Blemish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blemished; p. pr. & vb. n. Blemishing.] — Webster enters it under “blemish”
Etymology: [OE. blemissen, blemishen, OF. blemir, blesmir, to strike, injure, soil, F. blêmir to grow pale, fr. OF. bleme, blesme, pale, wan, F. blême, prob. fr. Icel blaman the livid color of a wound, fr. blar blue; akin to E. blue. OF. blemir properly signifies to beat one (black and) blue, and to render blue or dirty. See Blue.]
1. To mark with deformity; to injure or impair, as anything which is well formed, or excellent; to mar, or make defective, either the body or mind. Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy soul. Brathwait.
2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame. There had nothing passed between us that might blemish reputation. Oldys.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Blemish, n.; pl. Blemishes (.
Any mark of deformity or injury, whether physical or moral; anything; that diminishes beauty, or renders imperfect that which is otherwise well formed; that which impairs reputation. He shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish. Lev. xiv. 10. The reliefs of an envious man are those little blemishes and imperfections that discover themselves in an illustrious character. Spectator.
Syn. -- Spot; speck; flaw; deformity; stain; defect; fault; taint; reproach; dishonor; imputation; disgrace.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists blemished only as an antonym, under perfect.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.