Definition

1. Noun:
   • A state of supreme happiness or blessedness: A profound, spiritual, or perfect state of joy and contentment.
   • (The Beatitudes): In Christian theology, specifically the eight declarations of blessedness pronounced by Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, each beginning with "Blessed are..." in English translations.

Usage and Examples

• General Noun (State of Happiness):

  • The monk's face radiated a profound sense of beatitude.
  • She sought a life of spiritual beatitude through meditation and prayer.

• Proper Noun (The Beatitudes):

  • The pastor gave a sermon on the meaning of the Beatitudes.
  • "Blessed are the peacemakers" is one of the most famous Beatitudes.

Advanced Usage

• Literary/Philosophical Context: Used to describe an idealized, often spiritual or transcendent, state of perfect happiness.
  • The philosopher wrote about the beatitude achieved through the contemplation of truth.

Variants and Related Words

• Beatific (adjective): Showing or producing great joy, peace, or blessedness; saintly.
  • She had a beatific smile.
• Beatification (noun): In the Roman Catholic Church, the act of declaring a deceased person to be in a state of blessedness, a step toward canonization as a saint.

Synonyms

• Blessedness: The state of being blessed or holy.
• Bliss: Perfect happiness, great joy.
• Felicity: Great happiness.
• Elation: Great happiness and exhilaration.

Notes

• When capitalized ("the Beatitudes"), the term refers specifically to the biblical verses from the Gospel of Matthew (5:3-12). It is always treated as a plural proper noun in this context.
• In its general, uncapitalized form, "beatitude" is a formal and somewhat literary term for an exalted state of happiness.

Noun

1. one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with `beatus' (blessed)
   • her favorite Beatitude is `Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth'
2. a state of supreme happiness