v. Obs. Forms: 4 enblemisch, emblemysh, -ysch, 6 emblemmissh, -bleamish, 7 imblemish. [f. EN- + BLEMISH; AFr. had emblemir.] trans. a. To damage, injure, maim; b. to deface, disfigure.
c. 1384. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 362. And bi sich blyndenesse in cursing many curseris emblemyshen hemsilf.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Lucrece (Camb. MS.). And hire teris … Emblemyschid [other texts embellished] hire wifly chastite.
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 137. I fele my name and fame greatly emblemmisshed.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 36. I … by my fond tempring afore hand embleamish the beauty.
1671. F. Philipps, Reg. Necess., 472. The said Richard Chedder was imblemished and maimed to the peril of death.
Hence Emblemishing vbl. sb.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 406/1. The great emblemishing of Christian faith.
