bless
verb/bles/
/bles/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they bless | /bles/ /bles/ |
| he / she / it blesses | /ˈblesɪz/ /ˈblesɪz/ |
| past simple blessed | /blest/ /blest/ |
| past participle blessed | /blest/ /blest/ |
| -ing form blessing | /ˈblesɪŋ/ /ˈblesɪŋ/ |
- bless somebody/something to ask God to protect somebody/something
- They brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them.
- God bless you!
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- bless something to make something holy by saying a prayer over it
- The priest blessed the bread and wine.
- bless somebody/something (formal) to call God holy; to praise God
- We bless your holy name, O Lord.
- bless somebody/something (old-fashioned, informal) used to express surprise
- Bless my soul! Here comes Bill!
- ‘Where's Joe?’ ‘I'm blessed if I know!’ (= I don't know)
Word OriginOld English blēdsian, blētsian, based on blōd ‘blood’ (i.e. originally perhaps ‘mark or consecrate with blood’). The meaning was influenced by its being used to translate Latin benedicere ‘to praise, worship’, and later by association with bliss.
Idioms
See bless in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe blessed with something/somebody
- to have something good such as ability, great happiness, etc.
- She's blessed with excellent health.
- We're blessed with five lovely grandchildren.
bless you
- said to somebody after they have sneezed
bless you, her, him, etc.
- (informal) used to show that you are pleased with somebody, especially because of something they have done
- Sarah, bless her, had made a cup of tea.
God bless
- used when you are leaving somebody, to say that you hope they will be safe, etc.
- Goodnight, God bless.
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bless