blind

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See also: Blind

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English blynd, from Old English blind, from Proto-West Germanic *blind, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /blaɪnd/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪnd

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blinder, superlative blindest)

  1. (not comparable) Unable to see, due to physiological or neurological factors.
    Synonym: sightless
    Antonyms: seeing, sighted
    Even a blind hen sometimes finds a grain of corn.
    Braille is a writing system for the blind.
    his blind eye
  2. (comparable) Failing to see, acknowledge, perceive.
    The lovers were blind to each other's faults.
    Authors are blind to their own defects.
  3. (not comparable) Of a place, having little or no visibility.
    a blind path
    a blind ditch
    a blind corner
  4. (not comparable) Closed at one end; having a dead end; exitless.
    a blind alley
    a blind fistula
    a blind gut
    • 1914, James Joyce, Araby:
      North Richmond street, being blind, was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers' School set the boys free.
  5. (not comparable) Having no openings for light or passage; both dark and exitless.
    a blind wall
    a blind alley
  6. (in certain phrases, chiefly in the negative) Smallest or slightest.
    I shouted, but he didn't take a blind bit of notice.
    We pulled and pulled, but it didn't make a blind bit of difference.
  7. (not comparable) Without any prior knowledge.
    He took a blind guess at which fork in the road would take him to the airport.
    I went into the meeting totally blind, so I really didn't have a clue what I was talking about.
  8. (not comparable) Unconditional; without regard to evidence, logic, reality, accidental mistakes, extenuating circumstances, etc.
    blind deference
    blind justice
    blind punishment
    • 1787–1788, John Jay, The Federalist Papers
      This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind reprobation.
  9. (sciences) Using blinded study design, wherein information is purposely limited to prevent bias.
    a blind trial
  10. Unintelligible or illegible.
    a blind passage in a book; blind writing
  11. (horticulture) Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit.
    blind buds
    blind flowers
  12. (LGBT, slang) Uncircumcised[1]

Derived terms[edit]

Terms derived from blind (adjective)

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Noun[edit]

blind (plural blinds)

A destination blind (sense 2) on the side of a London bus
  1. A covering for a window to keep out light. The covering may be made of cloth or of narrow slats that can block light or allow it to pass.
    • 1941 June, “Notes and News: The Derelict Glyn Valley Tramway”, in Railway Magazine, page 279:
      A blind bearing the monogram G.V.T. is pulled down over the waiting room window as if still in mourning for the passing of the railway.
    • 1956, Delano Ames, chapter 12, in Crime out of Mind‎[1]:
      Light filtered in through the blinds of the french windows. It made tremulous stripes along the scrubbed pine floor.
  2. A destination sign mounted on a public transport vehicle displaying the route destination, number, name and/or via points, etc.
  3. Any device intended to conceal or hide.
    a duck blind
  4. Something to mislead the eye or the understanding, or to conceal some covert deed or design; a subterfuge.
  5. (military) A blindage.
  6. A hiding place.
    • 1697, “The Fourth Book of the Æneis”, in Virgil; John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 403869432:
      So, when the watchful shepherd, from the blind,
      Wounds with a random shaft the careless hind
  7. (rugby, colloquial) The blindside.
  8. (baseball, slang, 1800s) No score.
  9. (poker) A forced bet: the small blind or the big blind.
    The blinds are $10 and $20, and the ante is $1.
  10. (poker) A player who is forced to pay such a bet.
    The blinds immediately folded when I reraised.

