blot

Everyday

1. A blot is a spot or stain, especially of ink. tree →
2. To blot is to dry or soak up wet ink with paper. tree →
3. To blot out is to hide something completely, so that you cannot see it: the fog blotted out the sun. tree →

In the lessons

in lessons, a blot is a mark spoiling a page of writing; in the tales, a cloud or bird blots out the light, so it goes dark

Examples

• He dropped a blot of ink on his page. tree →
• Blot the page with a tissue. tree →
• A cloud blotted out the sun. tree →
• The huge bird blotted out the light. tree →

Note

nothing for maths

In Jewish tradition

To blot out means to erase a name from God's book, or to wash curses written on a scroll into water. Tradition teaches that God's name written in the scroll is wiped out in the test of the suspected wife, to bring peace in the home.

Interpretation. In the story of the golden calf Moses offers to be blotted out of God's book rather than see Israel destroyed, which tradition takes as the height of his love for his people.

Examples

• And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book. (Torah EXO.32.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness. (Torah NUM.5.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.' (Torah EXO.32.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. (Writings PSA.51.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let his posterity be cut off; in the generation following let their name be blotted out. (Writings PSA.109.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Writings PSA.69.29, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

nothing for maths