bless

== English == === Pronunciation === enPR: blĕs, IPA(key): /blɛs/ Rhymes: -ɛs === Etymology 1 === 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 ==== 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 invoke divine favor upon. To honor as holy, glorify; to extol for excellence. To esteem or account happy; to felicitate. (Christianity) To make the sign of the cross upon, so as to sanctify. (obsolete) To wave; to brandish. (Perl programming, transitive, past tense only blessed) To turn (a reference) into an object. (archaic, with from) To secure, defend, or prevent from. (MTE, slang) To give or send. (transitive) To approve of or assent to. (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) ===== Antonyms ===== curse condemn (antonym(s) of “programming”): unbless ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== blessed blessing bleed blood ===== Descendants ===== Sranan Tongo: blesi, bresi ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === An ellipsis for an expression such as bless your heart. ==== Interjection ==== bless (UK, Canada, informal) Used as an expression of endearment, gratitude, or (ironically) belittlement. === Anagrams === ESBLs, slebs == Icelandic == === Etymology === Presumably a clipping related to the greeting vertu blessaður (literally “be blessed”), compare English God bless. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈplɛs/ === Interjection === bless goodbye, bye Synonyms: vertu blessaður; vertu bless; bless bless; (informal) bæ Antonyms: halló; (informal) hæ ==== Related terms ==== blessi þig (“bless you, gesundheit”) blessaður! (“greetings!”) sæll og blessaður! (“greetings!”) == Yola == === Etymology === From Middle English blessen, from Old English bletsian, [Term?], from Proto-West Germanic *blōdisōn. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /blɛs/ === Verb === bless (simple past blessed) to bless === References ===