B — Blacking to Blanch (Part 6 of 7)

1. To censure; to express disapprobation of; to find fault with; to reproach.

We have none to blame but ourselves.
Tillotson.

2. To bring reproach upon; to blemish. [Obs.]

She . . . blamed her noble blood.
Spenser.

To blame, to be blamed, or deserving blame; in fault; as, the conductor was to blame for the accident.

You were to blame, I must be plain with you.
Shak.

Blame
(Blame), n. [OE. blame, fr. F. blâme, OF. blasme, fr. blâmer, OF. blasmer, to blame. See Blame, v.]

1. An expression of disapprobation fir something deemed to be wrong; imputation of fault; censure.

Let me bear the blame forever.
Gen. xiiii. 9.

2. That which is deserving of censure or disapprobation; culpability; fault; crime; sin.

Holy and without blame before him in love.
Eph. i. 4.

3. Hurt; injury. [Obs.] Spenser.

Syn. — Censure; reprehension; condemnation; reproach; fault; sin; crime; wrongdoing.

Blameful
(Blame"ful) a.

1. Faulty; meriting blame. Shak.

2. Attributing blame or fault; implying or conveying censure; faultfinding; censorious. Chaucer.

— Blame"ful*ly, adv. — Blame"ful*ness, n.

Blameless
(Blame"less), a. Free from blame; without fault; innocent; guiltless; — sometimes followed by of.

A bishop then must be blameless.
1 Tim. iii. 2.

Blameless still of arts that polish to deprave.
Mallet.

We will be blameless of this thine oath.
Josh. ii. 17.

Syn. — Irreproachable; sinless; unblemished; inculpable. — Blameless, Spotless, Faultless, Stainless. We speak of a thing as blameless when it is free from blame, or the just imputation of fault; as, a blameless life or character. The others are stronger. We speak of a thing as faultless, stainless, or spotless, only when we mean that it is absolutely without fault or blemish; as, a spotless or stainless reputation; a faultless course of conduct. The last three words apply only to the general character, while blameless may be used in reverence to particular points; as, in this transaction he was wholly blameless. We also apply faultless to personal appearance; as, a faultless figure; which can not be done in respect to any of the other words.

Blamelessly
(Blame"less*ly), adv. In a blameless manner.

Blamelessness
(Blame"less*ness), n. The quality or state of being blameless; innocence.