blessing

[ bles-ing ]

/ ˈblɛs ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR blessing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or words of a person who blesses.

a special favor, mercy, or benefit: the blessings of liberty.

a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

the invoking of God's favor upon a person: The son was denied his father's blessing.

praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal: The children took turns reciting the blessing.

approval or good wishes: The proposed law had the blessing of the governor.

Origin of blessing

before 900; Middle English blessinge, -unge, Old English bletsung, bledsung. See bless, -ing¹

SYNONYMS FOR blessing

2 advantage, boon, gain, profit, bounty.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR blessing ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby blessing

blessed event, blessed sacrament, blessed trinity, blessed virgin, blessig's cysts, blessing, blessing in disguise, blest, blet, bletchley park, blether

Definition for blessing (2 of 2)

bless

[ bles ]

/ blɛs /

verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bless·ing.

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

before 950; Middle English blessen, Old English blētsian, blēdsian to consecrate, orig. with blood, earlier *blōdisōian ( blōd blood + -isō- derivational suffix + -ian v. suffix)

SYNONYMS FOR bless

1 exalt, hallow, glorify, magnify, beatify.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bless ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM bless

bless·er, noun bless·ing·ly, adverb out·bless, verb (used with object), out·blessed or out·blest, out·bles·sing. pre·bless, verb (used with object)

Example sentences from the Web for blessing

And it gave Baghdadi the opportunity to praise his new minions, blessing them as his official representatives.

Murder Vids Help ISIS Lure More Monsters |Thomas Joscelyn |November 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Maybe, then, the Hathahate phenomenon is a blessing in disguise.

Do We Still Hate Anne Hathaway? |Kevin Fallon |November 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Scott says he last spoke to his predecessor a few days ago, although he never explicitly gave his blessing.

Democratic Africa Gets Its First White Leader |Nico Hines |October 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In Citizens United the Court gave its blessing to corporations having a significant political role in elections.

The Supreme Court Is Weighing Corporate Power Yet Again |Zephyr Teachout |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

She ended up praying with me and giving me her blessing to portray her Dad.

David Oyelowo on Playing Martin Luther King Jr., Ebola Fears, and Race in Hollywood |Marlow Stern |October 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The cloud of blessing floats over our heads, but we fail to stretch forth the electric rod of prayer to fetch it down!

The Hart and the Water-Brooks; |John R. Macduff
I feel assured that the rule of the British has proved a blessing to the people of India.

Mark Seaworth |William H.G. Kingston
Both the young and the old Houtouktou sent us a scarf of blessing, with a good provision of butter and quarters of mutton.

Travels in Tartary, Thibet, and China |Evariste Regis Huc
All those tribes, in going into battle, invoked his aid and blessing upon their arms.

The Funny Side of Physic |A. D. Crabtre
We would think it a blessing to our kirk to see you here; but our sins withhold good things from us.

Letters of Samuel Rutherford |Samuel Rutherford

British Dictionary definitions for blessing (1 of 2)

blessing

/ (ˈblɛsɪŋ) /

noun

the act of invoking divine protection or aid

the words or ceremony used for this

a short prayer of thanksgiving before or after a meal; grace

Also called: brachah, brocho Judaism

a short prayer prescribed for a specific occasion and beginning "Blessed art thou, O Lord…"
a section of the liturgy including a similar formula

approval; good wishes her father gave his blessing to the marriage

the bestowal of a divine gift or favour

a happy event or state of affairs a blessing in disguise

British Dictionary definitions for blessing (2 of 2)

bless

/ (blɛs) /

verb blesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)

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

Word Origin for bless

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

Idioms and Phrases with blessing

blessing

In addition to the idiom beginning with blessing

blessing in disguise

also see:

give thanks for small blessings
mixed blessing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

blessing

noun

Origin of blessing

SYNONYMS FOR blessing

Words nearby blessing

Definition for blessing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bless·ing.

Origin of bless

SYNONYMS FOR bless

OTHER WORDS FROM bless

Example sentences from the Web for blessing

British Dictionary definitions for blessing (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for blessing (2 of 2)

verb blesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)

Word Origin for bless

Idioms and Phrases with blessing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

blessing

noun

Origin of blessing

SYNONYMS FOR blessing

Words nearby blessing

Definition for blessing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bless·ing.

Origin of bless

SYNONYMS FOR bless

OTHER WORDS FROM bless

Words related to blessing

Example sentences from the Web for blessing

British Dictionary definitions for blessing (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for blessing (2 of 2)

verb blesses, blessing, blessed or blest (tr)

Word Origin for bless

Idioms and Phrases with blessing