Search results for 'bless':

bless verb (past tense blessed, past participle blessed or blest, present participle blessing) 1 to ask for divine favour or protection for someone or something. 2 a to make or pronounce someone or something holy; to consecrate; b to make the sign of the cross over someone or something or to cross (oneself). 3 to praise; to give honour or glory to (a deity). 4 to thank or be thankful for something • I bless the day I met him. bless me or bless my soul an expression of surprise, pleasure or dismay, etc. bless you! or sometimes God bless you! 1 said to a person who has just sneezed (originally as a superstitious call for God to protect them from illness). 2 an expression of affection, well-wishing or thanks, etc towards a person.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon bletsian or bledsian, probably from blod blood (from the use of sacrificial blood in ancient blessing ceremonies).