Added 9 October 2026
bless
/blɛs/ verb
In Latin: benedīcō Wiktionary
verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about bless at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Give a benediction to.
The dying man blessed his son
- Confer prosperity or happiness on.
- Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)