blessing
    n 1: the formal act of approving; "he gave the project his
         blessing"; "his decision merited the approval of any
         sensible person" [syn: blessing, approval, approving]
         [ant: disapproval]
    2: a desirable state; "enjoy the blessings of peace"; "a
       spanking breeze is a boon to sailors" [syn: blessing,
       boon]
    3: a short prayer of thanks before a meal; "their youngest son
       said grace" [syn: grace, blessing, thanksgiving]
    4: a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection [syn:
       benediction, blessing]
    5: the act of praying for divine protection [syn: blessing,
       benediction]

Bless \Bless\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blessedor Blest; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Blessing.] [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian,
   bledsian, bloedsian, fr. bl?d blood; prob. originally to
   consecrate by sprinkling with blood. See Blood.]
   1. To make or pronounce holy; to consecrate
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            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.
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            The quality of mercy is . . . twice blest;
            It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
                                                  --Shak.
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            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.
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            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.
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            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] --Holinshed.
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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.
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            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.
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            The nations shall bless themselves in him. --Jer.
                                                  iv. 3.
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   9. To wave; to brandish. [Obs.]
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            And burning blades about their heads do bless.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest.
                                                  --Fairfax.
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   Note: This is an old sense of the word, supposed by Johnson,
         Nares, and others, to have been derived from the old
         rite of blessing a field by directing the hands to all
         parts of it. "In drawing [their bow] some fetch such a
         compass as though they would turn about and bless all
         the field." --Ascham.
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   Bless me! Bless us! an exclamation of surprise. --Milton.

   To bless from, to secure, defend, or preserve from. "Bless
      me from marrying a usurer." --Shak.
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            To bless the doors from nightly harm. --Milton.
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   To bless with, To be blessed with, to favor or endow
      with; to be favored or endowed with; as, God blesses us
      with health; we are blessed with happiness.
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Blessing \Bless"ing\, n. [AS. bletsung. See Bless, v. t.]
   1. The act of one who blesses.
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   2. A declaration of divine favor, or an invocation imploring
      divine favor on some or something; a benediction; a wish
      of happiness pronounces.
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            This is the blessing, where with Moses the man of
            God blessed the children of Israel.   --Deut.
                                                  xxxiii. 1.
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   3. A means of happiness; that which promotes prosperity and
      welfare; a beneficent gift.
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            Nature's full blessings would be well dispensed.
                                                  --Milton.
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   4. (Bib.) A gift. [A Hebraism] --Gen. xxxiii. 11.
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   5. Grateful praise or worship.
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Blessing, TX -- U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas
   Population (2000):    861
   Housing Units (2000): 334
   Land area (2000):     2.031646 sq. miles (5.261940 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    2.031646 sq. miles (5.261940 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            08668
   Located within:       Texas (TX), FIPS 48
   Location:             28.871300 N, 96.220740 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     77419
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Blessing, TX
    Blessing