blur
UK: blɜː | US: blɜːr
n. a shape or area that is not clear or distinct
vt. to make something difficult to see or remember clearly
vi. to become unclear or indistinct
The word "blur" originated in the mid-16th century, likely as an onomatopoeic or imitative term, suggesting the indistinctness of a smeared or obscured image. It may derive from the Middle English "blarren" (to bleat, roar), reflecting a sense of confusion or indistinct sound, later extended to visual obscurity. Unlike many words with clear Latin or Greek roots, "blur" is a compact, monomorphic term with no separable morphemes in modern English. Its evolution emphasizes the sensory experience of haziness, whether visual or cognitive.
The photo was a blur due to the camera shaking.
Tears blurred her vision as she read the letter.
Over time, the details of the event blurred in his memory.
The fog blurred the outline of the distant mountains.
His hurried notes were just a blur of illegible scribbles.