blight
BLAIT
/blaɪt/
A plant disease, typically one caused by fungi or bacteria, characterized by rapid withering and death; something that spoils or damages.
Suggests a sudden, widespread, and devastating destruction of plant tissue.
The story behind the word. The word entered the English language in the 17th century to describe mysterious atmospheric influences that caused crops to suddenly wither and die. Its exact origins remain a mystery, though it may be linked to words for paleness or skin conditions.
Word relationships
- infestation: An infestation involves pests or insects, whereas blight is specifically a disease caused by pathogens like fungi or bacteria.
- scourge: Scourge is a more dramatic, literary term for any cause of wide suffering, whereas blight is a specific botanical condition.
- boon: A boon is a helpful benefit, the exact opposite of a destructive blight.
Commonly confused with
- mildew: Mildew is a superficial fungal growth, while blight penetrates and rapidly kills the plant's vascular tissues.
Word family
- blighted (adjective): Damaged, ruined, or suffering from blight.
Collocations
- potato blight
- urban blight
- blight the crops
Example sentences
- "A sudden outbreak of fire blight threatened to destroy the entire pear orchard." Agricultural news report
- "The abandoned factories were a blight on the city's landscape." Social commentary
Memory hook
Blight is like a 'black light' that kills the plants. Blight brings ruin.
When not to use
Do not use for slow, natural plant decay or simple underwatering.
Fun facts
- The Late Blight of potato was the biological culprit behind the devastating Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, which changed the course of global history.
Explore more words
dilapidated, degradation, ruin, squalor, deteriorate, sprawl
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