Word of the Day

: January 1, 2009

beatific

adjective bee-uh-TIFF-ik

What It Means

1 : of, possessing, or imparting a state of utmost bliss

2 : having a blissful appearance

beatific in Context

A beatific smile spread across Grandmother’s face as she reminisced about her wedding day.

Did You Know?

"Beatific," from Latin "beatificus" ("making happy"), first occurred in English in the phrase "beatific vision," a theological allusion to the direct sight of God enjoyed by the blessed in heaven. Although "beatific" originally meant "conferring happiness," the word now more frequently means "expressing happiness," and a blissfully joyful look or appearance may be called "beatific." A closely related word is "beatitude," which can refer to a state of utmost bliss. (You may also know "the beatitudes" as a series of blessings from Jesus in the Bible.)