blight

== English == === Etymology === The etymology of the noun is uncertain; suggested derivations include the following: possibly related to Middle English blichening (“mildew or rust on grain, blight”), possibly related to Middle English bliken (“to gleam, shine; to turn pale”), from Old English blīcan (“to shine, sparkle”) (whence modern English blike (“(obsolete) to gleam, shine”); also compare Old Norse blikna (“to grow pallid”)), from Proto-West Germanic *blīkan (“to shine”), from Proto-Germanic *blīkaną (“to gleam, shine”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”); or since sense 2.2 refers to a diseased condition of the skin, possibly from Middle English *bleighte, *bleȝte, from Old English blǣcþa (“leprosy”) (related to blǣċe (“an itching skin-disease”) and blǣċo (“leprosy; paleness”)), from Proto-West Germanic *blaik, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *blaikaz (“pale; white”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). If so, the word is a doublet of bleak. The verb is derived from the noun. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: blīt, IPA(key): /blaɪt/ Rhymes: -aɪt Homophone: blite === Noun === blight (countable and uncountable, plural blights) (phytopathology) A diseased condition suffered by a plant; specifically, a complete and rapid chlorosis, browning, then death of plant tissues such as floral organs, leaves, branches, or twigs, especially one caused by a fungus; a mildew, a rust, a smut. The cause of such a condition, often unseen but believed to be airborne; specifically, a bacterium, a virus, or (especially) a fungus; also, an aphid which attacks fruit trees. (by extension) A state of cloudy, humid weather. (pathology, dated) A diseased condition of the face or skin; specifically, bleeding under the conjunctiva of the eye, a form of skin rash, or a palsy of the face due to cold. (figurative) Something that impedes development or growth, or spoils any other aspect of life. Synonym: bane (specifically) A rundown and unsightly condition of an urban area; also, such an area. ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === blight (third-person singular simple present blights, present participle blighting, simple past and past participle blighted) (transitive) (phytopathology) To affect the fertility or growth of (a plant) with a blight (noun sense 1.1), especially one caused by a fungus; to blast, to mildew, to smut. Synonym: blighten (by extension, pathology, dated) To affect (a body part) with a disease. (figurative) To impede the development or growth of (an aspect of life); to damage, to ruin, to spoil. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:spoil Synonym: blighten (intransitive) Of a plant: to suffer blight (noun sense 1.1). ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== blighted (adjective) blighter blighting (adjective, noun) blightingly unblight ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === blight on Wikipedia.Wikipedia urban decay on Wikipedia.Wikipedia blight (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia