bless

bless
v.tr. (past and past part. blessed, poet. blest)
1 (of a priest etc.) pronounce words, esp. in a religious rite, asking for divine favour; ask God to look favourably on (bless this house).
2 a consecrate (esp. bread and wine). b sanctify by the sign of the cross.
3 call (God) holy; adore.
4 attribute one's good fortune to (an auspicious time, one's fate, etc.); thank (bless the day I met her; bless my stars).
5 (usu. in passive; often foll. by with) make happy or successful (blessed with children; they were truly blessed).
6 euphem. curse; damn (bless the boy!).
Phrases and idioms:
(God) bless me (or my soul) an exclamation of surprise, pleasure, indignation, etc. (God) bless you!
1 an exclamation of endearment, gratitude, etc.
2 an exclamation made to a person who has just sneezed. I'm (or well, I'm) blessed (or blest) an exclamation of surprise etc. not have a penny to bless oneself with be impoverished.
Etymology: OE bloedsian, bledsian, bletsian, f. blod blood (hence mark with blood, consecrate): meaning infl. by its use at the conversion of the English to translate L benedicare praise

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bless — Bless, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blessed}or {Blest}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blessing}.] [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian, bledsian, bloedsian, fr. bl?d blood; prob. originally to consecrate by sprinkling with blood. See {Blood}.] 1. To make or pronounce …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bless me — Bless Bless, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blessed}or {Blest}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blessing}.] [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian, bledsian, bloedsian, fr. bl?d blood; prob. originally to consecrate by sprinkling with blood. See {Blood}.] 1. To make or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bless us — Bless Bless, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blessed}or {Blest}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blessing}.] [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian, bledsian, bloedsian, fr. bl?d blood; prob. originally to consecrate by sprinkling with blood. See {Blood}.] 1. To make or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bless — [ bles ] (past tense and past participle blessed or blest [ blest ] ) verb transitive * 1. ) to say a prayer asking God to help and protect someone or something: a ceremony to bless the harvest a ) if God blesses someone or something, he helps… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • bless — S3 [bles] v [T] [: Old English; Origin: bletsian, from blod blood ; because blood was used in religious ceremonies] 1.) bless you! spoken a) what you say when someone ↑sneezes b) used to thank someone for doing something for you 2.) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bless — bless·ed; bless·ed·ly; bless·ed·ness; bless·ing·ly; bless; un·bless·ed·ness; …   English syllables

  • bless — [bles] vt. blessed or blest, blessing [ME blessen, bletsien < OE bletsian, bledsian < blod,BLOOD: rite of consecration by sprinkling an altar with blood] 1. to make or declare holy by a spoken formula or a sign; hallow; consecrate 2. to ask …   English World dictionary

  • Bless — ist der Familienname folgender Personen Astrid Bless (1944–2009), deutsche Synchronsprecherin und Schauspielerin Roland Bless (* 1961), deutscher Musiker Siehe auch: Bläss Diese Seite ist ein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • bless — ► VERB 1) call on God to protect or treat favourably. 2) consecrate by a religious rite. 3) praise (God). 4) (be blessed with) be endowed with or granted (something greatly desired). ● bless you! Cf. ↑bless you! …   English terms dictionary

  • bless me! — or bless my soul! (old) An exclamation of surprise • • • Main Entry: ↑bless …   Useful english dictionary

  • bless me — bless my soul/bless me/well I’m blessed/old fashioned phrase used for showing surprise Thesaurus: old fashioned expressions of surprisesynonym Main entry: bless …   Useful english dictionary

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