Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Blessing
1.
The act of one who blesses.
2.
A declaration of divine favor, or an invocation imploring divine favor on some or something; a benediction; a wish of happiness pronounces.
This is the
blessing
, where with Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel. Deut. xxxiii. 1.
3.
A means of happiness; that which promotes prosperity and welfare; a beneficent gift.
Nature’s full
blessings
would be well dispensed. Milton.
4.
(Bib.)
A gift.
[A Hebraism]
Gen. xxxiii. 11.
5.
Grateful praise or worship.
Webster 1828 Edition
Blessing
BLESS'ING
,ppr.
BLESS'ING
,Noun.
1.
A solemn prophetic benediction, in which happiness is desired, invoked or foretold.This is the blessing wherewith Moses--blessed the children of Israel. Deut.33.
2.
Any means of happiness; a gift,benefit or advantage;that which promotes temporal prosperity and welfare, or secures immortal felicity. A just and pious magistrate is a public blessing. The divine favor is the greatest blessing.3.
Among the Jews,a present; a gift; either because it was attended with kind wishes for the welfare of the giver, or because it was the means of increasing happiness.Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee. Gen.33.
Definition 2024
blessing
blessing
English
Noun
blessing (plural blessings)
- Some kind of divine or supernatural aid, or reward.
- A pronouncement invoking divine aid.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 5, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
- Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
-
- Good fortune.
- (paganism) A modern pagan ceremony.
- The act of declaring or bestowing favor; approval.
- We will not proceed without the executive director's blessing.
- 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
- Jocasta had my blessing when she seduced you, you stuck-up piffler.
- A thing one is glad of.
- A prayer before a meal; grace.
- A group of unicorns.
- 2008, Betsy Schiffman, "Time To Trash the Intellectual Property System, Says Report", Wired, 11 September 2008:
- And since we’re laying out our wishes, we’d also like a blessing of unicorns and one million dollars.
- 2009, Andrew Orlowski, "Facebook music dashboard: Revenue at last?", The Register, 13 September 2011:
- Then a blessing of unicorns charged into the studio, and I was carried away to be re-educated.
- 2011, Suzette Mayr, Monoceros, Coach House Books (2011), ISBN 9781552452417, page 94:
- She just wants to talk to her friends on www.unicornwillsaveus.com or write in her journal or flump on her bedroom floor with her blessing of unicorns: her posters, figurines, stickers, temporary tattoos of anatomically correct unicorns.
- 2008, Betsy Schiffman, "Time To Trash the Intellectual Property System, Says Report", Wired, 11 September 2008:
Antonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from blessing
Translations
divine or supernatural aid or reward
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pronouncement invoking divine aid
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good fortune
act of declaring, seeking or bestowing favor
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thing one is glad of
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prayer before a meal — see grace