Meanings
- Honorific epithet used parenthetically to mark a beloved person as being deceased.
he used often to scold, and sometimes even to beat, my great-grandmother of blessed memory.
1823, [Walter Scott], Quentin Durward. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC3 more examples
It is the noblest domain in New England, and the present Lord of the Manor is worthy of succeeding "the Governor" of blessed memory.
1857–1858, Oliver Wendell Holmes [Sr.], “(please specify the page)”, in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, published 1858, →OCLCIt chanced to be the eve of St. Valentine's — that bishop of blessed memory to youthful lovers
1872 September – 1873 July, Thomas Hardy, A Pair of Blue Eyes. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley Brothers, […], published 1873, →OCLCThus, McDonald's, Wal-Mart, FW Woolworth (of blessed memory): store brands maintained and visible across the entire country.
2002, Neil Gaiman, American Gods, page 193Synonyms: God rest his soul, rest his soul
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseHonorific epithet used parenthetically to mark a beloved person as being deceased.
Origin
- Hebrewזיכרונו לברכה“memory-of-him/her/them to blessing”
- Latinbeatae memoriae
- Englishof blessed memory
A calque of Latin beatae memoriae, possibly a calque of Hebrew זיכרונו לברכה (zikhronó/á/ám/án livrakhá, “memory-of-him/her/them to blessing”), ז״ל (Z.L.).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Latin beatae memoriae
- beatae memoriaehonorific epithet
Polish błogosławionej pamięci
- błogosławionej pamięcihonorific epithet
Russian блаже́нной па́мяти
- блаже́нной па́мяти (blažénnoj pámjati)honorific epithet
Cite this entry
of blessed memory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/of%20blessed%20memory
“of blessed memory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/of%20blessed%20memory. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “of blessed memory,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/of%20blessed%20memory.
Source: of blessed memory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.