benedict Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun United States anthropologist (1887-1948)
    Ruth Benedict; Ruth Fulton.
  2. noun Italian monk who founded the Benedictine order about 540 (480-547)
    St. Benedict; Saint Benedict.
  3. noun a newly married man (especially one who has long been a bachelor)
    benedick.

WordNet

Ben"e*dict, Ben"e*dick noun (Also<
  • Benedict
  • Benedick
)
Etymology
From Benedick, one of the characters in Shakespeare's play of "Much Ado about Nothing."
Definitions
  1. A married man, or a man newly married.
Ben"e*dict adjective
Etymology
L. benedictus, p. p. of benedicere to bless. See Benison, and cf. Bennet.
Definitions
  1. Having mild and salubrious qualities. Obs. Bacon.

Webster 1913