bland

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See also blând

Contents

English [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

From Middle English blanden, blonden, from Old English blandan (to blend, mix, mingle; trouble, disturb, corrupt), from Proto-Germanic *blandaną (to mix, blend), from Proto-Indo-European *bhlendh- (to grow turbid, dim, see badly, be blind). Cognate with Danish and Norwegian blande, Swedish blanda (to mix, mingle, shuffle, blend), Icelandic blanda (to mix). See also blend.

Verb [edit]

bland (third-person singular simple present blands, present participle blanding, simple past and past participle blanded)

  1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To mix; blend; mingle.
  2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To connect; associate.

Etymology 2 [edit]

From Middle English bland, from Old English bland, blond (blending, mixture, confusion), from Proto-Germanic *blandą (a mixing, mixture), from Proto-Indo-European *bhlendh- (to grow turbid, dim, see badly, be blind). Cognate with Icelandic blanda (a mixture of liquids, especially of hot whey and water).

Alternative forms [edit]

Noun [edit]

bland (plural blands)

  1. (UK dialectal) Mixture; union.
  2. An agreeable summer beverage prepared from the whey of churned milk, common among the inhabitants of the Shetland Islands.
Derived terms [edit]

Etymology 3 [edit]

Ultimately from Latin blandus (pleasant, flattering).

Adjective [edit]

bland (comparative blander, superlative blandest)

  1. (now rare) Mild; soft, gentle, balmy; smooth in manner; suave.
    • 1818, John Keats, "Sonnet":
      Where didst thou find, young Bard, thy sounding lyre? / Where the bland accent, and the tender tone?
  2. Having a soothing effect; not irritating or stimulating.
    a bland oil
    a bland diet
  3. Lacking in taste or vigor.
    the coffee was bland
    the judge found the defense's case to be bland
Translations [edit]

References [edit]


Danish [edit]

Verb [edit]

bland

  1. imperative of blande

Icelandic [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

bland n

  1. mix

Declension [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Related terms [edit]


Swedish [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Preposition [edit]

bland

  1. among