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blessing

blessing

269 1.4
A good thing or situation that brings happiness
  • noun
  • /ˈblɛsɪŋ/
translation icon : bendición
  • When you count your blessings, more blessings come.
  • a blessing in disguise
  • a mixed blessing
  • count your blessings

When you count your blessings, more blessings come.

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Examples

  • A friend's good fortune is a blessing.

  • After the storm, the clear sky felt like a blessing for the community.

  • The people are our greatest blessing, not those who are in government.

  • I count that blessing multiple times per day.

  • And so the biggest blessing I have today is this.

  • This could be a blessing.

  • Count your blessings to find what you look for.

  • Come on, there's a blessing in the lesson.

  • You have so many blessings.

  • The shift to colored mulch has been a real blessing to those in the wood recycling business.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

benefit
vsblessing
1.0

An advantage that helps people or a community

is more about a fortunate positive state bringing happiness rather than practical advantage
joy
vsblessing
155 1.0

A person or thing that brings happiness to others

is broader focusing on fortunate good and lasting well being not just pleasure
boon
vsblessing
38 4.4

A helpful thing that brings advantage or good results

focuses more on lasting happiness and well being than mere advantage

Antonyms

126 4.9

A person or thing that causes a lot of harm

75 3.7

A bad event that causes trouble

How Beneficial

blessing
269 1.4
boon
38 4.4
benefit
1.0
advantage
2.8
help
1.0

Surface Forms

blessing singular
blessings plural

Morphology

blessing = bless (semi-transparent) = bless + ing

Formed by the verb 'bless' + '-ing'; the sense 'a beneficial thing' is an extension from the act of blessing and is related but not a literal, purely compositional meaning for all learners.

Etymology

Blessing comes from the old verb bless, which meant 'to make holy' and was long ago linked to marking with 'blood' in old ceremonies. So a blessing became a fortunate thing or gift that brings protection or happiness.