- benediction
- early 15c., from L. benedictionem (nom. benedictio), noun of action from benedictus, pp. of benedicere "to speak well of, bless," from bene "well" (see bene-) + dicere "to speak" (see diction). The oldest sense in English is of grace before meat. The older French form, beneiçon passed into M.E. as benison.