ben ‧ e ‧ dic ‧ tion /ˌbenəˈdɪkʃ ə n, ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: benedictio , from benedicere 'to bless' , from Latin bene 'well' + dicere 'to say' ]
a Christian prayer that asks God to protect and help someone