Word of the Day

: August 18, 2007

benison

noun BEN-uh-sun

What It Means

: blessing, benediction

benison in Context

The travelers stopped at the tiny country church and sought the benison of the priest before continuing their arduous journey.

Did You Know?

"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 14th century. "Benediction" didn't appear in print until nearly a century later.