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w made by an absolute authority, as if by the very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman emperors; the edicts of the French monarch. It stands as an edict in destiny. Shak. Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by Henry IV. (A. D. 1598), giving toleration to Protestants. Its revocation by…

Relating to, or consisting of, edicts; as, the Roman edictal law.

Having mild and salubrious qualities. [Obs.] Bacon.

A married man, or a man newly married.

Pertaining to the monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet.

ffectionate 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:

A book of benedictions.

A collected series of benedictions. The benedictionary of Bishop Athelwold. G. Gurton's Needle.

Tending to bless. Gauden.

Expressing wishes for good; as, a benedictory prayer. Thackeray.

The song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist (Luke i. 68); -- so named from the first word of the Latin version.

Accursed; abominable. [R.]

of evil against some one; a cursing; imprecation; a curse or execration; -- opposed to benediction. No malediction falls from his tongue. Longfellow.

To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.

That may be predicted.

The act of foretelling; also, that which is foretold; prophecy. The predictions of cold and long winters. Bacon.

Prophetic; prognostic. [R.]

Foretelling; prophetic; foreboding. -- Pre*dict"ive*ly, adv.

One who predicts; a foreteller.

Predictive. [R.] Fuller.