bless

[bles]

verb (used with object)

blessed, blest, blessing. 

1. to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.

   Synonyms: beatify, magnify, glorify, hallow, exalt

2. to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on.

   Bless this house.

3. to bestow good of any kind upon.

   a nation blessed with peace.

4. to extol as holy; glorify.

   Bless the name of the Lord.

5. to protect or guard from evil (usually used as an interjection).

   Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!

6. to condemn or curse.

   I'll be blessed if I can see your reasoning. Bless me if it isn't my old friend!

7. to make the sign of the cross over or upon.

   The Pope blessed the multitude.

bless

/ blɛs /

verb

1. to consecrate or render holy, beneficial, or prosperous by means of a religious rite

2. to give honour or glory to (a person or thing) as divine or holy

3. to call upon God to protect; give a benediction to

4. to worship or adore (God); call or hold holy

5. (often passive) to grant happiness, health, or prosperity to

   they were blessed with perfect peace

6. (usually passive) to endow with a talent, beauty, etc

   she was blessed with an even temper

7. rare,  to protect against evil or harm

8. (interjection) an exclamation of well-wishing

9. (interjection)

   1. a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed

   2. an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise

10. (interjection) an exclamation of surprise

11. to be desperately poor

Other Word Forms

• blesser noun
• blessingly adverb
• outbless verb (used with object)
• prebless verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bless¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English blessen, Old English blētsian, blēdsian “to consecrate” (originally done with blood), earlier *blōdisōian ( blōd “blood” + -isō- derivational suffix + -ian verb suffix); blood

Word History and Origins

Origin of bless¹

Old English blǣdsian to sprinkle with sacrificial blood; related to blōd _blood

Example Sentences

He also presented text messages from late December where Ms Bunyan said she was keen to keep seeing him and called him a "blessing in my life."

From BBC

With Rebibo’s blessing, Williams joined the football team and now could become a very good football prospect the way he is using his body and agility at offensive tackle this season.

From Los Angeles Times

Brazil has been blessed with great goalscorers throughout their footballing history, players who have fired them to a record five World Cup wins.

From BBC

“See to me,” he wrote, “being included in this headline isn’t a curse it’s a blessing. How lucky am I that this is even a possibility?!!”

From Los Angeles Times

Mark Wahlberg and an impressive prosthetic play a boy “blessed with one special thing,” as he enters an industry all too willing to take everything he has to give.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anoint 
• baptize 
• consecrate 
• ordain 
• thank