Join free

Bless

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

bless¹

  • /blɛs/

Rhymes with -ɛs

Where it comes from

From Middle English blessen, from Old English bletsian (“to consecrate (with blood)”), from Proto-West Germanic *blōdisōn (“to sprinkle, mark or hallow with blood”), from Proto-Germanic *blōþą (“blood”), of uncertain origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (“to bloom”). Cognate with Old Norse bleza (“to bless”) (whence Icelandic blessa), Old English blēdan (“to bleed”). More at bleed.

verb blesses · blessing · blest · blessed

  1. To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify.
  2. To invoke divine favor upon. In some countries, priests bless farm animals on St. Anthony's Day.
  3. To honor as holy, glorify; to extol for excellence. A Pſalme of Dauid. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule: and all that is within me, bleſſe his holy Name.
  4. To esteem or account happy; to felicitate. And thou ſhalt ſweare, The Lord liueth, in Trueth, in Iudgement, and in Righteouſnes, and the nations ſhall bleſſe themſelues in him, and in him ſhall they glorie.
  5. To make the sign of the cross upon, so as to sanctify. the archbishop vsing certeine praiers, blessed the king
  6. obsolete To wave; to brandish. And burning blades about their heads do blesse.
  7. transitive To turn (a reference) into an object.
  8. archaic To secure, defend, or prevent from. Bless me from marrying a usurer.
  9. slang To give or send. Could you bless me the link for the original post?
  10. transitive To approve of or assent to. After those modifications, the Board blessed the reorganization plan.
  11. Philippines To perform the mano gesture; taking of an elder's hand to press it to one's forehead or kiss it (as a sign of respect) You should bless your relatives, because they arrived here already.

bless²

  • /blɛs/

Rhymes with -ɛs

Where it comes from

An ellipsis for an expression such as bless your heart.

interjection

  1. Canada, UK, informal Used as an expression of endearment, gratitude, or (ironically) belittlement. Ah bless! You must be the welcoming committee for anyone who dares express ignorance.

Bless³

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Swiss German Bless.

proper noun Blesses

  1. A surname from German.

Talk about this word