Synonyms[edit]

  • (destination sign): rollsign (mainly US)

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Verb[edit]

blind (third-person singular simple present blinds, present participle blinding, simple past and past participle blinded)

  1. (transitive) To make temporarily or permanently blind.
    The light was so bright that for a moment he was blinded.
    Don't wave that pencil in my face - do you want to blind me?
    • May 9, 1686 (date of preaching), Robert South, The Fatal Imposture and Force of Words (sermon)
      A blind guide is certainly a great mischief; but a guide that blinds those whom he should lead is […] a much greater.
  2. (slang, obsolete) To curse.
    • 1890, Rudyard Kipling, The Young British Soldier
      If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
      Don't grouse like a woman, nor crack on, nor blind;
      Be handy and civil, and then you will find
      That it's beer for the young British soldier.
  3. To darken; to obscure to the eye or understanding; to conceal.
  4. To cover with a thin coating of sand and fine gravel, for example a road newly paved, in order that the joints between the stones may be filled.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Adverb[edit]

blind (comparative more blind, superlative most blind)

  1. Without seeing; unseeingly.
    • 1899 Feb, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, page 196:
      It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind - as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness.
  2. (colloquial) Absolutely, totally.
    to swear blind
    • 1899 Feb, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, page 195:
      It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind - as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness.
  3. (poker, three card brag) Without looking at the cards dealt.
  4. (cooking, especially in combination with 'bake') As a pastry case only, without any filling.
    Blind bake your pie case for fifteen minutes, then add the filling. This will help avoid a "soggy bottom".
    • 2012, Frank D. Conforti, Food Selection and Preparation: A Laboratory Manual, John Wiley & Sons (→ISBN), page 63:
      If the shell is going to be baked without a filling, “baking the crust blind,” prick the bottom and sides of the crust to allow the steam to escape. Another variation: line the bottom of the crust with parchment paper […]
    • 2013, Dorie Greenspan, Baking: From My Home to Yours, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (→ISBN), page 490:
      PIE WEIGHTS: When you are baking a crust blind, which means when you are partially or fully baking it without filling (see blind-baking, page 474), you need something to keep the crust from puffing up: weights.

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ A. F. Niemoeller, "A Glossary of Homosexual Slang," Fact 2, no. 1 (Jan-Feb 1965): 25

Afrikaans[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Dutch blind, from Middle Dutch blint, from Old Dutch *blint, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind (attributive blinde, comparative blinder, superlative blindste)

  1. blind (unable to see)

Derived terms[edit]

Danish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Norse blindr, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind

  1. blind

Inflection[edit]

Inflection of blind
Positive Comparative Superlative
Common singular blind mere blind mest blind2
Neuter singular blindt mere blind mest blind2
Plural blinde mere blind mest blind2
Definite attributive1 blinde mere blind mest blinde
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

References[edit]

Dutch[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle Dutch blint, from Old Dutch *blint, from Proto-West Germanic *blind, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blinder, superlative blindst)

  1. blind (unable to see)
    Hij is sinds zijn geboorte blind.
    He has been blind since his birth.
Inflection[edit]
Inflection of blind
uninflected blind
inflected blinde
comparative blinder
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial blind blinder het blindst
het blindste
indefinite m./f. sing. blinde blindere blindste
n. sing. blind blinder blindste
plural blinde blindere blindste
definite blinde blindere blindste
partitive blinds blinders —
Derived terms[edit]
Descendants[edit]
  • Afrikaans: blind
  • Berbice Creole Dutch: blende
  • Negerhollands: blind, blin, blen

Etymology 2[edit]

From blinden.

Alternative forms[edit]

Noun[edit]

blind n (plural blinden, diminutive blindje n)

  1. window shutter
Synonyms[edit]

German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle High German and Old High German blint, from Proto-West Germanic *blind.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blinder, superlative am blindesten)

  1. blind
  2. (of a mirror or windowpane) cloudy
    • 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen, in: Zwei Erzählungen, Phillipp Reclam jun. Verlag, page 9:
      So dunkel und schauerlich die Gruft aussah, wenn man durch die blinden, bestaubten Scheibchen der kleinen Fenster hineinblickte, so hell und freundlich war oben die Kirche.
      Just as dark and eerie the crypt looked like, if one looked in it through the cloudy, dusted little panes of the small windows, as bright and friendly was the church above.

