BLASPHEME, blas-f[=e]m', _v.t._ and _v.i._ to speak impiously of, as of
God: to curse and swear.--_n._ BLASPHEM'ER.--_adj._ BLAS'PHEMOUS,
containing blasphemy: impious.--_adv._ BLAS'PHEMOUSLY.--_n._ BLAS'PHEMY,
profane speaking: contempt or indignity offered to God. [Gr.
_blasph[=e]me-ein_--_blaptein_, to hurt, _ph[=e]mi_ to speak. See BLAME.]
BLAST, blast, _n._ a blowing or gust of wind: a forcible stream of air:
sound of a wind instrument; an explosion of gunpowder: anything
pernicious.--_v.t._ to strike with some pernicious influence, to blight: to
affect with sudden violence or calamity: to rend asunder with
gunpowder.--_adj._ BLAST'ED, blighted: cursed, damned.--_ns._
BLAST'-FUR'NACE, a smelting furnace into which hot air is blown;
BLAST'-HOLE, a hole in the bottom of a pump through which water enters;
BLAST'ING, the separating of masses of stone by means of an explosive
substance; BLAST'ING-GEL'ATINE, a powerful explosive made of gun-cotton and
nitro-glycerine; BLAST'MENT, withering or shrivelling up caused by
blasting; BLAST'-PIPE, a pipe in a steam-engine, to convey the waste-steam
up the chimney. [A.S. _bl['æ]st_; cf. Ice. _beása_; Ger. _blasen_.]
BLASTODERM, blas'to-derm, _n._ an embryological term applied to the layer
or layers of cells arising from the germinal disc, or the portion of a
partially segmenting egg which undergoes division. [Gr. _blasto-_,
_blastos_, a sprout, _derma_, _dermat-_, skin.]
BLATANT, bl[=a]t'ant, _adj._ noisy, clamorous, loud.--_adv._ BLAT'ANTLY.
[Prob. a coinage of Spenser.]
BLATE, bl[=a]t, _adj._ bashful, timidly awkward. [Scot.; A.S. _blát_,
pale.]
BLATTER, blat't[.e]r, _v.i._ to talk overmuch, to prate.--_v.i._ to hurry
or rush noisily.--_n._ a clatter of words, sound of rapid motion. [L.
_blater[=a]re_.]
BLAWORT, blä'wort, _n._ the harebell: the corn blue-bottle.--Also
BL[=E]'WART. [Scot. BLAE, and _wort_, herb.]