blessing noun
plural blessings 1 [noncount] a : approval that allows or helps you to do something
▪ He gave his blessing to the plan. [=he approved the plan] ▪ Presumably he was acting with the government's blessing. ▪ They got married without their parents' blessing.
b : help and approval from God
▪ We asked the Lord's blessing on us and on our project. 2 [count] : something that helps you or brings happiness — usually singular ▪ My daughter is a blessing to me in my old age. ▪ E-mail can be a blessing if you travel a lot in business. ▪ It's a blessing that you came when you did. ◊Something that is a blessing in disguise seems to be a bad thing at first but actually is a good thing.
▪ Not getting the job turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since she got a much better job soon afterward. ◊If something is a blessing and a curse or a mixed blessing there are both good and bad things about it.
▪ Being famous can be a blessing and a curse. ▪ The promotion was really a mixed blessing because I'm now so busy that I don't have time to spend the extra income. 3 [count] : a short prayer
▪ He said a blessing before the meal. 4 [noncount] : the act of asking God to care for and protect someone or something
▪ The priest performed the blessing of the fishing boats.
▪ He gave his blessing to the plan. [=he approved the plan] ▪ Presumably he was acting with the government's blessing. ▪ They got married without their parents' blessing.
b : help and approval from God
▪ We asked the Lord's blessing on us and on our project.
▪ Not getting the job turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since she got a much better job soon afterward. ◊If something is a blessing and a curse or a mixed blessing there are both good and bad things about it.
▪ Being famous can be a blessing and a curse. ▪ The promotion was really a mixed blessing because I'm now so busy that I don't have time to spend the extra income.
▪ He said a blessing before the meal.
▪ The priest performed the blessing of the fishing boats.
count your blessings
: to make a special effort to appreciate the good things in your life
▪ I try to remember to count my blessings every day.
▪ I try to remember to count my blessings every day.
