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Blessing
Blessing. A two-way movement of (from humans to God) thanksgiving and praise, and of (from God to humans) power and goodness/good fortune. Blessings (in both senses) are prominent in Judaism, where it is said that there is a blessing for every occasion. See also BENEDICTIONS.
In Christianity, blessings occur especially in worship and in the liturgy—e.g. at the end of the eucharist and other services, where the congregation is blessed. In Islam, baraka was associated originally with fecundity and having many descendants. From this it came to mean success or prosperity in more general terms. The source is always God. |
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JOHN BOWKER. "Blessing." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Blessing." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Blessing.html JOHN BOWKER. "Blessing." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Blessing.html |
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blessing
bless·ing / ˈblesing/ • n. [in sing.] God's favor and protection: may God continue to give us his blessing. ∎ a prayer asking for such favor and protection: a priest gave a blessing as the ship was launched. ∎ grace said before or after a meal. ∎ a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being: it's a blessing we're alive. ∎ a person's sanction or support: he gave the plan his blessing even before it was announced. |
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"blessing." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "blessing." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-blessing.html "blessing." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-blessing.html |
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blessing
blessing. The authoritative pronouncement of God's favour. Blessings of people and things are recorded in the OT. In Christian practice blessing finds a frequent place in the liturgy, especially in the blessing of the elements in consecration (so Mt. 26: 26). In many places it is now customary to end all services with a blessing, often given at the altar. The section on blessings in the Romanum Rituale (1984) provides forms of blessing for people and objects; these blessings are real services, including biblical readings and intercessions.
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "blessing." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "blessing." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-blessing.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "blessing." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-blessing.html |
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blessing
blessing Either words in praise of God or words used to make someone or something holy. Hence also the result of such words: in the OT a favour bestowed by God, as at harvest (Deut. 28: 8). In the NT blessings are ‘spiritual’ (Eph. 1: 3), meaning all the gifts promised by God to mankind through Christ (Acts 3: 25) and of Christ to his disciples (Mark 14: 22; Luke 24: 50).
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "blessing." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "blessing." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-blessing.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "blessing." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-blessing.html |
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blessing
blessing a blessing in disguise an apparent misfortune that eventually has good results, recorded from the mid 18th century.
blessings brighten as they take their flight it is only when something is lost that one realizes its value; saying recorded from the mid 18th century. See also count one's blessings at count2, mixed of Chancery. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blessing." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blessing." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-blessing.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blessing." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-blessing.html |
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blessing
blessing
•waxing
•passing, surpassing
•Lancing, Lansing
•blessing, distressing, dressing, Lessing, pressing, unprepossessing
•hairdressing
•bracing, casing, facing, lacing, placing, self-effacing, spacing, tracing
•steeplechasing • interfacing
•unceasing • Gissing • unconvincing
•unpromising
•enticing, icing
•self-sacrificing • crossing
•kick-boxing
•rejoicing, voicing
•conveyancing • embarrassing
•videoconferencing
•dashing, flashing, lashing, thrashing
•square-bashing • tongue-lashing
•lynching, unflinching
•garnishing • furnishing • ravishing
•Cushing
•Flushing, gushing, unblushing
•inrushing • onrushing
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Cite this article
"blessing." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "blessing." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-blessing.html "blessing." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-blessing.html |
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