Bliss

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /blɪs/

Definitions

1. A state of complete happiness and joy, often accompanied by a sense of peace and contentment
2. A profound state of joy and happiness that brings a sense of tranquility and satisfaction in life
3. A deep feeling of extreme happiness that is often linked with inner peace and a fulfilling sense of contentment

Etymology: Old English speakers knew a close cousin of "bliss" as "blīds," meaning joy or gladness, and the word has been in the language since the earliest English texts. Its older form, reconstructed as "*blīþisi" in Proto-West Germanic, carried the sense of joy, goodness and kindness all at once, so the word was never just a feeling. It described a good state of being that others could share or extend to you. The word then passed into Middle English as "bliss," keeping its meaning of gladness while its spelling settled into the form we use now. Over the centuries the sense narrowed from general good spirits toward the intense, overwhelming happiness it carries today. The same root gave English "blithe," a word that still means cheerful and carefree, so the two have shared a family resemblance for over a thousand years.

Synonyms: joy, happiness, delight, ecstasy, rapture

Antonyms: sadness, misery, anguish, sorrow, dissatisfaction