English verb: bless | |||
1. | bless (communication) give a benediction to | ||
Samples | The dying man blessed his son. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | arouse, bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, evoke, invoke, put forward, raise, stir | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | anele, anoint, embrocate, inunct, oil | ||
Antonyms | anathemise, anathemize, bedamn, beshrew, damn, imprecate, maledict, curse | ||
2. | bless (possession) confer prosperity or happiness on | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bestow, confer | ||
3. | bless (communication) make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate | ||
Synonyms | sign | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | gesticulate, gesture, motion | ||
4. | bless (communication) render holy by means of religious rites | ||
Synonyms | consecrate, hallow, sanctify | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | declare | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | reconsecrate | ||
Antonyms | deconsecrate, unhallow, desecrate | ||