Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Blunder?

\Blun"der\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Blundered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Blundering}.] [OE. blunderen, blondren, to stir, confuse, blunder; perh. allied to blend to mix, to confound by mixture.] 1. To make a gross error or mistake; as, to blunder in writing or preparing a medical prescription. --Swift. 2. To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble. I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow. --Goldsmith. Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place, And blunders on, and staggers every pace. --Dryden. {To blunder on}. (a) To continue blundering. (b) To find or reach as if by an accident involving more or less stupidity, -- applied to something desirable; as, to blunder on a useful discovery.
\Blun"der\, v. t. 1. To cause to blunder. [Obs.] ``To blunder an adversary.'' --Ditton. 2. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse. He blunders and confounds all these together. --Stillingfleet.
\Blun"der\, n. 1. Confusion; disturbance. [Obs.] 2. A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity, or culpable ignorance. Syn: {Blunder}, {Error}, {Mistake}, {Bull}. Usage: An error is a departure or deviation from that which is right or correct; as, an error of the press; an error of judgment. A mistake is the interchange or taking of one thing for another, through haste, inadvertence, etc.; as, a careless mistake. A blunder is a mistake or error of a gross kind. It supposes a person to flounder on in his course, from carelessness, ignorance, or stupidity. A bull is a verbal blunder containing a laughable incongruity of ideas.