bless

[ bles ]
See synonyms for bless on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),blessed or blest, bless·ing.
  1. to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.

  2. to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on: Bless this house.

  1. to bestow good of any kind upon: a nation blessed with peace.

  2. to extol as holy; glorify: Bless the name of the Lord.

  3. to protect or guard from evil (usually used as an interjection): Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!

  4. to condemn or curse: I'll be blessed if I can see your reasoning. Bless me if it isn't my old friend!

  5. to make the sign of the cross over or upon: The Pope blessed the multitude.

Origin of bless

1
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); see blood

Other 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

British Dictionary definitions for bless

bless

/ (blɛs) /


verbblesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)
  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

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

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

  3. (often passive) to grant happiness, health, or prosperity to: they were blessed with perfect peace

  4. (usually passive) to endow with a talent, beauty, etc: she was blessed with an even temper

  5. rare to protect against evil or harm

  6. bless! (interjection) an exclamation of well-wishing

  7. bless you! (interjection)

    • a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed

    • an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise

  8. bless me!, bless my soul! or God bless my soul! (interjection) an exclamation of surprise

  9. not have a penny to bless oneself with to be desperately poor

Origin of bless

1
Old English blǣdsian to sprinkle with sacrificial blood; related to blōd blood

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012