benedict

noun

ben·e·dict | \ˈbe-nə-ˌdikt

Definition of benedict

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a newly married man who has long been a bachelor

Benedict

biographical name (1)

Ben·e·dict | \ˈbe-nə-ˌdikt

Definition of Benedict (Entry 2 of 3)

name of 16 popes: especially XIV (Prospero Lambertini) 1675–1758 (pope 1740–58); XV (Giacomo della Chiesa) 1854–1922 (pope 1914–22); XVI ( Joseph Alois Ratzinger \ˈrät-siŋ-ər\ ) 1927– (pope 2005–13)

Benedict

biographical name (2)

Definition of Benedict (Entry 3 of 3)

Ruth 1887–1948 née Fulton American anthropologist

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about benedict

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Did You Know?

Benedick is the chief male character in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. Throughout the play, both Benedick and his female counterpart Beatrice exchange barbed comments and profess to detest the very idea of marriage, but the story eventually culminates in their marriage to each other. As a result, Benedick's name came to be applied to men who marry later in life. The spelling was changed to benedict, possibly by association with a use of benedict meaning "bachelor" (although the evidence for this use is scant). Some early 20th-century usage commentators regarded the respelling as incorrect with regard to the etymology, but benedict has become the established spelling nevertheless. These days "benedict" is fairly uncommon and most typically encountered in historical sources and references.

Examples of benedict in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Yet one London restaurant promises to make the weekend dining ritual—one more commonly associated with eggs benedict and mimosas—just that. — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, "London's Sexy Fish Is Trying to Make Brunch...Sexy?," 4 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benedict.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.