What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Bless vs Benediction - What's the difference?

bless | benediction |

As nouns the difference between bless and benediction

is that bless is injury, wound while benediction is blessing (some kind of divine or supernatural aid, or reward).

bless

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) blessen, from (etyl) . More at bleed.

Verb

  • To make something blessed; to confer blessing upon.
  • To make the sign of the cross upon; to cross (oneself).
    • (Holinshed)
  • To praise, or glorify; to extol for excellences.
  • * Bible, Ps. ciii. 1
    • Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
  • To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.
  • * Bible, Jer. iv. 3
    • The nations shall bless themselves in him.
  • (obsolete) To wave; to brandish.
  • * Spenser
    • And burning blades about their heads do bless .
  • * Fairfax
    • Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest .
  • To turn (a reference) into an object.
  • (archaic) To secure, defend, or preserve from .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Bless' me ' from marrying a usurer.
  • * Milton
    • to bless' the doors ' from nightly harm
    Antonyms
    * curse * condemn * unbless
    Related terms
    * blessed * blessing

    Etymology 2

    An ellipsis for an expression such as .

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (UK, informal)
  • * 1998 , "Peter Coffey", New Alternative View Of Atomic Structure'' (on Internet newsgroup ''sci.chem )
    • Ah bless ! You must be the welcoming committee for anyone who dares express ignorance.
  • * 2000 , "Hellraiser" (on Internet newsgroup uk.people.teens )
    • oh bless . *hug* that is not true. nobody here bears a grudge against 13 year old dear or against you.
  • * 2001 , "Will", Am I still here?'' (on Internet newsgroup ''uk.religion.pagan )
    • Aw bless ... have white chocolate fudge muffin....a new batch.... made them last night after Nigella....

    Anagrams

    * ----

    benediction

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia benediction) (en noun)
  • A short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service.
  • * Milton
    • So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus / Followed with benediction .
  • * Longfellow
    • Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her.
  • The form of instituting an abbot, analogous to the consecration of a bishop.
    • (Ayliffe)
  • A Roman Catholic rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water and formally dedicated to God.

    • Antonyms

    *malediction