blight

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to cause to suffer a blight

   Too much rain may blight the garden with mold.

2. 2
   noun

   A diseased condition suffered by a plant; specifically, a complete and rapid chlorosis, browning, then death of plant tissues such as floral organs, leaves, branches, or twigs, especially one caused by a fungus; a mildew, a rust, a smut.

   Proceed, inhuman Parent in thy Scorn; / Root up my Trees, vvith Blites deſtroy my Corn; / My Vineyards Ruin, and my Sheepfolds burn.

3. 3
   noun

   A state of cloudy, humid weather.

   And the youth stood by thy side and whispered to thee; and from his lips there came a reeking smoke, and in that smoke as in a blight the wings withered up.

4. 4
   noun

   Something that impedes development or growth, or spoils any other aspect of life.

   But a blight had come over my existence, and I only visited these people for the sake of the information they might give me on the subject in which my interest was so terribly profound.

5. 5
   verb

   To affect the fertility or growth of (a plant) with a blight (noun sense 1.1), especially one caused by a fungus; to blast, to mildew, to smut.

   But if it happens, as ſometimes it does, that this Vapour bears up along vvith it any noxious mineral Steams, it then blasts Vegetables, eſpecially thoſe vvhich are more young and tender: blights Corn and Fruits: and is ſometimes injurious even to Men vvho chance to be then abroad in the Fields.

6. 6
   verb

   To affect (a body part) with a disease.

   [B]lighted be the tongue / That names thy name without the honour due!

7. 7
   verb

   To impede the development or growth of (an aspect of life); to damage, to ruin, to spoil.

   Those obscene tattoos are going to blight your job prospects.

8. 8
   verb

   Of a plant: to suffer blight (noun sense 1.1).

   This vine never blights.

Etymology

The etymology of the noun is uncertain; suggested derivations include the following: * possibly related to Middle English blichening (“mildew or rust on grain, blight”), possibly related to Middle English bliken (“to gleam, shine; to turn pale”), from Old English blīcan (“to shine, sparkle”) (whence modern English blike (“(obsolete) to gleam, shine”); also compare Old Norse blikna (“to grow pallid”)), from Proto-West Germanic *blīkan (“to shine”), from Proto-Germanic *blīkaną (“to gleam, shine”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”); or * since sense 2.2 refers to a diseased conditio…