blind

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See also: Blind

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old English blind, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz. Akin to German blind, Dutch blind, Norwegian blind.

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blinder, superlative blindest)

  1. (not comparable, of a person or animal) Unable to see, due to physiological or neurological factors.
    • Shakespeare
      He that is strucken blind cannot forget / The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.
    • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island,
      He was plainly blind, for he tapped before him with a stick, and wore a great green shade over his eyes and nose...
  2. (not comparable, of an eye) Unable to be used to see, due to physiological or neurological factors.
  3. (comparable) Failing to see, acknowledge, perceive.
    The lovers were blind to each other's faults.
    Authors are blind to their own defects.
  4. (not comparable) Of a place, having little or no visibility.
    a blind path; a blind ditch; a blind corner
    • Milton
      the blind mazes of this tangled wood
  5. (not comparable) Closed at one end; having a dead end
    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.
  6. (not comparable) Having no openings for light or passage.
    a blind wall, a blind alley
  7. smallest or slightest in phrases such as
    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.
  8. (not comparable) without any prior knowledge.
    He took a blind guess at which fork in the road would take him to the airport.
  9. (not comparable) unconditional; without regard to evidence, logic, reality, accidental mistakes, extenuating circumstances, etc.
    blind deference
    blind justice
    blind punishment
    • Jay
      This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind reprobation.
  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

Derived terms[edit]

Terms derived from blind (adjective)

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Noun[edit]

blind (plural blinds)

  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.
    • 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 halting place.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)
  7. (baseball, slang, 1800s) No score.
  8. (poker) A forced bet: the small blind or the big blind.
    The blinds are $10/$20 and the ante is $1.
  9. (poker) A player who is forced to pay such a bet.
    The blinds immediately folded when I reraised.
  10. (as a plural) Those who are blind, taken as a group.
    Braille is a writing system for the blind.

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?
    • South
      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.
    • Dryden
      Such darkness blinds the sky.
    • Stillingfleet
      The state of the controversy between us he endeavored, with all his art, to blind and confound.
  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.
  2. (poker, three card brag) Without looking at the cards dealt.

Translations[edit]

Danish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

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 *blind, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

Adjective[edit]

blind (comparative blinder, superlative blindst)

  1. blind (unable to see)
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 —

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 Old High German blint, from Proto-Germanic *blindaz.

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]

German Low German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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.

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-Germanic *blindaz.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind

  1. blind
    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, -e blind
Accusative blinde blinda, -e 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-Germanic *blindaz.

Adjective[edit]

blind

  1. blind

Declension[edit]

Positive forms of blind
Strong declension
gender masculine neuter feminine
case singular plural singular plural singular plural
nominative blind blinde blind blindu blind blinde
accusative blindana blinde blinda blindu blind blinde
genitive blindes blindarō blindaro blindarō blindes blindarō
dative blindumu blindum blindaro blindum blindumu blindum
Weak declension
gender masculine neuter feminine
case singular plural singular plural singular plural
nominative blindo blindu blinda blindu blinda blindu
accusative blindun blindun blindun blindun blinda blindun
genitive blindun blindonō blindun blindonō blindun blindonō
dative blindun blindum blindun blindum blindun blindum


Swedish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

blind

  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
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.

Derived terms[edit]

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