While there were three primary categories of the type of word “blind” can be (noun, adjective/adverb, and verb), what surprised me was how many sub-definitions there were for each category. In my initial thinking on exploring the word blind I thought it could be interesting due to its various forms, but there are actually many more than I could’ve anticipated. The following is just a subset of the multitude of definitions there are.

Noun:

“1. Anything which obstructs the light or sight.”

2. spec. A screen for a window, made of woven material mounted on a roller, of wire gauze, etc.; used to prevent the entrance of too much light, or to keep people from seeing in.

3. A blinker for a horse

4. Fortification. A blindage.

5. Any means or place of concealment. spec. a hiding-place in which a hunter conceals himself from the game. (U.S.).

6. fig. Any thing or action intended to conceal one’s real design; a pretence, a pretext. spec.

7. Naut. A spritsail  [= Dutch blinde] . Obs.

*1535 – Earliest noun form.

8. In Poker, a stake put up by a player before seeing his cards (see quots.); cf. Also attrib. in blind-money.

9. A blind baggage car on a train. U.S.

10. A drunken bout or orgy; a binge.

Adjective/Adverb:

I. Literal

1. a) Destitute of the sense of sight, whether by natural defect or by deprivation. In comparisons, as blind as a bat or †brickbat; also blind as a beetle, blind mole, blind stone (see the ns.); to turn a blind eye:

b. Temporarily deprived of sight, as when dazzled with a bright light.

c. Used punningly of a needle: Eyeless.

d. absol. A blind person, esp. as pl. Those who are blind, as a section of the community.

h. In Poker, to go blind: to put up a blind; hence to go (a specified stake) blind. Hence applied to forms of Poker in which this is done; so blind hand.

i. to go it blind: to act without previous investigation of the circumstances; to plunge without regard to the risks involved.

II. fig. Without perception.

2. a) Of persons, their faculties, etc.; also transf. of things: Lacking in mental perception, discernment, or foresight; destitute of intellectual, moral, or spiritual light.

b. Const. to (in obs.).

c. blind side  n. the unguarded, weak or assailable side of a person or thing, weakness; also, formerly, the unsightly or unpresentable side. Also, the side on which the view is obstructed from sight. In Rugby Football, the side of a scrum opposite to that on which the main line of the opponents’ backs is ranged.

3. a) Undiscriminating, for which no reason can be given; inconsiderate, heedless, reckless.

b) Purposeless; fortuitous, random.

4. Not possessing intelligence or consciousness; acting without discernment.

5. That blinds or misleads: false, deceitful. Obs.

III. Transferred.

…and much, much more.

Verb

1. trans. To make blind, deprive of sight.

a. permanently.

b. temporarily, e.g. by dazzling with a bright light, or by bandaging the eyes: To render insensible to light or colour.

c. Used in vulgar imprecations, as blind me!

3. b) To hide from the understanding, to obscure; to represent as obscure.

4. To come in the way of; to intercept. Obs.

*1303 – Earliest verb form.

…etc.