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A blessing; an expression of blessing, prayer, or kind wishes in favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of happiness. So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus Followed with benediction. Milton. Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her. Longfellow. Specifically:…

Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit. Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke.

To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially of personal property. My heritage, which my dead father did bequeath to me. Shak.

That which is left by will, esp. personal property; a legacy; also, a gift.

To make destitute; to deprive; to strip; -- with of before the person or thing taken away. Madam, you have bereft me of all words. Shak. Bereft of him who taught me how to sing. Tickell.

A system for the identification of persons by a physical description based upon anthropometric measurements, notes of markings, deformities, color, impression of thumb lines, etc.

To asperse with calumny or reproach. Whom never faction could bespatter. Swift.

To spurt on or over; to asperse. [Obs.] Milton.

An insane person; a madman; a bedlamite.

acherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive; as, to betray a person or a cause. But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me. Johnson.

ng betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance. "The feast of betrothal." Longfellow.

A company; an assembly or collection of persons, especially of ladies. What a bevy of beaten slaves have we here ! Beau. & Fl.

The prayer before the sermon, with petitions for various specified classes of persons.

The offense of marrying one person when already legally married to another. Wharton.

A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite. [Obs.]

A person of consequence; as, the bigwigs of society. [Jocose] In our youth we have heard him spoken of by the bigwigs with extreme condescension. Dickens.

A person who tricks a creditor; an untrustworthy, tricky person. Marryat.

some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law.

A book in which a person keeps an account of his notes, bills, bills of exchange, etc., thus showing all that he issues and receives.

A person who holds a bill or acceptance.