Bless

/blɛs/ · verb

Meaning

To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify..

Definitions by Sense

1. To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify.
2. To invoke divine favor upon.
3. To honor as holy, glorify; to extol for excellence.
4. To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.
5. (Christianity) To make the sign of the cross upon, so as to sanctify.
6. (obsolete) To wave; to brandish.
7. (Perl programming, transitive, past tense only blessed) To turn (a reference) into an object.
8. (archaic, with from) To secure, defend, or prevent from.

Example Sentences

In some countries, priests bless farm animals on St. Anthony's Day.

In many families, a grace is said before dinner to give thanks for and bless the food.

A Pſalme of Dauid. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule: and all that is within me, bleſſe his holy Name.

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.

the archbishop vsing certeine praiers, blessed the king

And burning blades about their heads do blesse.

Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest.

Bless me from marrying a usurer.

Synonyms for bless

Antonyms for bless

Related Words

Word Forms

• blesses
• blessing
• blest
• blessed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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