Blēm'ish1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. BLEMISHED; p. pr. & vb. n. BLEMISHING.] [O. Fr. blemir, blesmir, to strike, injure, to soil, bleme, blesme, pale, wan, N. Fr. blémir, to grow pale, from Icel. blámi, a bluish color, from blár, blue, so that O. Fr. blemir properly signifies to beat one (black and) blue, and to render blue or dirty.]
Sense 1. To mark with deformity; to injure or impair, as any thing which is well formed, or excellent; to mar, or make defective, either the body or mind.
Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy soul. Brathwaite.
His composure must be rare indeed, Whom these things can not blemish. Shak.
Sense 2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame.
There had nothing passed between us that might blemish reputation. Oldys.