Bleariest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having the most blurred, dim, or unfocused appearance in vision or expression
2. Showing the greatest lack of clarity or sharpness in sight or in a facial look
3. Exhibiting the highest degree of fuzziness or cloudiness visually or in one's gaze

Etymology: "Bleariest" is the superlative of "bleary," so it is the most blurred or watery-eyed of anything being compared. The base word is "blear," which in Middle English meant to dim or blur the sight, with the adjective-making suffix "-y" added to give "blery." The verb itself is believed to have described eyes clouded by tears or fatigue, and the sense of dimness spread from the eyes to whatever looked hazy or indistinct. Old English offers a surprising relative in "bleriġ," which meant "bald," and some scholars have linked the two words, though the connection between a bare head and dim eyes is not firmly established. The overlap is a reminder that Old English vocabulary can look unrelated to modern senses until the older meanings are traced.

Synonyms: fuzziest, dimmest, haziest, cloudiest, murkiest

Antonyms: clearest, sharpest, brightest