In the prayer "Ave Maria" there is the line "Du bist gebenedeit unter den Frauen" where "gebenedeit" seems to have the meaning of "blessed".
Is or has this word been used in everyday language? Does the word appear in other places than in this particular prayer?
»Gebenedeit« is the Partizip Perfekt of »benedeien«, and »benedeien« is a loanword from Latin. The latin origin is »benedicere«. It means »to bless« (»segnen« in German) or »to praise« (»preisen« or »lobpreisen« in German). Also the first name Benedict or Benedikt comes from this word.
So because of it's meaning you only can find this word in a religious context.
The German version of the prayer »Ave Maria« (»Gegrüßet seist du Maria«) was written by Martin Luther, 500 years ago, and this text has not been changed during this last 5 centuries. But German Langauge changed during this time, so this historic text sounds antique in modern ears.
So, when ever »gebenedeit« was used in every days live, then it was 500 years ago, and only in a religious context. Today you find this word only in this prayer, nowhere else. (I hope this answers your question.)
As mentioned above, there is another word with the same meaning. It is »segnen« (to bless). It comes from the noun »Segen« which also has an latin origin. The latin word »signum« (from which the english »sign« comes) was used to name the gesture of making the cross-sign (move the hand from top down, then from left to right). This sign was called »Segen«, and making this sign was »segnen« (to bless).
I guess (but I'm not sure), that 500 years ago both words (»benedeien« and »segnen«) was used at least among priests, and when Luther translated the latin prayer into German he has chosen the word that was closer to the latin original, and this definitely was »benedeien«.
The second sentence of this prayer is:
in Latin:
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
modern German:
Gesegnet bist du unter den Frauen, und gesegnet ist dein leibliches Kind, Jesus.
Luthers Translation:
Gebenedeit bist du unter den Frauen, und gebenedeit ist die Frucht deines Leibes, Jesus.
(my poor) englisch translation:
You are blessed among the women, and Jesus, your own child, is blessed (too).
Btw (I was curious and googled for the origin of englisch »bless«): The englisch word »to bless« comes from Proto-Germanic »blodison« which means »mark with blood«, from the pagan tradition to sprinkle altars with blood.
From a native speaker's perspective:
No, gebenedeit (as well as the infinitive benedeien) is not a word used outside a religious context.
Interestingly though, the opposite vermaledeit is a colloquial swear word, even if it is not too frequently used.
Yes, the word was used elsewhere until well in the 19th century. As the other answers state, there is always a religious context.
The most worldy uses I found are:
Friedrich Hebbel, Virgo et Mater
....
Die Lampe geht
Auf einmal aus;
Ihr Athem steht,
Sie schwankt nach Haus.
Die Jungfrau kann ihr nicht verzeih'n,
Die Mutter wird sie benedei'n,
Stellt sie der Heil'gen über's Jahr
Mit ihrem Kind sich dar.
as well as Ludwig Uhlands poem Brautgesang:
Das Haus benedei ich und preis es laut,
Das empfangen hat eine liebliche Braut;
Zum Garten muß es erblühen.
...
There are quite a few further matches in google books mostly relating to prayers and sermons, as can be seen here:
