Middle English Dictionary Entry
blǒnderen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | blǒnderen v. Also blunderen, bloundren. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI blunda shut the eyes, Norw. & Swed. dial. blundra act blindly or rashly. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To walk without seeing, go blindly; (b) to proceed ignorantly, act blindly or irrationally; refl. delude oneself, be out of one's senses; ppl. blundering, rash, clumsy, thoughtless; of things: lacking reason; (c) to treat (sth.) clumsily, damage, put out of order.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1414 : As boold as is Bayard the blynde That blondreth [vrr. blundreth, blunderith, blunderþ] forth and peril casteth noon.
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)26 : As a blynde man in the wey blondryng.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.169 : Þe [English] men beeþ able to al manere sleiþe and witte, but to fore þe dede blondrynge [L importuna] and hasty.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.670 : We blondren [vrr. blondern, bloundren, blundren, blundere] euere and pouren in the fir.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8)p.25 : I blondre in my wyrkyng, os man þat is blynd..I blondre gladly in lustys of many dyverse blamys.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)51/6 : I speke and blundere forþ as a blynde man.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3975 : Blyne..thow blondirs þi selfen. Þis es botles bale.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)123/4 : The clowdes..on rawe me reioyses, Blonderande þer blastis to blawe when I bidde.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)153/1 : If eny man wole blundre ferþir in þis mater..forto seie and holde þat [etc.]..he grauntiþ myn entent.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)54a : These philosophers..Medlyth and blonderith with many a thinge Reninge in errors..ffor Lacke of trewe vnderstandynge.
c
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)15 : He..had brussed and blundird the lokes of hem [doors] yn such wise that no man myght shute hem..the lokes wer so blundrid that thay nethir cowth ne myght shut hit.