Webster's English Dictionary

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benediction

bene.dic.tion \.ben-*-'dik-sh*n\ n [ME benediccioun, fr. LL benediction-, 
   benedictio, fr. ben]edictus, pp. of benedicere to bless, fr. L, to speak 
   well of, fr. bene well + dicere to say 1: the invocation of a blessing; esp 
   : the short blessing with whic h public worship is concluded often cap  2: 
   a Roman Catholic or Anglo-catholic devotion including the exposition of  
   the eucharistic Host in the monstrance and the blessing of the people with 
   it