bliss English · revision 39650

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Old English|origins=gem-pro *blīþiz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /blɪs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|blis]], [[m|enm|blisse]],^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) [[inh|ang|bliss]], a contraction of the older [[m|ang|blīþs|t=joy, happiness]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) formed from [[m|ang|blīþe|t=joyful, kind]], the ancestor of [[blithe]].^(AHD 2024)^(Klein 1966)^(Ayto 2005) The Old English word is cognate with [[osx|blīdsea]] and [[m|osx|blīzza]],^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Collins 2023) and goes back to [[gem-pro|*blīþsjō]],^(Etymonline)^(Ayto 2005) formed with a noun suffix on [[m|gem-pro|*blīþiz|t=gentle, kind]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)^(Ayto 2005) which is also the source of [[got|𐌱𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌸𐍃|tr=bleiþs|t=merciful, kind]].^(OED 2026)^(Kroonen 2013) Kroonen finds no certain further etymology for the adjective.^(Kroonen 2013) Partridge traced it further to a root meaning "to shine",^(Partridge 1966) and Kroonen considers a link with a Germanic word for "bright" possible.^(Kroonen 2013) Ayto stresses that despite their likeness ''bliss'' has no etymological connection with [[bless]],^(Ayto 2005) although ''bless'' and ''bliss'' have influenced each other since early times.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Old English it meant gladness, joy and delight of a worldly kind, and also kindness of manner, the "light of one's countenance", a sense found only in Old English: both are recorded in Old English texts such as the ''Blickling Homilies'' and the ''Metres of Boethius''.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) Old English also had the joy of heaven and a cause of happiness among its senses.^(OED 2026) Barnhart dates the form ''blis'' to about 725, in an early version of ''Genesis''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ According to Etymonline, the word was at first used mostly of earthly happiness and in later Old English of spiritual joy, perfect felicity and the joy of heaven.^(Etymonline) Cresswell explains this as the result of its contact with ''bless'': ''blitheness'' was left for earthly lightness of heart, while ''bliss'' became the heavenly happiness of the "blessed".^(Cresswell 2021) Weekley notes that the two words were even confused in spelling, and quotes Wyclif: "Two blessis ben—blesse of the soule and blisse of the bodi".^(Weekley 1921) From about 1175 the noun meant perfect, spiritual joy.^(OED 2026) From about 1200 to 1400 it could also mean "glory", translating Latin ''gloria''.^(OED 2026) A ''bliss of birds'', a chorus of joyful birdsong, is recorded in Lydgate about 1430.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) defined bliss as the highest degree of happiness, used generally of the happiness of the blessed.^(Johnson 1755) The old verb ''bliss'', to rejoice or to gladden, died out by the 17th century,^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) but a new one arose in American slang: ''bliss out'', to reach a state of ecstasy, recorded from 1973.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 725 – ''blis''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * Old English – kindness of manner (obsolete); gladness, joy; the joy of heaven; a cause of happiness.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1175 – perfect, spiritual joy.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1200 – glory (obsolete by 1400).^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1430 – ''a bliss of birds'', joyful birdsong.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1973 – (US slang) verb, ''bliss out'', to reach a state of ecstasy.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Perfect [[happiness]]; great and serene [[joy]]: ''After a week of rain, the sunny morning was bliss.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (religion) The perfect joy of the souls in [[heaven]]; [[beatitude]]; also, heaven itself.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Something that gives great joy.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # (informal, chiefly US) To reach or put into a state of ecstasy, usually ''bliss out''.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) ''Blissed out'' means in a state of [[ecstasy]].^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[blissful]]

+ * [[blissfully]]

+ * [[blissfulness]]

+ * [[blissless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[blithe]]

+ * [[bless]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Shropshire woodcutters' use a ''bliss'' was the boundary line of an allotment of timber to be felled, marked by slashing the bark of the trees.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}