bless

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To ask God to protect or help someone or something.

   The priest blessed the young couple.

2. 2
   verb

   To make something holy through a religious ceremony.

   The bishop blessed the new church.

3. 3
   verb

   To give someone something good, as if as a gift.

   They were blessed with three healthy children.

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.

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