BLIND


Meaning of BLIND in English

I. ˈblīnd 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

• blind·ly ˈblīn(d)-lē adverb

• blind·ness ˈblīn(d)-nəs noun

II. transitive verb

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : to make blind

b. : dazzle

2.

a. : to withhold light from

b. : hide , conceal

• blind·ing·ly ˈblīn-diŋ-lē 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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.