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 (RP)

  (file)

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

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: be‧a‧ti‧tude

beatitude (plural beatitudes)

1. (uncountable) Supreme, utmost bliss and happiness.
   • 1887, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet, part 1, chapter 6:

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

2. Any one 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