beatitude

noun

be·​at·​i·​tude bē-ˈa-tə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

a

: a state of utmost bliss

b

Christianity

—used as a title for a primate especially of an Eastern church

2

Christianity : any of the declarations made in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–11) beginning in the King James Version "Blessed are"

Synonyms

• blessedness
• bliss
• blissfulness
• felicity
• gladness
• happiness
• joy
• warm fuzzies

Examples of beatitude in a Sentence

not from earthly riches but from the milk of human kindness comes true beatitude

Recent Examples on the Web

God must possess perfect beatitude, perfect happiness and perfect well-being. —Helen De Cruz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2020

Some conservative Catholics on social media responded with ridicule to headlines saying that Francis had proposed six new Beatitudes. —Laurie Goodstein, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2016

Hearing Jesus deliver the beatitudes, Judas mutters disbelieving asides. —Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 14 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin beātitūdō, from beātus "happy, fortunate" + -tūdō, suffix of abstract nouns — more at beatific

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

beatitude

noun

be·​at·​i·​tude bē-ˈat-ə-ˌt(y)üd 

: any of the declarations made in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12) beginning "Blessed are"

Etymology

derived from Latin beatus "happy, blessed"