bles 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!). ø(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. [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]
