Blight

[skinem]

Got to wondering about the origins of this word while reading a Patrick McManus book--the main character is from "Blight County", Idaho. It features the towns of Blight City and Famine...



Blight

Pronunciation: \ˈblīt\

Function: noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 1578

1 a: a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and death of parts (as leaves and tubers) b: an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes blight:
2: something that frustrates plans or hopes
3: something that impairs or destroys
4: a deteriorated condition <urban blight>

Blight

Function: verb

Date: 1664

transitive verb
1 : to affect (as a plant) with blight
2 : to impair the quality or effect of <the condition that has blighted his son's life — Patricia Guthrie> intransitive verb : to suffer from or become affected with blight

[Slava]

It took the noun nearly 90 years to be turned into a verb. Wild.

Let's not forget the good old British slang term "blighter," too.

Without much of a history, though, can the Dr. actually treat it? A challenge!