In northern ME. blesand; for other forms see the vb. [f. BLAZE v.1 + -ING2.]

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  1.  Flaming with force.

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c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 3706. Of brennynge fyre a blasyng bronde.

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1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XIII. ix. 103. The blesand torchys schayn.

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1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 728. Blazing Cressets fed With Naphtha and Asphaltus.

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1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 340. The sight of the blazing dwellings.

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  fig.  1850.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xxxiii. 299. She … fixed a glance blazing with rage and scorn on the driver.

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  2.  Shining vehemently; bright-colored, glaring.

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1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. VI. 297. Gay blasynge cloþes.

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1425.  Ord. Whittington’s Alms-ho., in Entick, London, IV. 354. That the overcloathing … be dark and brown of colour, and not staring ne blaising.

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1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, i. Horses in blazing harness.

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1855.  Dickens, Dorrit, i. A blazing sun upon a fierce August day.

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  b.  fig.

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1576.  Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 134. The fame thereof is … above all other most blasing and glorious.

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1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 8. Her bright blazing beautie.

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  3.  Venery. Of scent: Very strong; as opposed to a cold scent, i.e., a weak one.

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1875.  ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Sports, I. II. i. § 2. 142. They … can hunt a cold scent, and yet with a blazing one they run breast high.

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