[blɛs], (Verb)

Definitions:
- pronounce words in a religious rite in order to confer or invoke divine favour upon; ask God to look favourably on
(e.g: he blessed the dying man and anointed him)


Phrases:
- bless someone's heart
- bless you!
- not have a penny to bless oneself with

Origin:
Old 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