bless
to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.
to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on: Bless this house.
to bestow good of any kind upon: a nation blessed with peace.
to extol as holy; glorify: Bless the name of the Lord.
to protect or guard from evil (usually used as an interjection): Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!
to condemn or curse: I'll be blessed if I can see your reasoning. Bless me if it isn't my old friend!
to make the sign of the cross over or upon: The Pope blessed the multitude.
Origin of bless
1Other words for bless
Other words from bless
- blesser, noun
- bless·ing·ly, adverb
- outbless, verb (used with object), out·blessed or out·blest, out·bles·sing.
- pre·bless, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use bless in a sentence
In the film, Noah blesses his children with fruitfulness, instead of God doing it.
"Hamas blesses the attack in Tel Aviv and sees it as a natural response to the Israeli massacres... in Gaza," he told Reuters.
Hamas Gleeful After Terrorist Bombs Bus in Tel Aviv | Justin Green | November 21, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTAccording to ancient wisdom, forgiveness blesses both those who receive it and those who extend it.
Dr. Gingrich, or How the GOP Learned To Stop Worrying and Love an Adulterer | Michael Medved | January 22, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIt is twice blessed—it blesses him who earns, and those who give, to parody the words of Shakspeare.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamThe close of the overture should describe how Prospero renounces his spells, blesses the lovers, and returns to his country.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
Anon the storm leaves him, the sunshine breaks the clouds, and warms his frozen limbs; the traveller smiles and blesses God.
The Life of Mazzini | Bolton KingIt is a wonderful thing, that spirit of mother love which surrounds us, blesses us and leads us on to higher things.
Private Peat | Harold R. PeatAnd that the same is true under the Gospel—where his name is recorded, and only there, he now meets and blesses his people.
Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler | Pardee Butler
British Dictionary definitions for bless
/ (blɛs) /
to consecrate or render holy, beneficial, or prosperous by means of a religious rite
to give honour or glory to (a person or thing) as divine or holy
to call upon God to protect; give a benediction to
to worship or adore (God); call or hold holy
(often passive) to grant happiness, health, or prosperity to: they were blessed with perfect peace
(usually passive) to endow with a talent, beauty, etc: she was blessed with an even temper
rare to protect against evil or harm
bless! (interjection) an exclamation of well-wishing
bless you! (interjection)
a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed
an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise
bless me!, bless my soul! or God bless my soul! (interjection) an exclamation of surprise
not have a penny to bless oneself with to be desperately poor
Origin of bless
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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