Besmudge

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To soil or stain with a smudge; to cause to become dirty or blurred by smearing; to mark with an unclean or indistinct spot
2. To make something appear dirty or unclear by spreading a blot or smear; to deface by leaving a greasy or dirty mark; to tarnish the appearance with a blur or smear
3. To damage the clarity or cleanliness of a surface by applying a smudge; to cover with an untidy or messy spot; to spoil the neatness by smearing or smudging

Etymology: The verb "besmudge" is a simple formation: the prefix "be-" added to "smudge." The prefix is an old English device that turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning to cover or affect something thoroughly with the thing named. So "besmudge" means to smear or cover something with smudges. The base word "smudge" is the more interesting half. It is generally thought to be related to dialectal forms meaning to smoke or to make a smoky fire, with the sense of dirt or soot spreading from that. That origin fits the modern meaning well: a smudge is a mark that spreads and blurs, much like smoke. Standard dictionaries do not agree on the exact history of "smudge," so its early roots remain somewhat uncertain. The result is a word that describes not a single stain but a spreading, hazy mark. Its sense of a blur is part of why it can describe tarnishing a reputation or an image as well as a physical surface.

Synonyms: smudge, stain, soil, smear, blemish

Antonyms: clean, cleanse, purify, brighten, polish