Blear Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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blear

[blษชษ™r ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

to make unclear

To blear means to make something less clear or less distinct. This can refer to vision, where something may appear blurred and difficult to see. The term can also relate to other senses or to the way something is perceived, potentially indicating emotional obfuscation. Commonly, the word is used in literary contexts to describe a foggy or obscured viewpoint.

Synonyms

blur, dim, mist, obscure.

Examples of usage

  • The tears blear my vision.
  • The fog bleared the landscape.
  • He felt a sense of blear in his thoughts.
  • Her eyes were bleared from lack of sleep.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Writers often use 'blear' to describe a character's tiredness, conveying a relatable sense of exhaustion.
  • In poetry, blear eyes can symbolize wisdom gained through hard experiences, representing the heavy burden of life.

Psychology

  • Being in a state of mental fatigue can lead to a perception related to the meaning of blear, reflecting how tiredness affects clarity of thought.
  • Stress and lack of sleep can cause vision to become blear, illustrating the connection between our mental state and physical experiences.

Art

  • In visual art, artists may depict blear images to evoke emotions tied to nostalgia, memories, or times of distress.
  • Some paintings use blurred vision techniques to draw viewers into the subject's emotional experience, evoking feelings of sadness or reflection.

Health

  • Eye fatigue can cause symptoms that relate to blear vision, showing the importance of rest for maintaining eye health.
  • Conditions like dry eyes can lead to blurry vision, reinforcing the idea of needing to care for our eyesight and overall well-being.

Origin of 'blear'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'blear' comes from the Old English word 'blฤ“or', which means to make dim or foggy.
  • Related words have appeared in literature since the 14th century, showing how long this concept of unclear vision has been around.

The word 'blear' has its origins in the Middle English term 'blere', which means to obscure or make dim. It is thought to have Scandinavian roots, possibly connected to the Old Norse word 'blรกr', meaning 'to blur or cloud'. Throughout history, 'blear' has been used predominantly in literary contexts, often to convey a sense of emotional or perceptual blurriness, impacting the clarity of thought or vision. The evolution of the word reflects the ways in which physical clarity and emotional clarity can be intertwined in human experience. As language evolved, 'blear' transitioned from a more literal interpretation to encompass metaphorical uses, highlighting its versatility in describing varying states of awareness and perception.