to give the benediction.

3. (Eccl.) The form of instituting an abbot, answering to the consecration of a bishop. --Ayliffe.

4. (R. C. Ch.) A solemn rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water, and formally dedicated to God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : benediction
Spanish: bendición,
German: die Segnung,
Japanese: 祝福
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benediction 
1432, from L. benedictionem (nom. benedictio), noun of action from benedicere "to speak well of, bless," from bene "well" + dicere "to speak" (see diction). The oldest sense in Eng. is of grace before meat. The older Fr. form beneiçon passed into M.E. as benison (c.1300).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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benediction

a verbal blessing of persons or things, commonly applied to invocations pronounced in God's name by a priest or minister, usually at the conclusion of a religious service. The Aaronic benediction (Num. 6:24-26) was incorporated by Luther into his German Mass and is preserved by modern Lutherans because of its impressive dignity; it is also used in the Mozarabic liturgy of Spain before the reception of the Host. The Swedish liturgy appends a trinitarian formula to this same benediction. Some Christian churches, however, prefer the Pauline benediction (II Cor. 13:14).

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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