{ } n. [ From Benedick, one of the characters in Shakespeare's play of “Much Ado about Nothing.” ] A married man, or a man newly married. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. benedictus, p. p. of benedicere to bless. See Benison, and cf. Bennet. ] Having mild and salubrious qualities. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a famous order of monks, established by St. Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century. This order was introduced into the United States in 1846. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Benedictines wear black clothing, and are sometimes called Black Monks. The name Black Fr&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;rs which belongs to the Dominicans, is also sometimes applied to the Benedictines. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. benedictio: cf. F. bénédiction. See Benison. ] 1. The act of blessing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A blessing; an expression of blessing, prayer, or kind wishes in favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of happiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus
Followed with benediction. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Specifically: The short prayer which closes public worship; as, to give the benediction. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.) The form of instituting an abbot, answering to the consecration of a bishop. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (R. C. Ch.) A solemn rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water, and formally dedicated to God. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A book of benedictions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A collected series of benedictions. [ 1913 Webster ]

The benedictionary of Bishop Athelwold. G. Gurton's Needle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to bless. Gauden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Expressing wishes for good; as, a benedictory prayer. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., blessed. See Benedict, a. ] The song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist (Luke i. 68); -- so named from the first word of the Latin version. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. edictum, fr. edicere, edictum, to declare, proclaim; e out + dicere to say: cf. F. édit. See Diction. ] A public command or ordinance by the sovereign power; the proclamation of a law made by an absolute authority, as if by the very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman emperors; the edicts of the French monarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

It stands as an edict in destiny. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by Henry IV. (A. D. 1598), giving toleration to Protestants. Its revocation by Louis XIV. (A. D. 1685) was followed by terrible persecutions and the expatriation of thousands of French Protestants.

Syn. -- Decree; proclamation; law; ordinance; statute; rule; order; manifesti; command. See Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to, or consisting of, edicts; as, the Roman edictal law. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. maledictus, p. p. of maledicere. ] Accursed; abominable. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. maledictio: cf. F. malédiction. See Maledicent. ] A proclaiming of evil against some one; a cursing; imprecation; a curse or execration; -- opposed to benediction. [ 1913 Webster ]

No malediction falls from his tongue. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Cursing; curse; execration; imprecation; denunciation; anathema. -- Malediction, Curse, Imprecation, Execration. Malediction is the most general term, denoting bitter reproach, or wishes and predictions of evil. Curse implies the desire or threat of evil, declared upon oath or in the most solemn manner. Imprecation is literally the praying down of evil upon a person. Execration is literally a putting under the ban of excommunication, a curse which excludes from the kingdom of God. In ordinary usage, the last three words describe profane swearing, execration being the strongest. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Predicting. ] [ L. praedictus, p. p. of praedicere to predict; prae before + dicere to say, tell. See Diction, and cf. Preach. ] To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To foretell; prophesy; prognosticate; presage; forebode; foreshow; bode. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A prediction. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be predicted. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praedictio: cf. F. prédiction. ] The act of foretelling; also, that which is foretold; prophecy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The predictions of cold and long winters. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Prophecy; prognostication; foreboding; augury; divination; soothsaying; vaticination. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Prophetic; prognostic. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praedictivus. ] Foretelling; prophetic; foreboding. -- Pre*dict"ive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One who predicts; a foreteller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Predictive. [ R. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ 1st pref. un- + predict. ] To retract or falsify a previous prediction. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., valedicere, valedictum, to say farewell; vale farewell (imperative of valere to be strong or well) + dicere to say. See Valiant, Diction. ] A farewell; a bidding farewell. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who pronounces a valedictory address; especially, in American colleges, the student who pronounces the valedictory of the graduating class at the annual commencement, usually the student who ranks first in scholarship. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bidding farewell; suitable or designed for an occasion of leave-taking; as, a valedictory oration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Valedictories A valedictory oration or address spoken at commencement in American colleges or seminaries by one of the graduating class, usually by the leading scholar. [ 1913 Webster ]