blessing

name

1. A surname.
2. A unisex given name of mainly African usage.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English blessinge, blessynge, from Old English blētsung, blēdsung (“a blessing”), equivalent to bless + -ing.

1. Some kind of divine or supernatural aid, or reward.

   “Henceforth, wherever thou may’st roam, ⁠My blessing, like a line of light, ⁠Is on the waters day and night, And like a beacon guards thee home.”

2. A pronouncement invoking divine aid.

   “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.”

3. Good fortune.

   “He was given blessings hoping he would pass his final exam.”

4. A modern pagan ceremony.
5. The act of declaring or bestowing favor; approval.

   “We will not proceed without the executive director's blessing.”

   “Jocasta had my blessing when she seduced you, you stuck-up piffler.”

6. Something someone is glad of.

   “After two weeks of sun, last night's rainfall was a blessing.”

7. A prayer before a meal; grace.
8. A group of unicorns.

   “And since we’re laying out our wishes, we’d also like a blessing of unicorns and one million dollars.”

   “Then a blessing of unicorns charged into the studio, and I was carried away to be re-educated.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English blessinge, blessynge, from Old English blētsung, blēdsung (“a blessing”), equivalent to bless + -ing.

1. present participle and gerund of bless