bless

bless

transitive verb \ˈbles\

blessed \ˈblest\ also blest \ˈblest\ bless·ing

Definition of BLESS

1

: to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word

2

: to hallow with the sign of the cross

3

: to invoke divine care for <bless your heart> —used in the phrase bless you to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed

4

a : praise, glorify <bless his holy name>

b : to speak well of : approve

5

: to confer prosperity or happiness upon

6

archaic : protect, preserve

7

: endow, favor <blessed with athletic ability>

Examples of BLESS

1. The priest blessed their marriage at the wedding.
2. The water for the baptism has been blessed.
3. The priest blessed the baby I held in my arms.

Origin of BLESS

Middle English, from Old English blētsian, from blōd blood; from the use of blood in consecration

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BLESS

Synonyms

consecrate, hallow, sacralize, sanctify

Antonyms

deconsecrate, desacralize, desanctify

Related Words

baptize, canonize, spiritualize; chasten, cleanse, lustrate, purify; exorcise (also exorcize), expurgate; commit, dedicate, devote; reconsecrate

Near Antonyms

defile, desecrate, profane; dirty, foul, pollute, soil, taint, violate; blaspheme, curse, cuss, damn, execrate; cast out, condemn, damn, punish

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Rhymes with BLESS

cess, chess, cress, dress, ess, fess, guess, jess, less, loess, mess, ness, press, s, stress, tress, yes