Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The canticle or hymn beginning in Latin “Benedicite omnia opera Domini,” and in English “O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,” taken from “The Song of the Three Holy Children” forming part of the Apocrypha in the English Bible.
- noun A musical setting of this canticle.
- noun [lowercase] An invocation of a blessing, especially a blessing before a repast, as said in religious communities, etc., answering to the grace or thanksgiving after it.
- noun Used interjectionally: Bless you! expressing a wish.
- noun Bless us! bless me! expressing surprise.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A canticle (the Latin version of which begins with this word) which may be used in the order for morning prayer in the Church of England. It is taken from an apocryphal addition to the third chapter of Daniel.
- interjection An exclamation corresponding to
Bless you !.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- interjection obsolete
bless you
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Page 26 the venerable Pontifex Maximus, for whom I have ever since felt the highest respect, had his driver stop, and, leaning out of the window, bestowed the "benedicite" (if correct in Church nomenclature), and moved on.
Recollections and reflections : an auto of half a century and more, 1906
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So saying, he dismissed Roland Graeme, through a different door from that by which he had entered, signed a cross, and pronounced a benedicite as they parted, and then, still muttering to himself, retired into the garden, and locked the door on the inside.
The Abbot 2008
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Thou hast in thee nor agility nor benedicite nor thinkest thou of aught save meat and sleep.
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The wandering pilgrim, or the begging friar, answered his reverent greeting with a paternal benedicite
Quentin Durward 2008
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Come, my friends, let us have peace, and say our benedicite.
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He heard the supper gong sounding: he knew his way to the door well enough; he entered the familiar hall with a benedicite, and without any more words took his place.
Burlesques 2006
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The Capuchin had taken the same precaution, and followed Peregrine into the room, pronouncing benedicite, and crossing himself with many marks of astonishment.
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Ah, benedicite! how he will mourn over the fall of such a pearl of knighthood, be it on the side he happens to favour, or on the other.
Old Mortality 2004
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Angeli Domini, Dominum benedicite in aeternum. posted by John at 12: 21 AM
10/01/2002 - 11/01/2002 John 2002
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Prior Aymer, therefore, and his character, were well known to our Saxon serfs, who made their rude obeisance, and received his “benedicite, mes filz,” in return.
Ivanhoe 2004
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