Word of the Day

noun

The candidate sought the benison of the popular pastor in the hope of gaining both spiritual and political support.

"On warm(ish) days, the soft rain feels like a benison, pattering gently on fallen leaves and stirring up earthy scents that remind me more of spring than autumn." — From an article by Ann Lovejoy in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 4, 2008

"Benison" and its synonym "benediction" share more than a common meaning; the two words come from the same root, the Latin "benedicere," meaning "to bless." ("Benedicere" comes from the Latin "bene dicere"—"to speak well of"—a combination of the Latin "bene," meaning "well," and "dicere," to say.) Of the two words, "benediction" is more common today, but "benison" has a longer history in English. Records show that "benison" has been used in our language since the early 14th century. "Benediction" didn't appear in print until nearly a century later.

Triple-Threat Quiz: What word is an antonym of "benison," a descendant of "dicere," and a Word of the Day from April 2012: The answer is ...

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