Blem"ish (&?;), 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.
Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy
soul.
Brathwait.
2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to
defame.
There had nothing passed between us that might
blemish reputation.
Oldys.
Blem"ish, 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.
He shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one
ewe lamb of the first year without blemish.
Lev. xiv. 10.
The reliefs of an envious man are those little
blemishes and imperfections that discover themselves in an
illustrious character.
Spectator.
Syn. -- Spot; speck; flaw; deformity; stain; defect; fault;
taint; reproach; dishonor; imputation; disgrace.
