I. ˈbles verb
( blessed ˈblest ; also blest “ ; blessed “ ; also blest “ ; blessing ; blesses )
Etymology: Middle English blessen, from Old English bletsian, blētsian, blēdsian, from blōd blood; from the use of blood in consecration or sacrifice — more at blood
transitive verb
1. : to consecrate or hallow by religious rite or word : make or pronounce holy
and God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it — Gen 2:3 (Authorized Version)
this little touch of ceremony … seemed to bless the union — Margaret A. Barnes
2. : to make the sign of the cross upon or over — often used reflexively
they shivered and blessed themselves as they passed the gloomy opening
3. : to invoke divine care for
then the bishop shall bless them — Book of Com. Prayer
: pray for
we may as well bless our enemies; they are too many to fight
4.
a. : praise , glorify : to extol for excellences
bless the Lord, O my soul — Ps 103:1 (Revised Standard Version)
b. : to regard with great favor : approve highly
your cameraman may bless you because he can go all out for atmosphere — Richard Harrison
5. : to make happy : give good fortune or satisfaction to : confer prosperity upon
a child soon blessed the union
the whole region is blessed with good soil and abundant water
6. : guard , protect , keep , preserve — formerly usually used with from and often reflexively
bless me from marrying a usurer — Shakespeare
he blessed himself from such customers — Tobias Smollett
— now used almost wholly in exclamations
God bless me, what's happened now
7. : favor , endow
few persons have been blessed as he has in his every endeavor
— usually used with with
a man blessed with a happy nature and a healthy appetite
: to give approval to
the president would bless the reopening of this issue
8. archaic : to account happy : felicitate — used reflexively
the nations shall bless themselves in him — Jer 4:2 (Authorized Version)
9. : curse , damn , condemn — usually used in the first person present
I'm blessed if I know what went wrong
or future
I'll be blessed if I do
or absolutely
blessed if I care
intransitive verb
: to offer thanksgivings or ask for blessings
if you bless with the spirit — 1 Cor 14:16 (Revised Standard Version)
his historic sense would have blest and feasted — Atlantic
II. transitive verb
Etymology: origin unknown
obsolete : wave , brandish