Part 714

Blun"der*ing, a. Characterized by blunders.

Blun"der*ing*ly, adv. In a blundering manner.

Blunge (&?;), v. t. To amalgamate and blend; to beat up or mix in water, as clay.

Blun"ger (&?;), n. [Corrupted from plunger.] A wooden blade with a cross handle, used for mi&?;ing the clay in potteries; a plunger. Tomlinson.

Blun"ging (&?;), n. The process of mixing clay in potteries with a blunger. Tomlinson.

Blunt (&?;), a. [Cf. Prov. G. bludde a dull or blunt knife, Dan. blunde to sleep, Sw. & Icel. blunda; or perh. akin to E. blind.] 1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instrument; dull; not sharp.

The murderous knife was dull and blunt. Shak.

2. Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; stupid; -- opposed to acute.

His wits are not so blunt. Shak.

3. Abrupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms of civility; rough in manners or speech. "Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior." "A plain, blunt man." Shak.

4. Hard to impress or penetrate. [R.]

I find my heart hardened and blunt to new impressions. Pope.

Blunt is much used in composition, as blunt-edged, blunt-sighted, blunt-spoken.

Syn. -- Obtuse; dull; pointless; curt; short; coarse; rude; brusque; impolite; uncivil.

Blunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blunting.] 1. To dull the edge or point of, by making it thicker; to make blunt. Shak.

2. To repress or weaken, as any appetite, desire, or power of the mind; to impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility, of; as, to blunt the feelings.

Blunt, n. 1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]

2. A short needle with a strong point. See Needle.

3. Money. Beaconsfield.

Blunt"ish, a. Somewhat blunt. -- Blunt"ish*ness, n.

Blunt"ly, adv. In a blunt manner; coarsely; plainly; abruptly; without delicacy, or the usual forms of civility.

Sometimes after bluntly giving his opinions, he would quietly lay himself asleep until the end of their deliberations. Jeffrey.

Blunt"ness, n. 1. Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; want of sharpness.

The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.

2. Abruptness of address; rude plainness. "Bluntness of speech." Boyle.

Blunt"-wit`ted (&?;), n. Dull; stupid.

Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor! Shak.

Blur (blûr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurred (blûrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Blurring.] [Prob. of same origin as blear. See Blear.] 1. To render obscure by making the form or outline of confused and uncertain, as by soiling; to smear; to make indistinct and confused; as, to blur manuscript by handling it while damp; to blur the impression of a woodcut by an excess of ink.