Obs. Forms: 1 blinn-an, 3 blinnen, (bline, 4–5 bilynne, bylynne, blym, 6 blinn, blene), 3–6 blinne, (4–6 blyne, blyn, 3–7 blynne), 3–8 blin. Pa. t. 1 blann, 2–3 blann, 4–5 blan(e, 4–8 blanne, 6 blinned. Pa. pple. blunnen, blun (rare). [OE. blinn-an str. vb., syncopated from *bi-linnan = OHG. bilinnan to cease, leave off, f. bi- BE- pref. + OE. and com. Teut. linnan to cease (found in Goth. in af-linnan to depart, and in ON. linna wk. vb., to leave off, cease, stop), ME. linnen: see LINN v. In the 14–15th c. the resolved form bi-, by-lynne (not preserved in OE.) frequently occurs.]
1. intr. To cease, leave off, desist.
[c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xiv. 32. Geblann þæt wind.]
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1963. Nile he blinnen.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 728. Þer is þe blys þat cannot blynne.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 48. Neuer he blanne.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Chan. Yem. Prol. & T., 618. Til he had torned him, couthe he nought blynne.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 60. His childhode blynnes Whanne he is fourtene ȝeer olde.
1557. Mylner of Abingt., 258, in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 110. My litell brother blinned nought, Ere their horse was home brought.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, I. III. vi. The heavy hammers never blin.
1729. Old Song, in Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc., 18. The Minstrels they did never blin.
a. 1765. in Child, Ballads, III. (1885), 53/1. Till he had oretaken King Estmere, I wis he never blanne.
b. Const. of (about, on, from), infin. with to.
a. 1000. Cod. Vercell., I. (1843), 80. Þær þu … wuldres blunne.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14564. Ne blann itt nohht to reȝȝnenn.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 265. Nou of þis prolouge wil we bline. Ibid., 14089 (Fairf.). A-boute seruise dide ho neuer blyn.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 255. Of shynyng blan bothe son and moyne.
1567. Turberv., Poems, in Chalmers, Eng. Poets, II. 589/1. And from their battaile blin. Ibid. (1587), Trag. T. (1837), 199. Her teares did never blin To issue from her cristall eyes.
a. 1765. Ballad ‘Glasgerion,’ iii. in Child, Ballads, III. (1885), 138/1. Strike on, Glasgerrion, Of thy striking doe not blinne.
2. trans. To cease from, stop; put a stop to.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (1840), 255. Of alle night he no blan rideinge.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 133. This chyld … Alle baylle may blyn.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. v. 22. Nathemore … Did th’ other two their cruell vengeaunce blin.
1601. Death Earl Huntingt., V. ii. in Hazl., Dodsl., VIII. 320. She never would blin telling, how his grace Sav’d [etc.].
3. intr. To delay, tarry, stay.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20204. Langer bline nu i ne may.
1590. Greene, Poems (1861), 303. When in the Balance Daphnes leman blins.
4. To cease speaking, keep silence.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xxvii[i]. 1. Mi God, ne blinne fra me. Ibid., xxxi[i]. 3. For I blan [Vulg. tacui].
