PsychologyAugust 25, 2026

blessedness

BLES-id-nes

Definition

A state of spiritual joy, divine favor, or profound, enduring well-being that transcends mere fleeting happiness.

Etymology

Derived from the Old English 'blētsian', meaning to consecrate with blood, it evolved into 'blessed' to denote someone favored or marked by holiness, with the suffix '-ness' added to denote a state or quality.

In the news

The article uses the word to distinguish the Hebrew concept of 'osher' from modern definitions of happiness, highlighting it as a spiritual wholeness rather than just feeling good.

Can Jews ever be happy? | Commentary

Read the full article ↗

Sun Sentinel

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