v.tr. (past and past part. blessed, poet. blest)
1. (of a priest etc.) pronounce words, esp. in a religious rite, asking for divine favour; ask God to look favourably on (bless this house).
2 a consecrate (esp. bread and wine). b sanctify by the sign of the cross.
3 call (God) holy; adore.
4 attribute one's good fortune to (an auspicious time, one's fate, etc.); thank (bless the day I met her; bless my stars).
5 (usu. in passive; often foll. by with) make happy or successful (blessed with children; they were truly blessed).
6 euphem. curse; damn (bless the boy!).
Phrases and idioms:
(God) bless me (or my soul) an exclamation of surprise, pleasure, indignation, etc. (God) bless you!
1. an exclamation of endearment, gratitude, etc.
2 an exclamation made to a person who has just sneezed. I'm (or well, I'm) blessed (or blest) an exclamation of surprise etc. not have a penny to bless oneself with be impoverished.
Etymology: OE bloedsian, bledsian, bletsian, f. blod blood (hence mark with blood, consecrate): meaning infl. by its use at the conversion of the English to translate L benedicare praise