blemish Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body)
    defect; mar.
    • a facial blemish
  2. verb mar or spoil the appearance of
    deface; disfigure.
    • scars defaced her cheeks
    • The vandals disfigured the statue
  3. verb mar or impair with a flaw
    spot.
    • her face was blemished
  4. verb add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective
    flaw.

WordNet

Blem"ish transitive verb
Etymology
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 blaman the livid color of a wound, fr. blar blue; akin to E. blue. OF. blemir properly signifies to beat one (black and) blue, and to render blue or dirty. See Blue.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Blemished present participle & verbal noun Blemishing
Definitions
  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 noun
Wordforms
plural Blemishes
Definitions
  1. 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.

Webster 1913