▪ I. blessing, vbl. n.
(ˈblɛsɪŋ)
Forms: 1 bledsung, bletsung, -unge, 2 blescunge, blessunge, 3 (Orm.) blettcing, bliscing, blesing, blising, 3–4 blessyng, 4 blissinge, bluseing, blys(s)yng, blisteing, 3–6 blessinge, blissing, 4–6 blissyng, blyssinge, blessynge, 6 blyssynge, 4– blessing.
[f. bless v.1 + -ing1.]
† 1. a. Hallowing, consecration. Obs.
| 1070 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) Swa Thomas to þam timan aᵹean ferde buton bletsunga. c 1205 Lay. 13261 Na man..þat mihte blessinge don in [1250 vppe] þan kinge. |
† b. The making the sign of the cross; crossing oneself. Obs.
| 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 91 This busy blissing and noddyng. 1563 Foxe in Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) Introd. 23 The fashion of their mass..with such..kissing, blissing, crouching, becking, crossing, knocking. |
2. a. Authoritative declaration of divine favour and countenance, by God or one speaking in his name; benediction; passing into b. Invocation of divine favour by any one. c. The form of words used in this declaration or invocation.
| a 855 O.E. Chron. an. 813 (Parker MS.) Mid bledsunge [Laud MS. bletsunge] ðæs papan. a 1131 Ibid. an. 1123 Se papa..sende him ham ða mid his bletsunge. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1568 Fader dere, bidde ic ðe, ðat sum bliscing gif ðu me. 1297 R. Glouc. 421 He ȝaf hym hys blessyng, & al hys tresour þerto. c 1315 Shoreham 57 The signe hys of thys sacrement The bisschopes blessynge. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 453 Blyssyngs of bischopis, it is a feyned þing. 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer, Commun. Rubr., The Priest..shall let them depart with this blessing. 1610 Shakes. Temp. v. i. 179 All the blessings Of a glad father, compasse thee about. 1678 N. Wanley Wonders vi. xxvii. 613/2 Having taken a blessing from the Priest, he enters the house. 1837 Ann. Reg. 9 July 77 The dean now read the collect and the blessing. 1838 T. Jackson Early Methodists (1846) I. 380 He gave them his dying blessing. |
† d. pl. The beatitudes pronounced by Christ.
| c 1400 Mandeville viii. 96 There..our Lord sat, whan he preched the 8 Blessynges. 1588 A. King Canisius' Catech. 186 These quhilk S. Ambrose callis our Lords beatitudes and blissings. |
† e. A charm, spell, incantation. Obs.
| 1572 R. H. Lauaterus' Ghostes (1596) He that is superstitious vseth some blessing (as they call it) to heale his Horsses disease. |
3. a. The bestowal of divine favour and prospering influence; favour and prospering influence of God.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter iii. 9 Dryhtnes is haelu, & ofer folc ðin bledsung ðin. 971 Blickl. Hom. 51 He us sendeþ ufan his bletsunga. c 1200 Ormin 4019 Drihhtin haffde ȝifenn himm Swillc blettcing. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 41 Wiþ þe blissyng of god. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 55 Out of gods blessing into the warme sunne. 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 97 Blessing vpon your vowes. 1789 Burns John Anderson i, But blessings on your frosty pow. 1881 F. Nightingale Nursing ii. 25 ‘With God's Blessing he will recover,’ is a common form of parlance. |
b. In this sense we now say ‘to ask a blessing’ on food; though ‘to say a blessing’ or ‘the blessing of meat’ originally belonged to 2.
| 1738 Wesley Wks. (1872) I. 87 Mr. Kinchin told them..that gentleman would ask a blessing for them. 1838 T. Jackson Early Methodists (1846) I. 387 At breakfast, dinner, etc., he never asked a blessing sitting. 1884 Harper's Mag. Mar. 562/2 The child said blessing. |
4. a. A beneficent gift of God, nature, etc.; anything that makes happy or prosperous; a boon.
| 1340 Ayenb. 97 Þise zeue þinges touore yzed byeþ ycleped blyssinges, uor hy makeþ man yblyssed ine þise wordle..and more yblyssed ine þe oþre. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle iv. xx. (1483) 65 My blissing in to payne retourned is. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. iii. 30 Eminence, Wealth, Soueraignty; Which to say sooth, are Blessings. 1634 Milton Comus 772 Nature's full blessings would be well-dispensed. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 100 ¶1 Wealth, Honour, and all other Blessings of Life. 1752 Johnson Rambl. No. 204 ¶2 Wilt thou not partake the blessings thou bestowest? 1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. iii. (1862) 52 The blessings of a regular and tranquil government. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 165 Aged relatives are a blessing to the good. Mod. Colloq. What a blessing to be rid of them all! |
† b. A gift or favour bestowed, a present. (A Hebraism of Bible translation.) Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Sam. xxv. 27 Wherfor tak this blessynge [1611 blessing] that thin hoond womman hath brouȝt to thee. 1611 Bible 2 Kings v. 15, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy seruant. |
c. Phr. a blessing in disguise: an apparent misfortune that works to the eventual good of the recipient.
| 1746 Hervey Refl. Flower-Garden 76 Ev'n Crosses from his sov'reign Hand Are Blessings in Disguise. 1873 Cassell's Mag. VI. 296/2 Like many similar disasters, this great calamity was in truth only a blessing in disguise. 1900 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 15 June 595 We find that the Pacific cable scheme has really been a blessing in disguise to those who dreaded it most. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 3 May 2/1 Religion would gain greatly if the clergy would make a more sparing use of the blessing-in-disguise argument. |
5. The rendering of grateful adoration. Now chiefly gerundial, as ‘in praising and blessing God.’
| 1382 Wyclif Rev. v. 12 The lomb that is slayn is worthi for to take..honour and glory and blessing. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 271 All was thanking, all was blessing. a 1586 Sidney in Farr S.P. (1848) I. 60 When from their lippes most blessing flows. |
6. A euphemism for: A curse.
| 1878 H. Smart Play or Pay iv. (ed. 3) 68 Richardson's name rose once to his lips, coupled with a blessing of dubious import. |
▪ II. blessing, ppl. a.
[f. -ing2.]
That blesses.
| 1659 Hammond On Ps. xiii. 1 The blessing beames of thy countenance. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. III. iv. 429 With his small blessing voice the hushed air thrilled. |