blear
[bleer]
- to make dim, as with tears or inflammation: a biting wind that bleared the vision.
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- (of the eyes) dim from tears.
- dim; indistinct.
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- a blur; cloudiness; dimness: She was concerned about the recent blear in her vision.
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Origin of blear
1250–1300; Middle English bleri, blere (v.), blere (adj.) < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for blear
Historical Examples
He gazed with an open mouth and puzzled, blear eyes at the woman before him.
A Sheaf of CornMary E. Mann
The dogs were nearly as furious as the night before, and the day's eye was blear.
The Lost PibrochNeil Munro
Blear eyes, sore faces, and sore feet were almost universal.
Notes on Old EdinburghIsabella L. Bird
Idiots, with blear eyes and protending under-lips, gibbered and whined.
The Garden Of AllahRobert Hichens
"You bet I c'n answer," said Alf bravely, blinking his blear eyes.
The Daughter of Anderson CrowGeorge Barr McCutcheon
blear
- (tr) to make (eyes or sight) dim with or as if with tears; blur
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- a less common word for bleary
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Word Origin
C13: blere to make dim; related to Middle High German blerre blurred vision
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for blear
adj.
c.1300, blere "watery, rheumy," perhaps related to blur. Cf. Middle High German blerre "having blurred vision."
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v.
"to dim (of vision); to have watery or rheumy eyes," early 14c., of uncertain origin, possibly from an Old English *blerian, from the same source as blear (adj.). Related: Bleared; blearing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper