blemish

Meanings

Noun

• A small flaw which spoils the appearance of something, a stain, a spot.
• A moral defect; a character flaw.

Verb

• To spoil the appearance of.
• To tarnish (reputation, character, etc.); to defame.

Origin

• From Middle English blemisshen, blemissen, from Old French blemir, stem of Old French blemir, blesmir (French blêmir), from Old Frankish *blesmjan, *blasmijan, from Old Frankish *blasmi, from Proto-Germanic *blasaz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-. Cognate with Dutch bles, German blass, Old English āblered.