American Dictionary of the English Language

Dictionary Search

Blessing


BLESS'ING, participle present tense Making happy; wishing happiness to; praising or extolling; consecrating by prayer.

BLESS'ING,noun Benediction; a wish of happiness pronounced; a prayer imploring happiness upon another.

1. A solemn prophetic benediction, in which happiness is desired, invoked or foretold.

This is the blessing wherewith Moses--blessed the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 33:1.

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. Genesis 33:11.