I. ˈblemish, -mēsh transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English blemisshen, from Middle French blemiss-, blesmiss-, stem of blemir, blesmir to make pale, wound, of Germanic origin; akin to German blass pale, Middle High German blas bald — more at blaze
: to produce flaws in
too much heat will blemish the glass
a. : to spoil by a flaw (as something well formed or excellent) : impair
these little singularities … rather set off than blemish his good qualities — Joseph Addison
b. : sully , stain , taint
c. archaic : discredit , defame
whether a man should be permitted to blemish himself, by pleading his own insanity — William Blackstone
II. noun
( -es )
1. : a flaw of character or spirit : a moral defect : taint , stain
I suppose that human character will never free itself entirely from the blemish of prejudice — A.E.Stevenson b. 1900
2. : a mark of physical deformity or injury
a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish , for a burnt offering — Lev 9:3 (Revised Standard Version)
as
a. : any small mark on the skin (as a pimple or birthmark)
blemishes on the adolescent skin may be a symptom of acne — Today's Health
b. : a defect of an animal (as a horse) that detracts from its appearance but does not interfere with its usefulness — compare unsound
c. : any flaw in wood that mars its appearance without necessarily impairing its strength or durability — compare defect
3. : a fault or imperfection especially of workmanship or art
he played his minor role without blemish if without distinction — C.L.Becker
Synonyms:
defect , flaw : blemish applies to a marring external or superficial spot or to something likened thereto
he studiously perfected nature by correcting all the little blemishes of manner and little weaknesses of character in order to produce an immaculate effect — V.L.Parrington
they assure you that complete, 99 percent waterproof, governmentally organized thought control in China is just a temporary pimple, a passing blemish — Peggy Durdin
defect applies to an imperfection or incompleteness, superficial or not, impairing value or operation
a defect in the machine
a defect in his hearing
the moral defects of the thinker are such as make him unfaithful to his work, e.g. laziness or prejudice — Samuel Alexander
the Spartan state, in fact, by virtue of that excellence which was also its defect — the specializing of the individual on the side of discipline and rule — carried within it the seeds of its own destruction — G.L.Dickinson
flaw may refer to defect in continuity or cohesion (as a crack, fissure, or break) or to something compared to a break or weak spot
we have already seen flaws in the great structure, which were to widen into breaches — John Buchan
we most enjoy, as a spectacle, the downfall of a good man, when the fall is justified by some flaw in his being — A.L.Guérard
while Milton's work is immaculate, Wordsworth's is full of flaws — Richard Garnett †1906