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. Hallowing, consecration. Obs.
1070. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.). Swa Thomas to þam timan aʓean 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’s Serm. & Rem. (1845), Introd. 23. The fashion of their mass … with such … kissing, blissing, crouching, becking, crossing, knocking.
2. a. Authoritative declaration of divine favor and countenance, by God or one speaking in his name; benediction; passing into b. Invocation of divine favor 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. Ibid. (a. 1131), 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 ine.
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. Shaks., 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. Maundev., 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. The bestowal of divine favor and prospering influence; favor and prospering influence of God.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, iii. 9. Dryhtnes is haelu, & ofer folc ðin bledsung ðin.
971. Blickl. Hom., 5. 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. Shaks., All’s Well, II. iii. 97. Blessing vpon your vowes.
1789. Burns, John Anderson, i. But blessings on your frosty pow.
1881. Flor. 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 (1872), IV. 93. At breakfast, dinner, &c., he never asked a blessing sitting.
1884. W. M. Baker, in Harper’s Mag., March, 562/2. The child said blessing.
4. A beneficent gift of God, nature, etc.; any thing 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. Shaks., 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 favor 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.
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. Sydney, in Farr’s 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.
