benediction
ben-uh-DIK-shuhn
/ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/
The utterance or bestowing of a blessing, especially at the end of a religious service.
Implies a divine invocation of goodness, protection, and grace declared over people.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'benedictio', combining 'bene' (well) and 'dicere' (to speak) — literally 'speaking well of' or pronouncing good upon someone. It entered High English liturgy from Vulgate Bible translations.
Word relationships
- blessing: 'Blessing' is common and general; 'benediction' is formal and usually liturgical.
- invocation: 'Invocation' happens at the beginning to ask for presence; 'benediction' comes at the conclusion as a parting blessing.
- malediction: 'Malediction' is a formal curse or utterance of evil intent.
- anathema: 'Anathema' is a formal curse or something intensely disliked and rejected.
Commonly confused with
- Benefaction: A 'benefaction' is a financial or material gift; a 'benediction' is a spoken blessing.
Word family
- benedictory (adjective): Expressing or belonging to a blessing.
Collocations
- pronounce a benediction
- final benediction
- benediction service
- give a benediction
Example sentences
- "The pastor raised his hands to offer the final benediction over the congregation." Religious Service
- "The warm sun fell upon the countryside like a silent benediction after days of rain." Literary Context
Memory hook
BENE (Good) + DICT (Speak) = Speaking good words. Speaking a parting blessing of peace.
When not to use
Do not use for a curse or an ordinary secular goodbye.
Fun facts
- The direct antonym of benediction is malediction, formed from 'male' (bad) and 'dicere' (to speak).
Related words
Explore more words
sacrament, bestow, invocation, ritual, benevolent, consecrate
Also appears in
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