[ad. L. bland-us soft, smooth, caressing.]
1. Of persons, their actions, etc.: Smooth and suave in manner; mildly soothing or coaxing; gentle.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 12 Sept. With some bland counsel of his.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 855. With bland words at will.
1774. Goldsm., Retal., 140. His manners were gentle, complying, & bland.
1801. Southey, Garci Ferrand., II. iii. Winning eye and action bland.
1828. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 93. Bland satire on his friends.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 439. A bland temper and winning manners.
1878. Black, Green Past., xv. 120. A bland and benevolent face.
2. Of things: Soft, mild, pleasing to the senses; gentle, genial, balmy, soothing.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 5. Temperat vapours bland.
1820. Keats, St. Agnes, xi. The sound of merriment and chorus bland.
1872. C. King, Mountain. Sierra Nev., vi. 122. The air was bland, the heavens cloudless.
b. Of medicines: Mild, unirritating. Of food: Not stimulating. (Cf. quot. 1667 in 2).
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., I. 671/2. A very small force only is requisite to cause bland fluids to follow the course of blood.
1876. Duhring, Dis. Skin, 92. Bland oils are serviceable in softening scales and crusts.
1878. Holbrook, Hyg. Brain, 111. The food should be bland.
¶ quasi-advb. (in poetry).
1596. Spenser, Hymn to Beauty, 171. That base affection, which your eares would bland Commend to you by Loves abused name.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Poet’s Vow, II. They clasping bland his gift.