Declension[edit]

Positive forms of blind
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative er ist blind sie ist blind es ist blind sie sind blind
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative blinder blinde blindes blinde
genitive blinden blinder blinden blinder
dative blindem blinder blindem blinden
accusative blinden blinde blindes blinde
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der blinde die blinde das blinde die blinden
genitive des blinden der blinden des blinden der blinden
dative dem blinden der blinden dem blinden den blinden
accusative den blinden die blinde das blinde die blinden
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein blinder eine blinde ein blindes (keine) blinden
genitive eines blinden einer blinden eines blinden (keiner) blinden
dative einem blinden einer blinden einem blinden (keinen) blinden
accusative einen blinden eine blinde ein blindes (keine) blinden
Comparative forms of blind
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative er ist blinder sie ist blinder es ist blinder sie sind blinder
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative blinderer blindere blinderes blindere
genitive blinderen blinderer blinderen blinderer
dative blinderem blinderer blinderem blinderen
accusative blinderen blindere blinderes blindere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der blindere die blindere das blindere die blinderen
genitive des blinderen der blinderen des blinderen der blinderen
dative dem blinderen der blinderen dem blinderen den blinderen
accusative den blinderen die blindere das blindere die blinderen
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein blinderer eine blindere ein blinderes (keine) blinderen
genitive eines blinderen einer blinderen eines blinderen (keiner) blinderen
dative einem blinderen einer blinderen einem blinderen (keinen) blinderen
accusative einen blinderen eine blindere ein blinderes (keine) blinderen
Superlative forms of blind
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative er ist am blindesten sie ist am blindesten es ist am blindesten sie sind am blindesten
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative blindester blindeste blindestes blindeste
genitive blindesten blindester blindesten blindester
dative blindestem blindester blindestem blindesten
accusative blindesten blindeste blindestes blindeste
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der blindeste die blindeste das blindeste die blindesten
genitive des blindesten der blindesten des blindesten der blindesten
dative dem blindesten der blindesten dem blindesten den blindesten
accusative den blindesten die blindeste das blindeste die blindesten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein blindester eine blindeste ein blindestes (keine) blindesten
genitive eines blindesten einer blindesten eines blindesten (keiner) blindesten
dative einem blindesten einer blindesten einem blindesten (keinen) blindesten
accusative einen blindesten eine blindeste ein blindestes (keine) blindesten

Derived terms[edit]

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • “blind” in Duden online

German Low German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle Low German blint, from Old Saxon blind. Cognate to Dutch blind, German blind.

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blinner, superlative blinnst)

  1. blind

Declension[edit]

Positive forms of blind
gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative he is blind se is blind dat is blind se sünd blind
partitive een Blinns een Blinns wat Blinns allens Blinn
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative blinne blinne blind blinne
oblique blinnen blinne blind blinne
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative de blinne de blinne dat blinne de blinnen
oblique den blinnen de blinne dat blinne de blinnen
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative en blinne en blinne en blind/blinnet (keen) blinnen
oblique en blinnen en blinne en blind/blinnet (keen) blinnen
Comparative forms of blind
gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative he is blinner se is blinner dat is blinner se sünd blinner
partitive een blinners een blinners wat blinners allens blinner
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative blinnere blinnere blinner blinnere
oblique blinnern blinnere blinner blinnere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative de blinnere de blinnere dat blinnere de blinnern
oblique den blinnern de blinnere dat blinnere de blinnern
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative en blinnere en blinnere en blinner (keen) blinnern
oblique en blinnern en blinnere en blinner (keen) blinnern
Superlative forms of blind
gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter all genders
predicative he is de Blinnste se is de Blinnste dat is dat Blinnste se sünd de Blinnsten
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative blinnste blinnste blinnst blinnste
oblique blinnsten blinnste blinnst blinnste
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative de blinnste de blinnste dat blinnste de blinnsten
oblique den blinnsten de blinnste dat blinnste de blinnsten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative en blinnste en blinnste en blinnst (keen) blinnsten
oblique en blinnsten en blinnste en blinnst (keen) blinnsten
Note: This declension is one of many; neither its grammar nor spelling apply to all dialects.

