intj · name · verb · 17 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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blĕs
/blɛs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛs
CMU ARPABET:B L EH1 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
intj
Meaning 1
Used as an expression of endearment, gratitude, or (ironically) belittlement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, UK, informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
name
Meaning 2
A surname from German.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To invoke divine favor upon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
In some countries, priests bless farm animals on St. Anthony's Day.
In many families, a grace is said before dinner to give thanks for and bless the food.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To honor as holy, glorify; to extol for excellence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To make the sign of the cross upon, so as to sanctify.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To wave; to brandish.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To turn (a reference) into an object.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Qualifier: Perl programming; past tense only blessed; Perl programming; past tense only blessed
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To secure, defend, or prevent from.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To give or send.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Examples
Could you bless me the link for the original post?
I'm actually marved right now, can you bless me some cash?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To approve of or assent to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
After those modifications, the Board blessed the reorganization plan.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
verb
Meaning 13
To perform the mano gesture; taking of an elder's hand to press it to one's forehead or kiss it (as a sign of respect)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Philippines
Examples
You should bless your relatives, because they arrived here already.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: consecrate, hallow, sanctify
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: declare
Narrower terms: reconsecrate
16
verb
Meaning 16
make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sign
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gesticulate, gesture, motion
17
verb
Meaning 17
confer prosperity or happiness on
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: confer, bestow
History
Etymology
An ellipsis for an expression such as bless your heart.
Borrowed from Swiss German Bless.
From Middle English blessen, from Old English bletsian (“to consecrate (with blood)”), from Proto-West Germanic *blōdisōn (“to sprinkle, mark or hallow with blood”), from Proto-Germanic *blōþą (“blood”), of uncertain origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bhleh3- (“to bloom”). Cognate with Old Norse bleza (“to bless”) (whence Icelandic blessa), Old English blēdan (“to bleed”). More at bleed.
Across languages
Translations
128 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
seën
— confer blessing on
Albanian:
bekoj
— confer blessing on
Amharic:
ባረከ
(baräkä)
— confer blessing on
Arabic:
بَارَكَ
(bāraka)
— confer blessing on
Arabic:
بارك
(bārik)
— confer blessing on
Aragonese:
bendicir
— confer blessing on
Armenian:
օրհնել
(ōrhnel)
— confer blessing on
Asturian:
bendicir
— confer blessing on
Basque:
bedeinkatu
— confer blessing on
Belarusian:
бласлаўля́ць
(blaslawljácʹ)
— confer blessing on
Belarusian:
благаславі́ць
(blahaslavícʹ)
— confer blessing on
Bulgarian:
благосла́вям
(blagoslávjam)
— confer blessing on
Bulgarian:
благословя́
(blagoslovjá)
— confer blessing on
Catalan:
beneir
— confer blessing on
Chinese Mandarin:
保佑
(bǎoyòu)
— confer blessing on
Chinese Mandarin:
佑
(yòu)
— confer blessing on
Chinese Mandarin:
福
(fú)
— confer blessing on
Chinese Mandarin:
祝福
(zhùfú)
— confer blessing on
Czech:
žehnat
— confer blessing on
Czech:
požehnat
— confer blessing on
Danish:
velsigne
— confer blessing on
Danish:
signe
— confer blessing on
Dutch:
zegenen
— confer blessing on
Elfdalian:
welsingen
— confer blessing on
Esperanto:
beni
— confer blessing on
Estonian:
õnnistama
— confer blessing on
Faroese:
vælsigna
— confer blessing on
Faroese:
signa
— confer blessing on
Finnish:
siunata
— confer blessing on
French:
bénir
— confer blessing on
Old French:
beneïr
— confer blessing on
Friulian:
benedî
— confer blessing on
Friulian:
binidî
— confer blessing on
Galician:
bendicir
— confer blessing on
Georgian:
ლოცვა
(locva)
— confer blessing on
German:
segnen
— confer blessing on
German:
benedeien
— confer blessing on
Gothic:
𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽
(þiuþjan)
— confer blessing on
Gothic:
𐌰𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽
(audagjan)
— confer blessing on
Greek:
ευλογώ
(evlogó)
— confer blessing on
Ancient Greek:
εὐλογέω
(eulogéō)
— confer blessing on
Ancient Greek:
μακαρίζω
(makarízō)
— confer blessing on