BENEDICTION

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does benediction mean? 

• BENEDICTION (noun)
  The noun BENEDICTION has 2 senses:

1. the act of praying for divine protection

2. a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection

  Familiarity information: BENEDICTION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BENEDICTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of praying for divine protection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

benediction; blessing

Hypernyms ("benediction" is a kind of...):

prayer; supplication (the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

benediction; blessing

Hypernyms ("benediction" is a kind of...):

orison; petition; prayer (reverent petition to a deity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "benediction"):

benison (a spoken blessing)

 Context examples 

She paused, waiting with expectancy the benediction of her mother's kiss, but Mrs. Morse was coldly silent.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

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.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The track curved and now it was going away from the sun which, as it sank lower, seemed to spread itself in benediction over the vanishing city where she had drawn her breath.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

"Don't hurry, Meyer," said Gatsby, without enthusiasm. Mr. Wolfshiem raised his hand in a sort of benediction.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)