1. A ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection
   "The rabbi offered a blessing for the newlyweds";
   - benediction
    
2. The act of praying for divine protection
   "The priest gave a blessing to the congregation before dismissing them";
   - benediction
    
3. A short prayer of thanks before a meal
   "their youngest son said blessing";
   - grace, thanksgiving
    
4. The formal act of approving
   "he gave the project his blessing";
   - approval, approving
    
5. Something beneficial or helpful; a welcome benefit or advantage
   "Her expertise was a blessing to the project";
   - boon

1. Give a benediction to
   "The dying man blessed his son"
    
2. Confer prosperity or happiness on
   "May fortune bless your endeavours"; "The rain blessed the drought-stricken farmland"
    
3. Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
   "The priest blessed the congregation before dismissing them";
   - sign
    
4. Render holy by means of religious rites
   "The priest blessed the new church building";
   - consecrate, hallow, sanctify

Derived forms: blessings

Type of: arouse, bestow, bring up, call down, call forth, confer, conjure, conjure up, declare, evoke, gesticulate, gesture, good fortune, good luck, invoke, luckiness, motion, orison [archaic], petition, prayer, pronounce, raise, supplication, support

Antonym: anathemize, disapproval, unhallow

Encyclopedia: Blessing, TX