Bless

to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.
to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on:
Bless this house.
to bestow good of any kind upon:
a nation blessed with peace.
to extol as holy; glorify:
Bless the name of the Lord.
to protect or guard from evil (usually used as an interjection):
Bless you! Bless your innocent little heart!
to condemn or curse:
I’ll be blessed if I can see your reasoning. Bless me if it isn’t my old friend!
to make the sign of the cross over or upon:
The Pope blessed the multitude.
Contemporary Examples

Why We Heart John Lennon Martin Lewis, Harvey Weinstein October 7, 2010
The Texan Leader of the Syrian Rebels Jamie Dettmer March 22, 2013
Tea Party Slams Rove Shushannah Walshe October 27, 2010
Vet Snub Shocks Families Leslie H. Gelb July 17, 2010
Egyptian Google Exec Freed Mike Giglio February 6, 2011

Historical Examples

Tom Swift and his Electric Runabout Victor Appleton
Life and Death of Harriett Frean May Sinclair
An Outcast F. Colburn Adams
The Conquest of Fear Basil King
A Life Sentence Adeline Sergeant

verb (transitive) blesses, blessing, blessed, blest
to consecrate or render holy, beneficial, or prosperous by means of a religious rite
to give honour or glory to (a person or thing) as divine or holy
to call upon God to protect; give a benediction to
to worship or adore (God); call or hold holy
(often passive) to grant happiness, health, or prosperity to: they were blessed with perfect peace
(usually passive) to endow with a talent, beauty, etc: she was blessed with an even temper
(rare) to protect against evil or harm
(interjection) bless!, an exclamation of well-wishing
(interjection) bless you!

a traditional phrase said to a person who has just sneezed
an exclamation of well-wishing or surprise

(interjection) bless me!, bless my soul!, God bless my soul!, an exclamation of surprise
not have a penny to bless oneself with, to be desperately poor
v.