blindly

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   without seeing or looking

   I felt around my desk blindly.

2. 2
   adv

   In a blind manner; without sight.

   I stumbled blindly through the forest, branches whipping at my face.

3. 3
   adv

   Without consideration or question.

   1940 March 19, Albert Einstein, letter to Morris Raphael Cohen The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.

4. 4
   adv

   without preparation or reflection

Etymology

From Middle English blindly, blyndly, from Old English blindlīċe (“in a blind manner; blindly; rashly”), equivalent to blind + -ly. Cognate with Swedish blindligt (“blindly”), Icelandic blindlega (“blindly”). Compare also West Frisian blindich (“blindly”), Dutch blindelings (“blindly”), German blindlings (“blindly”).