Fwd: "Toronto blessing, n." - Word of the Day from the OED

[Dave Monroe]

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Subject: "Toronto blessing, n." - Word of the Day from the OED
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Your word for today is: Toronto blessing, n.

Toronto blessing, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /təˌrɒntəʊ ˈblɛsɪŋ/,  U.S. /təˌrɑn(t)oʊ ˈblɛsɪŋ/,
/təˌrɔn(t)oʊ ˈblɛsɪŋ/
Forms:  19– Toronto Blessing,   19– Toronto blessing.
Etymology: <  Toronto, the name of the capital city of the province of
Ontario in Canada, where the phenomenon came to prominence + blessing
n.
  With the. A manifestation of religious ecstasy, characterized by
mass fainting, hysterical laughter, speaking in tongues, etc., in
those who undergo it, associated with an evangelical Christian revival
and its fellowship meetings, the first of which was at a Toronto
church in early 1994.
1994 Times 18 June 12 One vicar was forced to cancel an evening
service of holy communion and remove the chairs from the nave because
so many of his congregation were lying on the floor after experiencing
the ‘Toronto blessing’.
1996 Guardian 16 Dec. ii. 3/1 They claim a direct experience of God
and the Holy Spirit and, under the influence of the Toronto Blessing,
collapse in hysterical laughter or bark like dogs.
2000  P A. Bramadat Church on World's Turf 161 Since the rise of the
‘Toronto Blessing’, the gift of tongues has become a topic of debate
among IVCF students.

http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/247628

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