blemish

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈblɛmɪʃ/ UK /ˈblɛmɪʃ/ See IPA manual

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a small flaw that spoils appearance or perfection

A single blemish on the apple was enough for her to reject it.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a small flaw that spoils... flaw defect imperfection mark spot stain blot taint

Opposites

perfection adornment

Word family

Forms unblemished

Derived forms blemishedblemishing

Etymology

From Middle English blemisshen, from Old French blemiss-, stem of blemir ('to make pale, wound, bruise'), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *blesmjan, related to Proto-Germanic *blas- ('pale').

blemir Old French *blas- Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# blemish

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈblɛmɪʃ
**IPA (UK):** ˈblɛmɪʃ

## Meanings
1. a small flaw that spoils appearance or perfection

## Examples
- A single blemish on the apple was enough for her to reject it.

## Synonyms
- flaw
- defect
- imperfection
- mark
- spot
- stain
- blot
- taint

## Antonyms
- perfection
- adornment

## Derived Forms
- blemished
- blemishing

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: blemir
- Root: *blas-

## Etymology
From Middle English blemisshen, from Old French blemiss-, stem of blemir ('to make pale, wound, bruise'), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *blesmjan, related to Proto-Germanic *blas- ('pale').

## AI Etymology
Blemish is a noun and verb meaning "a small flaw that spoils appearance or perfection". Historically, it is from Middle English blemisshen, from Old French blemiss-, stem of blemir ('to make pale, wound, bruise'), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *blesmjan, related to Proto-Germanic *blas- ('pale'). The historical chain links Old French blemir with Proto-Germanic *blas-. Close English family members include blemished, and blemishing.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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blemish

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