blight
[blahyt]
- Plant Pathology.
- the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues.
- a disease so characterized.
- any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration: Extravagance was the blight of the family.
- the state or result of being blighted or deteriorated; dilapidation; decay: urban blight.
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- to cause to wither or decay; blast: Frost blighted the crops.
- to destroy; ruin; frustrate: Illness blighted his hopes.
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- to suffer blight.
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Origin of blight
First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin
Synonyms
See more synonyms for blight on Thesaurus.com2. curse, plague, scourge, bane.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for blighted
Contemporary Examples
The ruling will bring back attention to a scandal that blighted the final years of the reign of 76 year-old King Juan Carlos.
His wanderings through the blighted landscape are accompanied by thoughts of resurrection and renewal.
Jeffrey Eugenides Hails Donald Antrim’s 'Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World'Jeffrey Eugenides
June 2, 2012
Could they have done more for their blighted communities than simply build personal fiefdoms and live large?
How Will African-American Clergy React to Obama’s ‘Evolution’ on Same-Sex Marriage?Mansfield Frazier, Larry Durstin
May 13, 2012
The result is that the district combines the blighted row houses of The Wire and horse country.
And they do—demanding his remedies for potholes, blighted houses, unfair property taxes, and countless other concerns.
Historical Examples
He shaded the dinner, cooled the wines, chilled the gravy, and blighted the vegetables.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Had she not deceived me, injured me—blighted my happiness for life?
The Tenant of Wildfell HallAnne Bronte
I have blighted and withered the affections of his heart to that extent that he is not sure of me.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
It is some comfort to know that everything will not be blighted hereabouts.
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens
There can be no doubt about it: we are blighted by the great destructiveness.
Mountain MeditationsL. Lind-af-Hageby
blight
- any plant disease characterized by withering and shrivelling without rottingSee also potato blight
- any factor, such as bacterial attack or air pollution, that causes the symptoms of blight in plants
- a person or thing that mars or prevents growth, improvement, or prosperity
- an ugly urban district
- the state or condition of being blighted or spoilt
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- to cause or suffer a blight
- (tr) to frustrate or disappoint
- (tr) to spoil; destroy
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Word Origin
C17: perhaps related to Old English blǣce rash; compare bleach
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 blighted
blight
n.
1610s, origin obscure; according to OED it emerged into literary speech from the talk of gardeners and farmers, perhaps ultimately from Old English blæce, blæcðu, a scrofulous skin condition and/or from Old Norse blikna "become pale." Used in a general way of agricultural diseases, sometimes with suggestion of "invisible baleful influence;" hence figurative sense of "anything which withers hopes or prospects or checks prosperity" (1828). Cf. slang blighter. Urban blight attested by 1935.
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blight
v.
"afflict with blight," 1660s (implied in blighted), from blight (n.). Figurative use by 1712. Related: Blighted; blighting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
blight
[blīt]
- Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights.
- The bacterium, fungus, or virus that causes such a disease.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.