benedictiveadj.
/bɛnɪˈdɪktɪv/ 1. Characterized by blessing; tending to bless.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] > gracious
holdc893
winsomec900
goodlyOE
esteOE
menskful?c1225
courteousc1290
besekandlika1300
buxom1362
graciousa1375
queemfulc1390
nighsomea1400
gainlyc1400
favourablec1503
handsome1528
suave?1553
boona1612
benedictive1660
sneerless1884
1660 J. Gauden Mem. Bp. Brounrigg 201 His paternal prayers and benedictive comprecations.
1746 J. Hervey Medit. among Tombs 6 That the High and Lofty One..should..there manifest an extraordinary Degree of his benedictive Presence.
2. Grammar. A form of the Optative Mood in the Sanskrit verb, also called the ‘precative,’ the use of which is to express wish or desire.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > mood > [adjective] > optative or desiderative
optativec1400
desiderative1552
preparative1552
meditative1755
benedictive1841
volitive1846
voluntative1870
1841 H. H. Wilson Introd. Gram. Sanskrit Lang. (1847) 114 The benedictive or optative mood is considered as a modification of the potential.
1879 W. D. Whitney Sanskrit Gram. §533 The aorist has also an optative, of somewhat peculiar inflection, usually called the precative (or benedictive).
Derivatives
benedictively adv. With the force of the benedictive mood.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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adj.1660