Blemishing

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Blemish \Blem"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blemished}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Blemishing}.] [OE. blemissen, blemishen, OF. blemir,
     blesmir, to strike, injure, soil, F. bl[^e]mir to grow pale,
     fr. OF. bleme, blesme, pale, wan, F. bl[^e]me, prob. fr. Icel
     bl[=a]man the livid color of a wound, fr. bl[=a]r 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.
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              Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy
              soul.                                 --Brathwait.
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     2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame.
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              There had nothing passed between us that might
              blemish reputation.                   --Oldys.
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