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

Shift has invoked Tash, a vulture-headed demonic power, only because he is too purblind actually to believe in him.

From The Daily Beast

By a strange fatality, they were generally purblind, and always shyed most fearfully when an Opposition coach approached them.

From Project Gutenberg

This excited great merriment: Captain Ezekiel was an aged, purblind man, who leaned on a cane.

From Project Gutenberg

“Sh-sh-sh,” said the doctor, running his forefinger along to guide his purblind eyes safely to the end of the paragraph.

From Project Gutenberg

Often the man is also the victim of the purblind social customs which make sex-knowledge tabu.

From Project Gutenberg

Could aught in this petty purblind existence of ours redeem it and exalt it so: her love, this pure sweet girl's, and mine.

From Project Gutenberg