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blessed event

blessed event

5 4.1
The birth of a baby seen as a special joyful event
  • noun
  • /ˈblɛsɪd ɪˈvɛnt/
translation icon : nacimiento
  • She sent out invitations to the party in honor of the blessed event that was soon to come.
  • witness the blessed event

Examples

  • Well, don't let me interrupt the blessed event.

  • It was a blessed event, a celebration of the day Mike Trout and Bryce Harper made their debuts as full-time players together in Major League Baseball.

    Blog text (11)
  • Did I Miss the blessed event?

  • At last, the blessed event comes.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Be sure to let me know when the blessed event occurs.

  • Looks like we're on the verge of a blessed event.

  • Dear Mr. Ricardo, My husband and I are going to have a blessed event.

  • Well, in just about seven months, Irving and I are having... a blessed event.

  • We are all excited to celebrate the arrival of our new baby; it's such a blessed event.

  • The family gathered together to welcome the blessed event of their daughter's birth.

Synonyms

childbirth
vsblessed event
82 2.3

The time when a woman has a baby

is an occasion celebrated as special and joyful, not just the physical process
nativity
vsblessed event
7 7.6

The event of being born, the start of a person's life

is viewed as a special joyful occasion rather than a neutral origin event
happy event
vsblessed event
1 1.2

The birth of a baby that people celebrate

is presented as a special joyful occasion rather than just a reason to celebrate

How Joyful

miracle
4.4
blessed event
5 4.1
celebration
430 1.0
occasion
942 3.1
occurrence
116 3.6

Surface Forms

blessed event singular

Morphology

blessed + event

The parts 'blessed' (fortunate/favored) + 'event' (occurrence) transparently yield the idea of a fortunate or joyful occurrence, so a learner would grasp a general positive meaning. However, the conventionalized, euphemistic sense specifically meaning 'the birth of a child' is a culture-specific extension that is not directly predictable from the constituents, so learners who know the words but haven't seen the phrase may not infer the childbirth meaning.

Etymology

Blessed event comes from the old practice of bringing a baby to church to be blessed, so the words blessed and event together point to a special, joyful occasion. That's why it now means 'the birth of a child' and a time for thanks and celebration.