Icelandic[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind

  1. inflection of blindur:
    1. feminine singular nominative strong positive degree
    2. neuter plural nominative strong positive degree
    3. neuter plural accusative strong positive degree

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Norse blindr, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Adjective[edit]

blind (neuter singular blindt, definite singular and plural blinde)

  1. blind

Derived terms[edit]

Terms derived from blind

References[edit]

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Norse blindr, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz. Akin to English blind.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind (masculine and feminine blind, neuter blindt, definite singular and plural blinde, comparative blindare, indefinite superlative blindast, definite superlative blindaste)

  1. blind

Derived terms[edit]

Terms derived from blind

Verb[edit]

blind

  1. imperative of blinda

References[edit]

Old English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *blind.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind

  1. blind
    blind, dēaf, and dumb
    blind, deaf, and dumb
    God is dēad and man is blind.
    God is dead and man is blind.
  2. (substantive) a blind person

Declension[edit]

Declension of blind — Strong
Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative blind blind blind
Accusative blindne blinde blind
Genitive blindes blindre blindes
Dative blindum blindre blindum
Instrumental blinde blindre blinde
Plural Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative blinde blinda, blinde blind
Accusative blinde blinda, blinde blind
Genitive blindra blindra blindra
Dative blindum blindum blindum
Instrumental blindum blindum blindum
Declension of blind — Weak
Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative blinda blinde blinde
Accusative blindan blindan blinde
Genitive blindan blindan blindan
Dative blindan blindan blindan
Instrumental blindan blindan blindan
Plural Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative blindan blindan blindan
Accusative blindan blindan blindan
Genitive blindra, blindena blindra, blindena blindra, blindena
Dative blindum blindum blindum
Instrumental blindum blindum blindum

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

Old Saxon[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *blind.

Adjective[edit]

blind

  1. blind

Declension[edit]

Positive forms of blind
Strong declension
gender masculine feminine neuter
case singular plural singular plural singular plural
nominative blind blinde, blinda blind blinda blind blind, blinda
accusative blindan, blinden blinda, blinde blinda blinda blind blind, blinda
genitive blindes, blindas blindaro, blindoro, blindero blindara, blindaro blindaro, blindoro, blindero blindes, blindas blindaro, blindoro, blindero
dative blindumu, blindum, blindun, blindun, blindon, blinden, blindan blindun, blindon, blindum blindaro, blindaru, blindara blindun, blindon blindumu, blindum, blindun, blindun, blindon, blinden, blindan blindun, blindon, blindum
Weak declension
gender masculine feminine neuter
case singular plural singular plural singular plural
nominative blindo, blinda blindon, blindun blinda, blinde blindon, blindun, blindan blinda, blinde blindon, blindun
accusative blindon, blindan blindon, blindun blindun, blindon, blindan blindon, blindun, blindan blinda, blinde blindon, blindun
genitive blinden, blindan blindono, blindeno blindun, blindan, blinden blindono blinden, blindan blindono, blindeno
dative blindon, blinden, blindan blindon, blindun blindun, blindan blindon, blindun blindon, blinden, blindan blindon, blindun


Swedish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Swedish blinder, from Old Norse blindr, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blindare, superlative blindast)

  1. blind; unable or failing to see

Declension[edit]

Inflection of blind
Indefinite Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular blind blindare blindast
Neuter singular blint blindare blindast
Plural blinda blindare blindast
Masculine plural3 blinde blindare blindast
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 blinde blindare blindaste
All blinda blindare blindaste
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
3) Dated or archaic

Derived terms[edit]

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