bless
/bles/verb
with obj.
1- (of a priest) pronounce words in a religious rite, to confer or invoke divine favour upon; ask God to look favourably on（牧师） 为…祈神赐福, 为…祈神保佑：
he blessed the dying man and anointed him.
他为垂危男子祈神保佑, 并为他涂抹圣油。
1.1
- consecrate (something) by a religious rite, action, or spoken formula（通过宗教仪式、行动或祷词）宣布…为圣物, 使圣洁。
1.2
- (especially in Christian church services) call (God) holy; praise (God)（尤指基督教礼拜时）颂扬（上帝）。
1.3
bless someone with
(of God or some notional higher power) endow (someone) with a particular cherished thing or attribute（上帝或神力）使有幸得到, 赋予：We have been blessed with a beautiful baby boy.
上帝赐予我们一个漂亮的男婴。
1.4
- express or feel gratitude to; thank感激; 怀感激之心; 感谢：
she silently blessed the premonition which had made her pack her best dress.
她暗自庆幸得到了神示的预感, 让她把最好的衣服带在行装里。
1.5
bless oneself
archaic make the sign of the cross〈古〉（在胸口）画十字。
1.6
- used in expressions of surprise, endearment, gratitude, etc.用在表示惊奇、亲爱、感激等的用语中：
bless my soul, Alan, what are you doing?
我的天哪! 艾伦, 你在干什么?
Nurse Jones, bless her, had made a pot of tea.
琼斯护士沏了一壶茶, 真该谢她！
短语
bless you!
- said to a person who has just sneezed长命百岁！（对打喷嚏者说的话）
- [ORIGIN: from the phrase （may） God bless you.]
not have a penny to bless oneself with
- dated be completely impoverished〈旧〉一文不名。
- ORIGIN: alluding to the cross on an old silver penny or to the practice of crossing a person's palm with silver for luck.
词源
Old English blēdsian, blētsian, based on blōd 'blood' （i.e. originally perhaps 'mark or consecrate with blood'）. The meaning was influenced by its being used to translate Latin benedicere 'to praise, worship', and later by association with BLISS.