blemish

Pronunciation: /ˈblɛmɪʃ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body)
  2. verb mar or spoil the appearance of
  3. verb mar or impair with a flaw

Etymology

From Middle English blemisshen, blemissen, from Old French blemiss-, stem of Old French blemir, blesmir (“make pale, injure, wound, bruise”) (French blêmir), from Old Frankish *blesmijan, *blasmijan (“to make pale”), from Old Frankish *blasmī (“pale”), from Proto-Germanic *blasaz (“white, pale”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to shine”). Cognate with Dutch bles (“white spot”), German blass (“pale”), Old English āblered (“bare, uncovered, bald, shaven”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

defect, mar

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
appearance
Narrower (hyponyms)
burn, scratch, crack, blackhead, whitehead, stigma

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