Also 4–5 blynd(e. Pa. t. and pple. blinded: pple. in 4 blind, iblind, (5 blynyd). [f. BLIND a., first in ME.: taking the place of the earlier equivalent BLEND v.1; or rather perhaps to be viewed as a phonetic variation of the latter, caused by assimilation to the adjective.]
1. trans. To make blind, deprive of sight: a. permanently.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7246. Þai blinded him and prisund bath.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 40. Blyndyn, or make blynde, exceco.
a. 1450. Syr Eglam., 318. To the yeant he gafe a sowe And blyndyd hym in that tyde!
1753. Hanway, Trav., I. V. lxxvi. 347. Ali was taken prisoner and blinded.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., ii. 37. He had been accidentally blinded of one eye.
b. temporarily, e.g., by dazzling with a bright light, or by bandaging the eyes: To render insensible to light or color.
1388. Wyclif, Ecclus. xliii. 4. The sunne blyndith iȝen.
1530. Palsgr., 458/1. This great light blyndeth my syght.
1633. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, IV. iv. Fear nothing, I will only blind your eyes.
1827. Hood, Hero & Leander, xlv. His eyes are blinded with the sleety brine.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 5. 38. The effect … upon the eye is to blind it in some degree to the perception of red.
2. fig. To close the eyes of the understanding or moral perception; to deceive, ‘throw dust in the eyes’ of (persons and their faculties). refl. To shut one’s (mental) eyes to.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17452. To man þat couaitis has blind.
1382. Wyclif, Ex. xxiii. 8. Ȝiftes, that also blynden wise men.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 979. To blynde the rulers and deceyve the commynalte.
1611. Bible, 2 Cor. iii. 14. But their mindes were blinded.
1720. Ozell, trans. Vertot’s Rom. Rep., II. IX. 92. A great Presumption blinded him from seeing his own Incapacity.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 123. Good-will to another may … blind our judgement.
1775. Sheridan, Duenna, III. vi. 224. How jealousy blinds people!
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., I. ii. 98. Wolsey could not blind himself to the true condition of the church.
3. To put out of sight, hide, conceal; make difficult to see or trace.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 21357 (Fairf.). Þe iewes hid hit efter-sone fra cristen men hit to blinde.
1709. C. Place, in Bibl. Topogr. Brit., III. 106. The way [is] cunningly blinded by diversions.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, II. iv. Oft doubling back in mazy train, To blind the trace the dews retain.
1821. Keats, Lamia, 373. Wherefore did you blind Yourself from his quick eyes.
† b. To hide from the understanding, to obscure; to represent as obscure. Obs.
1622. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1682), 166. Those desarts which Ptolomy blindeth under the name Terra Incognita.
1676. Stillingfl., Def. Disc. Idol. Ch. Rome, To Rdr. (J.). The state of the controversie … T. G endeavoured with all his art to blind and confound.
† 4. To come in the way of; to intercept. Obs.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 12152. Oure shryfte þe deuyl blyndeþ.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, lvi. 174. From here schepis we scholen hem blynde.
5. To deprive (things) of light; to darken.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Lady Errant, I. iii. (1651), 10. They have laid aside their Jewels, and so Blinded their garments.
a. 1700. Dryden, Ceyx & Alcyone, Fables, 196 (J.). Such darkness blinds the sky.
1847. J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), I. 146. Let the honeysuckle … blind unchecked a corner of the kitchen-window.
b. To din by excess of light; to eclipse.
1633. P. Fletcher, Pisc. Eclog., VI. 40 (L.). Her beautie all the rest did blinde.
1842. Tennyson, Tithonus, 38. Thy [Aurora’s] sweet eyes … blind the stars.
6. Gunnery. To provide with blindages.
1850. Alison, Hist. Europe, XIV. lxxxvii. § 4. Extraordinary precautions … to render nugatory the effects of a bombardment, by blinding the ships … with turf, wet blankets, and … other articles.
1870. Standard, 12 Dec., 5/4. Guns blinded with iron mantelets.
7. intr. To be or become blind or dim. arch.
c. 1305. Old Age, ix. in E. E. P. (1862), 149. I blind, I bleri.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1126. Ho blyndes of ble.
1822. Beddoes, Bride’s Trag., II. iv. Thy bright eye would blind at sights like this!
