blessed
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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.
blessed
Having received the blessing of God or a higher power; consecrated in a religious rite.
Der Priester verteilte das gesegnete Brot an die Gemeinde.
The priest distributed the blessed bread to the congregation.
ripe old
Used as a euphemism for an advanced age, often in the expression 'ein gesegnetes Alter erreichen' (to reach a blessed/ripe old age).
Ihre Großmutter starb in dem gesegneten Alter von 98 Jahren.
Her grandmother died at the ripe old age of 98.
to be blessed
Used ironically to express that one is confronted with something unpleasant or annoying.
Schon wieder Überstunden? Da sind wir ja wirklich gesegnet!
Overtime again? Well, we really are blessed!
'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.
holy / sacred
Heilig and gesegnet can both refer to an object of religious importance. Heilig primarily describes something regarded as worthy of veneration or consecrated, while gesegnet emphasizes that it has received a blessing through a religious rite. Use heilig for the religious significance and gesegnet for the blessing that was received.
Der Priester segnete das neue Kreuz, und nun steht es gesegnet in der Kapelle.
The priest blessed the new cross, and it now stands in the chapel, blessed.
Die Gläubigen betrachten diesen alten Schrein als heilig und behandeln ihn mit großer Achtung.
The worshippers regard this old shrine as sacred and treat it with great respect.
