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blunder

noun

  1. chess error
L269718 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to move clumsily
  2. to make a mistake
L330979 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈblʌn.dəː/ / [ˈblʌ̹n.dəː] / /ˈblʌn.dɚ/

noun

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English blundren, blondren (verb) and blunder, blonder (“disturbance, strife”), from the verb; partly from Middle English blondren, a frequentative form of Middle English blonden, blanden ("to mix; mix up"; corresponding to blend + -er); and partly from Middle English blundren, a frequentative form of Middle English blunden (“to stagger; stumble”), from Old Norse blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”). Cognates include Norwegian blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”), dialectal Swedish blundra (“to act blindly or rashly”), Danish blunde (“to blink”) or blunde (“to take a nap”), Icelandic blunda (“to nap; doze”). Related to English blind.

  1. A clumsy or embarrassing mistake.
  2. A very bad move, usually caused by some tactical oversight.
  3. Confusion; bewilderment; trouble; disturbance; clamour.

verb

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English blundren, blondren (verb) and blunder, blonder (“disturbance, strife”), from the verb; partly from Middle English blondren, a frequentative form of Middle English blonden, blanden ("to mix; mix up"; corresponding to blend + -er); and partly from Middle English blundren, a frequentative form of Middle English blunden (“to stagger; stumble”), from Old Norse blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”). Cognates include Norwegian blunda (“to shut the eyes; doze”), dialectal Swedish blundra (“to act blindly or rashly”), Danish blunde (“to blink”) or blunde (“to take a nap”), Icelandic blunda (“to nap; doze”). Related to English blind.

  1. To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.

    to blunder in preparing a medical prescription

  2. To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.
  3. To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.

    blunder a rook

  4. To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid.

    blunder a draw

    blunder a mate in one

  5. To move in an unsteady way.

    I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow.

    blunders on, and staggers every pace

  6. To enter a place or become involved in a difficult situation by mistake.

    He and I had blundered into the middle of a gang fight once and I saw him shank a guy-stuck homeboy in the chest and strolled off cool as you please.

  7. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.

    He blunders and confounds all these together.

    Were a Diſpute to be manag'd purely for a Trial of Skill; then to ſhuffle and digreſs from the Matter in hand, ſo as by any means whatſoever to blunder an Adverſary, and ſtop the Progreſs of his Argument, were a more pardonable Piece of Folly.