O.E.
bletsian, bledsian, Northumbrian
bloedsian "to consecrate, make holy," from P.Gmc.
*blothisojan "mark with blood," from
*blotham "blood" (see
blood). Originally a blood sprinkling on pagan altars. This word was chosen in O.E. bibles to translate L.
benedicere and Gk.
eulogein, both of which have a ground sense of "to speak well of, to praise," but were used in Scripture to translate Heb.
brk "to bend (the knee), worship, praise, invoke blessings." Meaning shifted in late O.E. toward "to confer happiness, well-being," by resemblance to unrelated
bliss. No cognates in other languages.
Blessing is O.E.
bledsung.