Blessing

the act or words of a person who blesses.
a special favor, mercy, or benefit:
the blessings of liberty.
a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.
the invoking of God’s favor upon a person:
The son was denied his father’s blessing.
praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal:
The children took turns reciting the blessing.
approval or good wishes:
The proposed law had the blessing of the governor.
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

Matthew McConaughey’s God Moment William O’Connor March 2, 2014
The Anorexia Reality Show Ramin Setoodeh November 7, 2011
Ahmadinejad, Man of Moderation Michael Tomasky September 25, 2012
Do We Still Hate Anne Hathaway? Kevin Fallon November 4, 2014
David Oyelowo on Playing Martin Luther King Jr., Ebola Fears, and Race in Hollywood Marlow Stern October 14, 2014

Historical Examples

Talks To Farmers Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Way of the Lawless Max Brand
The Devil’s Elixir E. T. A. Hoffmann
Riders to the Sea J. M. Synge
A Walk from London to John O’Groat’s Elihu Burritt

noun
the act of invoking divine protection or aid
the words or ceremony used for this
a short prayer of thanksgiving before or after a meal; grace
(Judaism) Also called brachah, brocho

a short prayer prescribed for a specific occasion and beginning “Blessed art thou, O Lord…”
a section of the liturgy including a similar formula

approval; good wishes: her father gave his blessing to the marriage
the bestowal of a divine gift or favour
a happy event or state of affairs: a blessing in disguise
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
n.
v.

In addition to the idiom beginning with
blessing