Part 1225

<h1>Bluffness</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff"ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality or state of being bluff.</def>

<h1>Bluffy</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.</def>

<h1>Bluing</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Blu"ing</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of rendering blue; <as>as, the <ex>bluing</ex> of steel</as>.</def>

<i>Tomlinson.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Something to give a bluish tint, as indigo, or preparations used by washerwomen.</def>

<h1>Bluish</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Blu"ish</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Somewhat blue; <as>as, <ex>bluish</ex> veins</as>.</def> "<i>Bluish</i> mists." <i>Dryden</i>. -- <wordforms><wf>Blu"ish*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>Blu"ish*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Blunder</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Blun"der</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Blundered</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Blundering</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>blunderen</ets>, <ets>blondren</ets>, to stir, confuse, blunder; perh. allied to <ets>blend</ets> to mix, to confound by mixture.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make a gross error or mistake; <as>as, to <ex>blunder</ex> in writing or preparing a medical prescription</as>.</def>

<i>Swift.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble.</def>

<blockquote>I was never distinguished for address, and have often even <b>blundered</b> in making my bow. <i>Goldsmith.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place, And <b>blunders</b> on, and staggers every pace. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>To blunder on</col>. <cd><sd>(a)</sd> To continue blundering. <sd>(b)</sd> To find or reach as if by an accident involving more or less stupidity, -- applied to something desirable; as, to <i>blunder on<i> a useful discovery.</cd></cs>

<h1>Blunder</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Blun"der</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cause to blunder.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "To <i>blunder</i> an adversary."

<i>Ditton.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.</def>

<blockquote>He <b>blunders</b> and confounds all these together. <i>Stillingfleet.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blunder</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Blun"der</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Confusion; disturbance.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity, or culpable ignorance.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Blunder</er>, <er>Error</er>, <er>Mistake</er>, <er>Bull</er>.</syn> <usage> An <i>error</i> is a departure or deviation from that which is right or correct; as, an <i>error</i> of the press; an <i>error</i> of judgment. A <i>mistake</i> is the interchange or taking of one thing for another, through haste, inadvertence, etc.; as, a careless <i>mistake</i>. A <i>blunder</i> is a mistake or error of a gross kind. It supposes a person to flounder on in his course, from carelessness, ignorance, or stupidity. A <i>bull</i> is a verbal blunder containing a laughable incongruity of ideas.</usage>

<h1>Blunderbuss</h1> <Xpage=159>