bless
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Etymology 1
[edit]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. Equivalent to blood + -se.
Verb
[edit]bless (third-person singular simple present blesses, present participle blessing, simple past and past participle blest or blessed)
- To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify.
- To make the sign of the cross upon, so as to sanctify.
- 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC:
- the archbishop vsing certeine praiers, blessed the king
- To invoke divine favor upon.
- To honor as holy, glorify; to extol for excellence.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 103:1, column 2:
- A Pſalme of Dauid. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule: and all that is within me, bleſſe his holy Name.
- To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 4:2, column 1:
- 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.
- (obsolete) To wave; to brandish.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 6:
- And burning blades about their heads do blesse.
- 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC:
- Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest.
- (Perl programming, transitive, past tense only blessed) To turn (a reference) into an object.
- (archaic, with from) To secure, defend, or prevent from.
- c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
- Bless me from marrying a usurer.
- a. 1645, John Milton, “Il Penseroso”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 40:
- To bleſs the dores from nightly harm
- (MTE, slang) To give or send.
- Could you bless me the link for the original post?
- I'm actually marved right now, can you bless me some cash?
- 2021 April 13, u/saltymotherfker, “Popular male in a Toronto high school starterpack”, in Reddit[1], r/starterpacks, archived from the original on 3 December 2023:
- Ahlie fam ¶ Do u have grabba? ¶ Bless me a change for the ttc
- 2022 July 28, u/RedditUser19070203, “First ever car at 19! Tried my best to negotiate how did I do? That stupid 1 year anti theft was forced and I couldn't remove it. Did get a 650 rebate on a Jetta which is pretty tough tbh”, in Reddit[2], r/jetta, archived from the original on 3 December 2023:
- How in the hell did you find that out LOL😂. Are you a working man there? If so, bless me a discount bro. If not yeah Pickering is the way to go. Went to Whitby and Toronto wasn't that good
- 2022 August 7, u/introverted_logician, “Anyone know any Canadian sneaker YouTubers?”, in Reddit[3], r/SneakersCanada, archived from the original on 3 December 2023:
- Lmao can you bless me a Foam runner w retail price man🙃. I wear size 9 lol. Huge fan of your channel.
- 2022 September 28, u/MyTorontoAccount, “Did anyone get presale code yet”, in Reddit[4], r/torontoraptors, archived from the original on 3 December 2023:
- Someone bless me a code
- (transitive) To approve of or assent to.
- After those modifications, the Board blessed the reorganization plan.
Antonyms
[edit]Derived terms
[edit]- bebless
- blessability
- blessable
- blessee
- blesser
- bless me
- bless my soul
- bless oneself
- bless out
- bless someone's cotton socks
- bless someone's heart
- bless someone with
- bless up
- bless us
- blessworthy
- bless you
- cobless
- God bless the Duke of Argyle
- God bless the Duke of Argyll
- God bless the mark
- God bless you
- Goddess bless
- Goddess bless you
- gods bless you
- outbless
- prebless
- rebless
Related terms
[edit]Descendants
[edit]Translations
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Etymology 2
[edit]An ellipsis for an expression such as bless your heart.
Interjection
[edit]bless
- (UK, Canada, informal) Used as an expression of endearment, gratitude, or (ironically) belittlement.
- 1998, Peter Coffey, “New Alternative View Of Atomic Structure”, in sci.chem (Usenet):
- Ah bless! You must be the welcoming committee for anyone who dares express ignorance.
- 2000, Hellraiser, uk.people.teens (Usenet):
- oh bless. *hug* that is not true. nobody here bears a grudge against 13 year old dear or against you.
- 2001, Will, “Am I still here?”, in uk.religion.pagan (Usenet):
- Aw bless... have white chocolate fudge muffin....a new batch.... made them last night after Nigella....
Anagrams
[edit]Icelandic
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Presumably a clipping related to the greeting vertu blessaður (literally “be blessed”), compare English God bless.
Pronunciation
[edit]Interjection
[edit]bless
Synonyms
[edit]- vertu blessaður
- vertu bless
- bless bless
- bæ (informal)
Antonyms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]- blessi þig (“bless you, gesundheit”)
- blessaður! (“greetings!”)
- sæll og blessaður! (“greetings!”)
Yola
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle English blessen, from Old English bletsian,, from Proto-West Germanic *blōdisōn.
Pronunciation
[edit]Verb
[edit]bless (simple past blessed)
- to bless
- 1867, “A YOLA ZONG”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 14, pages 90[1]:
- Zo bless all oore frends, an God zpeed ee plowe.
- So bless all our friends, and God speed the plough.
- 1927, “PAUDEEN FOUGHLAAN'S WEDDEEN”, in THE ANCIENT DIALECT OF THE BARONIES OF FORTH AND BARGY, COUNTY WEXFORD, page 133, lines 7[2]:
- "Gud bless thee mee gurles," hay zaid, "own an aal."
- "God bless you, my children," he said, "one and all."
References
[edit]- ^ Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867
- ^ Kathleen A. Browne (1927) The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Sixth Series, Vol.17 No.2, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
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