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Wish vs Bless - What's the difference?

wish | bless |

As verbs the difference between wish and bless

is that wish is to desire; to want while bless is to make something blessed; to confer blessing upon.

As a noun wish

is a desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.

As an interjection bless is

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

wish

English

Noun

(es)
  • a desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen
  • an expression of such a desire etc.
  • the process of expressing or thinking about such a desire etc. (often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power(s)
  • the thing desired or longed for
  • Your dearest wish will come true.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw)
  • "I suppose all old soldiers are the same," said Mrs White. "The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, father?" / "Might drop on his head from the sky," said the frivolous Herbert.
  • (Sussex) a water meadow.
  • Usage notes

    * Collocates with make for the common expression make a wish . See

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "wish") * death wish * best wishes * good wishes * make a wish * wishbone * wishful * wish list/wishlist/wish-list * your wish is my command

    See also

    * precatory * velleity

    Verb

    (es)
  • (label) To desire; to want.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you.
  • *
  • , passage=Yesterday, upon the stair / I met a man who wasn’t there / He wasn’t there again today / I wish', I ' wish he’d go away …}}
  • To hope (for a particular outcome).
  • * (John Arbuthnot) (1667-1735)
  • This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw)
  • Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want."
  • To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I would not wish them to a fairer death.
  • * Bible, (Psalms) xl. 14
  • Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.
  • To request or desire to do an activity.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • (label) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
  • * (Ben Jonson)
  • I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.

    Usage notes

    * In sense 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the verb "wish") * as you wish * half wish * I wish * unwish * well-wisher * wisher * you wish

    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

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