BLIGHT

I. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1578 1. a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and death of parts (as leaves and tubers), an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes ~, something that frustrates plans or hopes, something that impairs or destroys, a deteriorated condition , II. verb Date: 1664 transitive verb to affect (as a plant) with ~, to impair the quality or effect of , intransitive verb to suffer from or become affected with ~