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