benedictive

9.9

Giving a blessing or wishing someone well

adjective
/ˌbɛnɪˈdɪktɪv/

: benedictivo

A benedictive prayer echoed through the hall, invoking peace and prosperity for all present.

Examples

The priest raised his hands in a benedictive gesture at the end of the ceremony.
Many cultures have benedictive rituals to bless the newlyweds.
Her tone took on a benedictive quality as she wished everyone well before leaving.
The priest offered a benedictive prayer at the ceremony.
A benedictive prayer echoed through the hall, invoking peace and prosperity for all present.
Her tone took on a benedictive quality as she wished everyone well before leaving.
Many cultures have benedictive rituals to bless the newlyweds.

Synonyms

benedictory

vsbenedictive

9.9

To give a blessing or wish someone good things

is the same meaning but appears as a variant adjective form

commendatory

vsbenedictive

Literature

7.5

Showing praise for someone or something

is about offering a blessing rather than showing praise or approval

praiseful

vsbenedictive

6.6

Showing approval by saying good things about someone or their work

is about giving a blessing, not expressing praise or approval

Antonyms

malediction

Literature

3 9.9

Words spoken to wish harm on someone

Surface Forms

benedictive positive

Morphology

benedictive = benedict (semi-transparent) = benedict + ive

Formed from the combining form 'benedict-' plus the productive adjectival suffix '-ive'; the combining form is not a common standalone lexical base for learners, so the relation is somewhat predictable but not fully transparent.

Etymology

Benedictive comes from the Latin parts bene 'good' and dicere 'to say', the same bene you see in benefit. So a benedictive word or gesture is one that 'says good' and gives a blessing.