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Bless vs Congratulate - What's the difference?

bless | congratulate |

As verbs the difference between bless and congratulate

is that bless is to make something blessed; to confer blessing upon while congratulate is to express one’s sympathetic pleasure or joy to the person(s) it is felt for.

As an interjection bless

is Used as an expression of endearment, or (ironically) belittlement.

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

    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

    * ----

    congratulate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (archaic)

    Verb

    (congratulat)
  • to express one’s sympathetic pleasure or joy to the person(s) it is felt for
  • Derived terms

    * congratulable * congratulant * congratulating * congratulation * congratulations * congratulative * congratulator * congratulatory English reporting verbs ----