Benedicite

See also: benedicite and bénédicité

English

Alternative forms

• benedicite

Etymology

From Latin benedīcite, a plural imperative of benedīcō (“I bless, I praise”, literally “I say well [of]”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌbɛnɪˈdaɪsɪti/; enPR: bĕn'ĭ-dīʹsĭ-tē
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌbɛnəˈdɪsɪti/, enPR: bĕn'ə-dĭsʹĭ-tē
• (Italianizing) IPA^(key): /ˌbɛnəˈdiːt͡ʃɪteɪ/, enPR: bĕn'ə-dēʹchĭ-tā
• Rhymes: -ɪsɪti
• Hyphenation: Be‧ne‧di‧ci‧te

Noun

Benedicite (plural Benedicites)

1. A canticle, the Latin version of which begins with the word benedīcite (“praise ye!”), which may be used in the order for morning prayer in Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.
   • 1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, page 266:

     But one or two, who nourished in their bosoms respect for the downfallen hierarchy—casting first a timorous glance around, to see that no one observed them—hastily crossed themselves—bent their knee to sister Magdalen, by which name they saluted her—kissed her hand, or even the hem of her dalmatique—received with humility the Benedicite with which she repaid their obeisance; […]