blemish
/ˈblɛmɪʃ/
noun
Origin
Old French
blesmir — to soil, stain, or make pale
Overview
Meaning Now
- A small mark, spot, or flaw that spoils the appearance of something.
- A moral defect or fault in a person's character or reputation.
Literal older meaning
to make pale or discoloured
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Old French → English
Earliest form
blemyshen
Earliest period
late 14th century
Journey
The term entered English during the Middle English period, reflecting the heavy influence of Anglo-Norman French on vocabulary related to physical appearance, craftsmanship, and moral standing.
Evolution
- Frankish
bleme
“pale or injured”
Reconstructed from Germanic roots.
- Old French
blesmir
“to soil or stain”
Influenced by Frankish *bleme.
- Middle English
blemyshen
“to stain, tarnish, or impair”
Adopted into Middle English as a verb.
- Modern English
blemish
“a flaw or spot”
Functional shift to noun usage.
Connections
Word parts
blemish
root
flaw or stain
Related across languages
Old French
blesmir
to soil
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Related to blemish
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.