01 v. t. To make or pronounce holy; to consecrate
imp. & p. p.
Blessed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blessing
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1.
To make or pronounce holy; to consecrate“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” — Gen. ii. 3.
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2.
To make happy, blithesome, or joyous; to confer prosperity or happiness upon; to grant divine favor to.“The quality of mercy is . . . twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” — Shak.“It hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee.” — 1 Chron. xvii. 27 (R. V. )
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3.
To express a wish or prayer for the happiness of; to invoke a blessing upon; -- applied to persons.“Bless them which persecute you.” — Rom. xii. 14.
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4.
To invoke or confer beneficial attributes or qualities upon; to invoke or confer a blessing on, -- as on food.“Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them.” — Luke ix. 16.
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5.
To make the sign of the cross upon; to cross (one's self).[Archaic]
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6.
To guard; to keep; to protect.[Obs.]
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7.
To praise, or glorify; to extol for excellences.“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” — Ps. ciii. 1.
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8.
To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.“The nations shall bless themselves in him.” — Jer. iv. 3.
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