encomium, panegyric; praise bestowed on any one on account of his virtues, valuable qualities, or services. The French éloge is usually a kind of funeral oration in honour of a celebrated person, and generally embraces a biographical account of the deceased.

The word eulogy is derived from the Greek εὐλογία, which signifies literally good speaking, praise, or panegyric; and which in the New Testament is employed in the sense of blessing, and of thanksgiving, as also to denote a collection of alms for the poor brethren. Hence in the ancient Greek Church the term was applied to small pieces of bread which were blessed and distributed among such as had not yet communicated. The Latin Church too, for many ages, had a similar custom; and thence arose the use of the consecrated water. The same name was also applied to loaves or cakes brought to church by the faithful to have them blessed. Eventually the use of the terms passed to mere presents made to a person without any benediction.