bless English · revision 7119

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 950}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /blɛs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English blessen, from Old English [[m|ang|blētsian]], blēdsian, Northumbrian bloedsian, to consecrate by a religious rite,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Proto-Germanic *blōdisōną, to mark or hallow with blood, from *blōþą, [[blood]];^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) originally perhaps a sprinkling of blood on pagan altars.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) Hoad calls it a purely English formation, and Word Origins notes that no equivalent exists in other Germanic languages.^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To sanctify by making the sign of the cross: about 950 in the OED;^(OED 1989) to consecrate by a religious rite, about 1000.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English Bibles chose it to translate Latin benedicere and Greek eulogein, literally to speak well of, used in Scripture for Hebrew brk, to bend the knee, worship, praise;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) hence ''bless God'', to praise.^(Barnhart 1988) In late Old English the meaning shifted towards ''pronounce or make happy or fortunate'', by resemblance to the unrelated [[bliss]].^(Etymonline) To invoke God's blessing on someone is from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Not a penny to bless oneself with'' alludes to the cross on old coins (1557).^(OED 1989) ''Bless you'', said to someone who sneezes, is short for ''God bless you''.^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – to sanctify with the cross.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1000 – to consecrate.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – to invoke God's favour on.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1557 – not a penny to bless oneself with.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make holy by a religious rite; to [[consecrate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To ask God's favour and protection for.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To praise or glorify God.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give happiness or good fortune to: ''blessed with good health''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make the sign of the cross over.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[blesser]]

+ * [[blessingly]]

+ * [[outbless]]

+ * [[prebless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[blessed]]

+ * [[blessing]]

+ * [[bleed]]

+ * [[blood]]

+ * [[bliss]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Despite their resemblance, bless and [[bliss]] are not related.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}