purblind

[ pur-blahynd ]

adjective

1. nearly or partially blind; dim-sighted.
2. slow or deficient in understanding, imagination, or vision.
3. Obsolete. totally blind.

purblind

/ ˈpɜːˌblaɪnd /

adjective

1. partly or nearly blind
2. lacking in insight or understanding; obtuse

Other Words From

• purblindly adverb
• purblindness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of purblind¹

1250–1300; Middle English pur blind completely blind; pure (in obsolete adv. sense), blind

Word History and Origins

Origin of purblind¹

C13: see pure , blind ; compare parboil

Synonym Study

See blind.

Example Sentences

They embrace a purblind nationalism that prohibits them from seeing the world from any perspective other than their own.

From Salon

Endless wars, purblind globalization, union busting, deregulation, lack of antitrust enforcement and the political influence of the wealthy have all led to a less equal, less opportunity-filled America.

From Seattle Times

There had been little in the contest coming towards the middle stages, even though the three judges had Joshua ahead at the halfway stage, one of them a purblind 5-1 up in rounds.

From The Guardian

The peculiar case of George Edalji — slightly fictionalized in Julian Barnes’s excellent novel “Arthur & George” — focused on a purblind young lawyer of South Asian ancestry accused of mutilating farm animals.

From Washington Post

It was a grave miscalculation, from one point of view, or, to put it less kindly, the result of purblind arrogance, yet Charles seems to have given the marriage his best shot.

From New York Times