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Benediction vs Prayer - What's the difference?

benediction | prayer |

As nouns the difference between benediction and prayer

is that benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service while prayer is a practice of communicating with one's God.

benediction

English

Noun

(wikipedia benediction) (en noun)
  • A short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service.
  • * Milton
    • So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus / Followed with benediction .
  • * Longfellow
    • Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her.
  • The form of instituting an abbot, analogous to the consecration of a bishop.
    • (Ayliffe)
  • A Roman Catholic rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water and formally dedicated to God.

    • Antonyms

    *malediction

    prayer

    English

    (wikipedia prayer)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A practice of communicating with one's God.
  • The act of praying.
  • * , chapter=5
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer .}}
  • The specific words or methods used for praying.
  • A meeting held for the express purpose of praying.
  • A request; a petition.
    • Synonyms
    * orison, precation
    Derived terms
    * not have a prayer * prayer book * prayer meeting * friday prayer * prayer wheel

    Etymology 2

    (pray).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who prays.
    • Yep, Grandpa is a real prayer all right.