Hypertext Webster Gateway: "blur"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blur \Blur\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blurred}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Blurring}.] [Prob. of same origin as blear. See {Blear}.]
1. To render obscure by making the form or outline of
confused and uncertain, as by soiling; to smear; to make
indistinct and confused; as, to blur manuscript by
handling it while damp; to blur the impression of a
woodcut by an excess of ink.
But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favor
Which then he wore. --Shak.
2. To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken.
Her eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare.
--J. R. Drake.
3. To sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, But can not blur my
lost renown. --Hudibras.
Syn: To spot; blot; disfigure; stain; sully.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Blur \Blur\ (bl[^u]r), n.
1. That which obscures without effacing; a stain; a blot, as
upon paper or other substance.
As for those who cleanse blurs with blotted fingers,
they make it worse. --Fuller.
2. A dim, confused appearance; indistinctness of vision; as,
to see things with a blur; it was all blur.
3. A moral stain or blot.
Lest she . . . will with her railing set a great
blur on mine honesty and good name. --Udall.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
blur
n : a hazy or indistinct representation; "it happened so fast it
was just a blur"; "he tried to clear his head of the
whisky fuzz" [syn: {fuzz}]
v 1: become glassy; lose clear vision; "Her eyes glazed over from
lack of sleep" [syn: {film over}, {glaze over}]
2: to make less distinct or clear: "heat haze blurs the hills."
[ant: {focus}]
3: make unclear, indistinct, or blurred; "Her remarks confused
the debate" [syn: {confuse}, {obscure}] [ant: {clarify}]
4: make a smudge on; soil by smudging [syn: {smear}, {smudge},
{smutch}]
5: make dim or indistinct; "The drug blurs my vision" [syn: {blear}]
[ant: {focus}]
6: become vague or indistinct; "The distinction between the two
theories blurred" [syn: {dim}, {slur}] [ant: {focus}]
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