beatific

beatific
adjective | bee-uh-TIFF-ik
 
What It Means
 
Beatific is a formal word that describes something or someone having a blissful appearance or showing complete happiness.
 
// As the pair danced, beatific smiles on their faces, the audience sat hushed and almost reverential.


beatific
adjective
be·;atif·;ic ;b;-;-;ti-fik
Synonyms of beatific
1
: of, possessing, or imparting beatitude
2
: having a blissful appearance
a beatific smile
beatifically
;b;-;-;ti-fi-k(;-)l;
 adverb

Did you know?
Beatific Has Latin Roots

When it comes to bliss-themed words, it’s hard to beat beatific. Since the 17th century, beatific has been all about that other b-word, first describing things that impart a feeling of complete and utter happiness, and later those beings with a blissful appearance. Not a bad gig if you can get it. Beatific comes from the Latin adjective be;tificus, which means “making happy,” and can be traced further back to the verb be;re, meaning “to make happy.” Bliss, of course, is more like happiness cubed, so beatific tends to be used in formal speech and writing, and reserved for situations where happy itself doesn’t quite cut the mustard. A beatific smile, for example, is one that suggests its wearer is content on a deeper-than-ordinary level, while a beatific location—say, a tranquil tropical lagoon or a majestic mountain—is one that instills such pervasive joy in its beholder.

Examples of beatific in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Imogene begins to doubt her own worthiness of portraying the virgin mother, depicted as a beatific figure in a painting in the church foyer.
—Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2024
But Close gives her character a reassuring stillness and a beatific smile, which generally serve as a calming influence on Sophia.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
This should be said with a beatific bridal smile — the sincerity of which Miss Manners hopes your guests will be questioning for the rest of their rude and impertinent lives.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
While much of the rest of the country roasted, San Francisco last weekend appeared a beatific city lorded over by mild yet sunny cerulean skies and ideally chilly nights.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024

Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin be;tificus "making happy," from be;tus "happy, fortunate" (from past participle of be;re "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

First Known Use
1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beatific was in 1640
See more words from the same year
Phrases Containing beatific
beatific vision
Articles Related to beatific
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Dictionary Entries Near beatific
beati

beatific

beatificate

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MLA
“Beatific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beatific. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition
beatific

adjective
be·;atif·;ic ;b;-;-;tif-ik
: having a blissful appearance
a beatific smile
More from Merriam-Webster on beatific
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for beatific

Nglish: Translation of beatific for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: 20 Dec 2024 - Updated Did you know?
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