Obs. Forms: 1 blendan, 2–4 blenden, 3–5 blende, 4–6 blend. Pa. t. 1–3 blende, 4 blent(e. Pa. pple. 1–4 blend, 3–4 i-blend, 4 blende, 4–5 i-blent, blente, 5 i-blende, blended, 3–7 blent, 6–7 arch. y-blent. [Com. WGer.: OE. blęndan = OFris. blenda, OS. *blendan (MDu. blenden), OHG. blentan (MHG., mod.G. blenden):—OTeut. type *blandjan ‘to make blind,’ a factitive verb apparently formed with ablaut upon the adj. blind-, since no trace is found of a strong vb. blindan. See BLIND. (The pa. t. blent coincided with that of blench; whence some confusion in sense 1 b.)]
1. trans. To make blind: a. permanently.
a. 1100[?]. O. E. Chron., an. 1036. Man hine blende, and hine swa blindne brohte to ðam munecon.
a. 1225. Juliana, 48. Ich habbe i-blend men.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Milleres T., 622. With that strook he was almost i-blent.
b. temporarily, e.g., with bright light: To dazzle.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., XXXVIII. v. Se dæʓ blent … hiora eaʓan.
1297. R. Glouc., 407. Þe smoke … him ssolde boþe stenche and blende.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 502. And thorw the liȝte … lucifer was blent.
a. 1529. Skelton, Image Hypocr., Wks. III. 236. A virgin ffayre and gent That hath our yees blent.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. iii. 35. The swownd which him did blend.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XII. lxxxvi. What hath thy eiesight blent?
2. fig. To blind the understanding, judgment or moral sense; to ‘throw dust in the eyes’ of.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4525. Grediȝnesse … blendeþþ manness heorrte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 819 (Gött.). Þe feind had adam blent.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 603. Envye blendith the hert of a man.
a. 1450. Myrc, 370. Thus wyth the fende he ys I-blende.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., April, 155. Ah foolish boy, that is with loue yblent. Ibid. (1591), Virgil’s Gnat, xxxix. Feare and yre Had blent so much his sense.
3. To put out of sight, hide, conceal.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. ii. Under coloure was the treason blente.
