blessed
Loading your saved state.
to be blessed with
In a figurative sense, to be endowed with a special talent, a positive quality, or great good fortune.
Sie ist mit einer außergewöhnlichen musikalischen Begabung gesegnet.
She is blessed with an exceptional musical talent.
'Gesegnet' is the past participle of the verb 'segnen' (to bless). All meanings, including the ironic one, derive from the idea that you have received something (good or bad) from a higher power or from fate.
Er fühlt sich mit seiner Familie wirklich gesegnet.
He feels truly blessed with his family.
To express that someone has a special talent or good fortune, you use the fixed construction 'mit etwas gesegnet sein' (to be blessed with something). The preposition 'mit' and the dative are essential here.
Sie ist mit einer Engelsgeduld gesegnet.
She is blessed with the patience of an angel.
This meaning is purely ironic and means the opposite of the literal meaning. You can recognize it when 'gesegnet' is used in a clearly negative or annoying context.
Noch ein Meeting heute? Wir sind ja wirklich gesegnet!
Another meeting today? We really are blessed!
You can recognize the literal meaning of 'gesegnet' from the religious or spiritual context. It then describes things or people that have received a blessing in a rite.
Der Priester sprach über das gesegnete Wasser.
The priest spoke about the blessed water.
The expression 'ein gesegnetes Alter' (a blessed/ripe old age) is a fixed collocation. It is used to speak about a very advanced age in a respectful and positive way.
Er erreichte das gesegnete Alter von 102 Jahren.
He reached the ripe old age of 102.
high
'hoch' and 'gesegnet' can both refer to age, but they are used differently. 'hoch' is the normal, neutral description: someone has reached an advanced age. 'gesegnet' occurs in the fixed expression 'ein gesegnetes Alter' (a blessed / ripe old age) and sounds warmer, more solemn, or more respectful. Learners may confuse the words because both point in a similar direction when talking about age. But 'gesegnet' does not generally replace 'hoch'. For example, you would not naturally say 'ein gesegneter Preis' instead of 'ein hoher Preis' (a high price).
Der alte Lehrer hat ein gesegnetes Alter erreicht.
The old teacher reached a ripe old age.
Meine Großmutter ist trotz ihres hohen Alters noch sehr aktiv.
Despite her advanced age, my grandmother is still very active.