blench

  • 1Blench — Blench, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Blenched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blenching}.] [OE. blenchen to blench, elude, deceive, AS. blencan to deceive; akin to Icel. blekkja to impose upon. Prop. a causative of blink to make to wink, to deceive. See {Blink}, and… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2blench — blench; blench·ing·ly; un·blench·ing·ly; …

    English syllables

  • 3blench — blench1 [blench] vt., vi. [var. of BLANCH] to make or become pale; whiten; bleach blench2 [blench] vi. [ME blenchen, move suddenly, avoid < OE blencan, to deceive, akin to Ger blinken; ult. < IE base of BLANK] to shrink back, as in fear;… …

    English World dictionary

  • 4Blench — Blench, n. A looking aside or askance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] These blenches gave my heart another youth. Shak. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5Blench — Blench, v. i. & t. [See 1st {Blanch}.] To grow or make pale. Barbour. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6Blench — Blench, v. t. 1. To baffle; to disconcert; to turn away; also, to obstruct; to hinder. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Ye should have somewhat blenched him therewith, yet he might and would of likelihood have gone further. Sir T. More. [1913 Webster] 2. To …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7blench — [ blentʃ ] verb intransitive MAINLY LITERARY to quickly make a movement away from something or turn pale because you are very frightened …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 8blench — (v.) O.E. blencan deceive, cheat, from P.Gmc. *blenk to shine, dazzle, blind, from PIE root *bhel (1) to shine, flash, burn (see BLEACH (Cf. bleach)). Sense of move suddenly, wince, dodge is from c.1300. Related: Blenched; blenching …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 9blench — quail, shrink, *recoil, flinch, wince Analogous words: evade, elude, avoid, shun, eschew, *escape: tremble, quiver, shudder, quake, *shake Contrasted words: *bear, suffer, endure, abide, stand …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 10blench — ► VERB ▪ make a sudden flinching movement out of fear or pain. ORIGIN Old English, «deceive» …

    English terms dictionary