- blind
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I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German blint blind, Old English blandan to mix — more at blend
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) sightless
(2) having less than 1/10 of normal vision in the more efficient eye when refractive defects are fully corrected by lenses
b. of or relating to sightless persons
2.
a. unable or unwilling to discern or judge <blind to a lover's faults> b. unquestioning <blind loyalty> <blind faith> 3. a. having no regard to rational discrimination, guidance, or restriction <blind choice> b. lacking a directing or controlling consciousness <blind chance> c. drunk 1a 4. a. made or done without sight of certain objects or knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance or cause bias <a blind taste test> <a blind clinical trial> — compare double-blind, single-blind b. having no knowledge of information that may cause bias during the course of an experiment or test <physicians blind to whether the test drug is administered> 5. defective: as a. lacking a growing point or producing leaves instead of flowers b. lacking a complete or legible address <blind mail> 6. a. difficult to discern, make out, or discover b. hidden from sight ; covered <blind seam> 7. having but one opening or outlet <blind sockets> 8. having no opening for light or passage ; blank <blind wall> • blindly adverb • blindness noun II. transitive verb Date: before 12th century 1. a. to make blind b. dazzle 2. a. to withhold light from b. hide, conceal • blindingly adverb III. noun Date: 1678 1. something to hinder sight or keep out light: as a. a window shutter b. a roller window shade c. venetian blind d. blinder 2. a place of concealment; especially a concealing enclosure from which one may shoot game or observe wildlife 3. a. something put forward for the purpose of misleading ; subterfuge b. a person who acts as a decoy or distraction IV. adverb Date: circa 1775 1. blindly: as a. to the point of insensibility <blind drunk> b. without seeing outside an airplane <fly blind> c. without knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance or cause bias <was supposed to taste the wine blind> 2. — used as an intensive <was robbed blind>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.