| Blemish | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Blemished p. pr. & vb. n. Blemishing. ] [ OE. blemissen, blemishen, OF. blemir, blesmir, to strike, injure, soil, F. blêmir to grow pale, fr. OF. bleme, blesme, pale, wan, F. blême, prob. fr. Icel blāman the livid color of a wound, fr. blār blue; akin to E. blue. OF. blemir properly signifies to beat one (black and) blue, and to render blue or dirty. See Blue. ] 1. To mark with deformity; to injure or impair, as anything which is well formed, or excellent; to mar, or make defective, either the body or mind. [ 1913 Webster ] Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy soul. Brathwait. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame. [ 1913 Webster ] There had nothing passed between us that might blemish reputation. Oldys. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Blemish | n.; pl. Blemishes Any mark of deformity or injury, whether physical or moral; anything that diminishes beauty, or renders imperfect that which is otherwise well formed; that which impairs reputation. [ 1913 Webster ] He shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish. Lev. xiv. 10. [ 1913 Webster ] The reliefs of an envious man are those little blemishes and imperfections that discover themselves in an illustrious character. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Spot; speck; flaw; deformity; stain; defect; fault; taint; reproach; dishonor; imputation; disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ] |
