Category:Blemish

Blem"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blemished; p. pr. & vb. n. Blemishing.] Etym: [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.]

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.

Blemish Blem"ish, n.; pl. Blemishes.

Defn: 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. Leviticus 14:10. 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.

- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Blemish - Imperfection or bodily deformity excluding men from the priesthood, and rendering animals unfit to be offered in sacrifice (Leviticus 21:17; Leviticus 22:19). The Christian church, as justified in Christ, is "without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Christ offered Himself a sacrifice "without blemish," acceptable to God (1 Peter 1:19).