bless
v.v. to ask God for help or protection for someone. You also say it to show you are thankful or to wish someone well.
v. to pronounce a wish of happiness or divine favour upon; to consecrate or hallow by religious rite. Transitive in its primary sense, though often used in fixed formulaic expressions.
The priest will bless the new house tomorrow.
Many people say 'bless you' when someone sneezes as a small gesture of politeness.
The community gathered at the shoreline to watch the bishop bless the fishing fleet, a tradition intended to ensure a safe and productive season for the local sailors.
From Middle English blessen, from Old English bletsian (“to consecrate (with blood)”), from Proto-West Germanic blōdisōn (“to sprinkle, mark or hallow with blood”), from Proto-Germanic blōþą (“blood”), of uncertain origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (“to bloom”). Cognate with Old Norse bleza (“to bless”) (whence Icelandic blessa), Old English blēdan (“to bleed”). More at bleed.
An ellipsis for an expression such as bless your heart.
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. In the passive voice, it is often followed by the preposition 'with'.