Part 1188

<blockquote>Sin is a soil which <b>blemisheth</b> the beauty of thy soul. <i>Brathwait.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame.</def>

<blockquote>There had nothing passed between us that might <b>blemish</b> reputation. <i>Oldys.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blemish</h1> <Xpage=154>

<hw>Blem"ish</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Blemishes</plw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>.</plu> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>He shall take two he lambs without <b>blemish</b>, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish. <i>Lev. xiv. 10.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The reliefs of an envious man are those little <b>blemishes</b> and imperfections that discover themselves in an illustrious character. <i>Spectator.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Spot; speck; flaw; deformity; stain; defect; fault; taint; reproach; dishonor; imputation; disgrace.</syn>

<h1>Blemishless</h1> <Xpage=154>

<hw>Blem"ish*less</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Without blemish; spotless.</def>

<blockquote>A life in all so <b>blemishless</b>. <i>Feltham.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blemishment</h1> <Xpage=154>

<hw>Blem"ish*ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being blemished; blemish; disgrace; damage; impairment.</def>

<blockquote>For dread of blame and honor's <b>blemishment</b>. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blench</h1> <Xpage=154>

<hw>Blench</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Blenched</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Blenching</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>blenchen</ets> to blench, elude, deceive, AS. <ets>blencan</ets> to deceive; akin to Icel. <ets>blekkja</ets> to impose upon. Prop. a causative of <ets>blink</ets> to make to wink, to deceive. See <er>Blink</er>, and cf. 3d <er>Blanch</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To shrink; to start back; to draw back, from lack of courage or resolution; to flinch; to quail.</def>

<blockquote><b>Blench</b> not at thy chosen lot. <i>Bryant.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>This painful, heroic task he undertook, and never <b>blenched</b> from its fulfillment. <i>Jeffrey.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To fly off; to turn aside.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Though sometimes you do <b>blench</b> from this to that. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blench</h1> <Xpage=154>

<hw>Blench</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To baffle; to disconcert; to turn away; -- also, to obstruct; to hinder.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Ye should have somewhat <b>blenched</b> him therewith, yet he might and would of likelihood have gone further. <i>Sir T. More.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To draw back from; to deny from fear.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>He now <b>blenched</b> what before he affirmed. <i>Evelyn.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blench</h1> <Xpage=154>

<hw>Blench</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A looking aside or askance.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>These <b>blenches</b> gave my heart another youth. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>