Also 5 beatitud, 5–6 beatytude. [a. F. béatitude (15th c. in Littré), ad. L. beātitūdo blessedness, f. beāt-us blessed: see -TUDE.]
1. Supreme blessedness or happiness.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), I. xliv. (1495), 75 a/2. How by abstynence … myghte be goten the souerayne beatytude or blessydnesse.
a. 1555. Bradford, Wks., 397. There shall be joy … and all kind of beatitude.
1643. Prynne, Power Parl., I. 48. Knowing better … what conduced to the beatitude of the Empire.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 62. The Sanctities of Heaven … from his sight receiv’d Beatitude past utterance.
1794. Coleridge, Relig. Musings, Wks. I. 105. Such strange beatitudes Seize on my young anticipating heart.
1875. Ruskin, Lect. Art, i. 5. The consummate beatitude of being rich.
2. A declaration or ascription of special blessedness; esp. (in pl.) those pronounced by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (1531), 43 b. The viii beatitudes that … spryngeth of grace and the other vertues.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 186. These quhilk S. Ambrose callis our Lords beatitudes.
1777. Fletcher, Reconcil., Wks. 1795, IV. 319. Bent upon the inheriting the seventh beatitude.
1877. Farrar, Thy Youth, i. 10. The priceless beatitude of the pure in heart.
3. = BEATIFICATION 2.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred (1871), I. v. 30. The saint was scarcely canonised, before his claims to beatitude were impugned.
1865. Bushnell, Vicar. Sacr., V. (1868), 116. Candidates for beatitude.
fig. 1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. II. viii. 69. Burnt by the common hangman … perhaps the last notable Book that had such fire-beatitude.
