Blame, n.
Etymology: [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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Blame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blaming.]
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for blame; he lists it under condemn, reproof, reprove.
Where he writes about it:
Condemn is more final than blame or censure; a condemned criminal has had his trial; a condemned building can not stand; a condemned ship can not sail. — from condemn
Blame, censure, and disapproval may either be felt or uttered; comment, criticism, rebuke, reflection, reprehension, and reproof are always expressed. — from reproof
To censure is to pronounce an adverse judgment that may or may not be expressed to the person censured; to reprove is to censure authoritatively, openly, and directly to the face of the person reproved; to rebuke is to reprove with sharpness, and often with abruptness, usually in the midst of some action or course of action deemed censurable; to reprimand is to reprove officially; to blame is a familiar word signifying to pass censure upon, make answerable, as for a fault; blame and censure apply either to persons or acts; reprove and rebuke are applied chiefly, and reprimand exclusively to persons. — from reprove