Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The act of one that blesses.
- noun A short prayer said before or after a meal; grace.
- noun Something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a boon.
- noun Approbation; approval.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of invoking or pronouncing happiness upon another or others; benediction.
- noun The form of words used in this invocation or declaration; a (or the) benediction.
- noun The bestowal of divine favor, or of hallowing, protecting, or prospering influences: as, to ask God's blessing on any undertaking.
- noun A temporal or spiritual benefit; anything which makes happy or prosperous; something to be thankful for; a boon or mercy: as, the blessings of life, of health, or of civilization; it is a blessing we fared so well.
- noun Euphemistically, a curse; a scolding; a castigation with words.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of one who blesses.
- noun A declaration of divine favor, or an invocation imploring divine favor on some or something; a benediction; a wish of happiness pronounces.
- noun A means of happiness; that which promotes prosperity and welfare; a beneficent gift.
- noun (Bib.), A Hebraism A gift.
- noun Grateful praise or worship.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun some kind of
divine orsupernatural aid, or reward. - noun a pronouncement invoking divine aid.
- noun good fortune.
- noun paganism a modern pagan ceremony.
- noun the act of declaring or bestowing favor; approval.
- noun a thing one is glad of
- noun a prayer before a meal;
grace - noun a group of
unicorns .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the formal act of approving
- noun a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection
- noun a short prayer of thanks before a meal
- noun the act of praying for divine protection
- noun a desirable state
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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During a recent conversation with somebody who is sticking to the term blessing, they said that the term inspiration sounds as though it only applies to the description of the process whereby one focuses on a person who has set a constructive encouraging example.
Inspiration (���Blessings���) and Its Relation to Mantras and Oral Transmission 2008
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During a recent conversation with somebody who is sticking to the term blessing, they said that the term inspiration sounds as though it only applies to the description of the process whereby one focuses on a person who has set a constructive encouraging example.
Inspiration (���Blessings���) and Its Relation to Mantras and Oral Transmission 2008
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That however much a blessing is the birth of this most-beloved boy – and it is, truly, the greatest blessing – it is overwhelming.
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I tell you Mollie, I misinformed you before, as to Sanctification being necessarily a gradual work, nay I've found out better since, it comes like justification, just as soon as we are ready to receive it, just as soon as we have consecrated all, all to God, then the blessing is there.
Letter from Young John Allen to Mollie HoustonNovember 17, 1856 2008
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What a blessing is a wife! — and what a change we have had from hot to coolish weather! — not that the change is applicable in any horrid way, — all I mean is that — damn the application!
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Mr. ISBELL: That's what they call a blessing and a curse.
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Human nature is apt to resent in any case having its blessings perpetually thrust in its face; but in this case what they called a blessing, to her seemed the blackest horror of her life; and Zillah's resentment was all the stronger; while all this resentment she naturally vented on the head of the one who had become her husband.
The Cryptogram A Novel James De Mille
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He has had a decade to benefit from what he calls the blessing of Albert.''
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He has had a decade to benefit from what he calls the blessing of Albert.''
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He has had a decade to benefit from what he calls the blessing of Albert.''
whichbe commented on the word blessing
A group of unicorns is called a blessing.
May 7, 2008
GHibbs commented on the word blessing
'The Pope (will be, was, is) blessing the people' are verbal uses.
August 27, 2011
GHibbs commented on the word blessing
blessing Some 30 plus English translations say that Isaac "... finished blessing ..." Jacob. (Genesis 37:30). That is a verbal use. blessing is not restricted to being a noun as the entry still suggests.
December 8, 2016
qms commented on the word blessing
In addition to being a noun blessing is also the progressive or continuous form of the verb to bless.
See http://www.verbix.com/webverbix/English/bless.html
December 8, 2016