- benediction
- 1432, from L. benedictionem (nom. benedictio), noun of action from benedicere "to speak well of, bless," from bene "well" (see bene-) + 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).