Agency Dictionary
Bliss
nounPronunciation: /blɪs/
In Portuguese: Bênção
Psychology & Mind
Spirituality & MythWhat does “Bliss” mean?
A state of supreme happiness, utter contentment, or serene, untroubled joy.
Etymology
From Old English bliss, earlier bliths, "joy, gladness", formed from blithe, "happy, cheerful", a word shared with the other Germanic languages. In Old English it meant joy of any kind. Over the centuries it was drawn towards the unrelated word bless, because the two look and sound alike, and so it took on the sense of the perfect happiness of heaven. That association still colours the word.
Usage note
Stronger than happiness: bliss suggests a complete and untroubled state. It is common in set phrases such as wedded bliss and "ignorance is bliss".
Synonyms
- joy
- happiness
- ecstasy
- rapture
- delight
- felicity
Often confused with
- bless
- Bless, "to make holy, to ask divine favour for", has a different origin; the likeness of the two words changed the meaning of bliss, but they are not related.
Word family
- blissful
- blissfully
- blissfulness
- blithe
Rhymes with
- kiss
- miss
- this
- hiss
- abyss
- amiss
- dismiss
- remiss
Usage examples
Just like that scene in the Matrix movie where Morpheus offers Neo two pills: The red pill for a painful dose of truth, or the blue pill for a perfect dose of illusion, after all, ignorance is bliss.
Concepts
- Emotional GuiltEmotional guilt is an internal psychological state arising from the awareness that one has violated a personal moral standard, caused harm to another, or failed in an…
- Willful IgnoranceWillful ignorance is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual deliberately chooses to avoid, ignore, or discount verified facts and distressing realities to…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Rebirthnoun
- A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
- vocationnoun
- A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Resiliencenoun
- The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
- Self-immolationnoun
- The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
- Stigmanoun
- A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
- clevernessnoun
- The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
- Immortalitynoun
- The quality of being immune to permanent death, living or enduring beyond a single lifespan. In Archetype.0, immortality is one of the five semiotic attributes of the Phoenix: the flames are not an end but a transition, an essential phase of its immortal existence.
- collective consciousnessnoun
- The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
- Mjolnirnoun
- In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.
- Abyssnoun
- A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
Also from these editions: terms
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- Adversitynoun
- A state of severe hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that tests resilience and moral endurance.
- Disciplinenoun
- The practice of training one's mind and habits to adhere to rules, duties, and self-restraint.
- Humbleadjective
- Having or showing a modest, unpretentious estimate of one's own importance and achievements.
- Myopianoun
- A visual condition of nearsightedness, used figuratively for narrow-mindedness and lack of long-term foresight.
- Narcissismnoun
- Excessive self-love, self-admiration, and egocentric preoccupation with one's own desires and social status.
- Objectiveadjective
- Based on factual evidence and observable reality rather than personal feelings, biases, or interpretations.
- Opioidnoun
- A substance that acts on nervous system receptors to numb pain, often used metaphorically for emotional desensitization.
- Seppukunoun
- A ritual suicide practiced by Japanese samurai to preserve honor, fulfill duty, or atone for a severe failing.
- Sincereadjective
- Free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuine, honest, and heartfelt in feeling or intent.
- Statuenoun
- A carved or cast three-dimensional sculpture of a person or animal, often used metaphorically for rigidity.
- Storytellingnoun
- The art, craft, or practice of conveying narratives, experiences, and insights to engage an audience.
Also from these editions: concepts
- MorpheusMorpheus is a character of the film The Matrix, the one who offers Neo the choice between a red pill and a blue pill. The Agency editorial recalls that scene twice, in…
- NeoNeo is the protagonist of the film The Matrix, the one who receives from Morpheus the choice between a red pill and a blue pill. The Agency editorial recalls that scene…
- Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant was a German philosopher of the eighteenth century, author of the Critique of Pure Reason and of the categorical imperative. Issue.1 names him once, by…
- Why Not ZeroWhy Not Zero is a song by Phonte recommended in Issue.20, written in the edition as Why Not Zero? It closes the part Dose #2 - Questioning Truth, right after the author…
- Categorical ImperativeThe categorical imperative is the foundational concept of Immanuel Kant's deontological moral philosophy, commanding that one should act only according to maxims that…
- Critical ThinkingCritical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively conceptualizing, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to guide judgment and action…
- Disruptive InnovationDisruptive innovation is an economic theory describing how a smaller company with fewer resources can successfully challenge entrenched incumbent businesses by…
- DualityDuality is the philosophical and experiential concept that reality is composed of opposing yet interdependent forces and states, such as joy and sorrow, or light and…
- Echo ChamberAn echo chamber is a closed social or communicative environment where beliefs and opinions are continually repeated and reinforced while dissenting perspectives are…
- Ego DeathEgo death refers to the complete or temporary dissolution of one's defensive self-identity and subjective self-importance. It is often experienced during profound…
- Epistemic BubbleAn epistemic bubble is an informational network structure where relevant voices and contrary evidence are unintentionally omitted, leading to distorted perceptions of…