beatific
adjective
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Beatific Has Latin Roots
Beatific—which derives from Latin beatificus, meaning "making happy"—has graced the English language as a word describing things that impart consummate bliss since the 17th century. In theology, the phrase "beatific vision" gained meaning as an allusion to the direct sight of God enjoyed by the blessed in heaven. Today, the word more frequently describes a blissful look or appearance. A closely related word is beatitude, which can refer to a state of utmost bliss or to any of the declarations made by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Example Sentences
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2022 Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing tend to admire its beatific descriptions of Kya’s world and ostensibly gripping narrative of a girl abandoned and disappointed by almost everyone in her life. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 July 2022 That’s where another apparition — of a beatific woman, surrounded by hazy, white light — convinces Stu to become a priest. Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2022 Dancing like his life depends on it, a beatific smile on his face. Andy Meek, BGR, 30 June 2022 Scenes from the film seem to recapture the beatific landscape of his youth. Gregg Goldstein, Variety, 24 May 2022 Many fretful glances ensue, but not from Robert’s wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), who maintains a beatific smile even while worrying over her own health scare. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2022 In a mid-13th-century Belgian psalter, a Nativity scene shows Joseph wearing a medieval pointed hat used to identify Jewish men, set apart from the beatific mother and child. Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 21 Apr. 2022 That’s the story told by the film’s poster, which features a diptych of star Mark Wahlberg, looking rough and rueful in a mug shot and then beatific in Catholic clergy apparel. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from Latin beātificus "making happy," from beātus "happy, fortunate" (from past participle of beāre "to make happy, gladden, bless," perhaps, if going back to *dwe-jo-, akin to bonus "good," going back to *dwe-nos) + -ficus -fic — more at bounty
1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing beatific
beatific
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- cheerful
- smiling
- blissful
- joyful
- rapturous
- ecstatic
- delighted
- satisfied
- happy
- euphoric
- joyous
- enraptured
- rhapsodic
- elated
- pleased
- exhilarated
- entranced
- sunny
- intoxicated
- merry
- jolly
- beaming
- gladsome
- rhapsodical
- blithesome
- tickled
- gratified
- cheery
- gleeful
- jovial
- blithe
- buoyant
- upbeat
- optimistic
- mirthful
- laughing
- jubilant
- lighthearted
- exuberant
- exultant
- chuffed
- thankful
- rejoicing
- jocund
- rapt
- glad
- thrilled
- hopeful
- rosy
- sanguine
- gay
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disconsolate
- melancholy
- downcast
- blue
- anguished
- abject
- forlorn
- aggrieved
- dejected
- depressed
- mournful
- doleful
- sorrowful
- despondent
- plaintive
- disheartened
- dolorous
- woeful
- lachrymose
- gloomy
- dark
- glum
- brokenhearted
- gray
- woebegone
- desolate
- grey
- miserable
- wretched
- sorry
- downhearted
- dispirited
- sad
- joyless
- unhappy
- heartbroken
- dissatisfied
- grieved
- unsatisfied
- displeased
- heartsick
- unpleased
- long-day
- long-distance
- long-drawn
- long-drawn-out
- long-eared
- long-eared bat
- long-eared fox
- long-eared jerboa
- long-eared owl
- long-eared sunfish
- long-fed
- long-finned tuna
- long-finned tunny
- long-form
- long-hair
- long-haired
- long-haired chimpanzee
- long-haul
- long-haul covid
- long-haul covid-19
- long-hauler
- long-haulers
- long-horned beetle
- long-horned grasshopper
- long-jawed