beatitude

From Middle English beatitude, beatytude, from Middle French béatitude, from Latin beātitūdō (“happiness, blessedness”), from beātus (“happy, blessed”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /biːˈætɪtjuːd/

• Audio (Received Pronunciation):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /biˈætɪtud/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: be‧a‧ti‧tude

beatitude (countable and uncountable, plural beatitudes)

1. (uncountable) Supreme, utmost bliss and happiness.
   • 1887, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “A Study in Scarlet”, in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward, Lock & Co., part I (Being a reprint from the reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., […]), chapter VI (Tobias Gregson shows What He Can Do), page 37:

     Here is Gregson coming down the road with beatitude written upon every feature of his face.

2. Any of the Biblical blessings given by Jesus in Matthew 5:3–12. E.g.: "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

   Synonym: makarism