v.blanched also blenched, blanch·ing also blench·ing, blanch·es also blench·es
v.tr.
1. To take the color from; bleach.
2. To whiten (a growing plant or plant part) by covering to cut off direct light.
3. To whiten (a metal) by soaking in acid or by coating with tin.
4.
a. To scald (almonds, for example) in order to loosen the skin.
b. To scald (food) briefly, as before freezing or as a preliminary stage in preparing a dish.
5. To cause to turn white or become pale.
v.intr.
To turn white or become pale: Their faces blanched in terror.
[Middle English blaunchen, to make white, from Old French blanchir, from blanche, feminine of blanc, white, of Germanic origin; see bhel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Adj.
1.
blanched – anemic looking from illness or emotion; “a face turned ashen”; “the invalid’s blanched cheeks”; “tried to speak with bloodless lips”; “a face livid with shock”; “lips…livid with the hue of death”- Mary W. Shelley; “lips white with terror”; “a face white with rage”
acme – the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; “his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty”; “the artist’s gifts are at their acme”; “at the height of her career”; “the peak of perfection”; “summer was at its peak”; “…catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame”; “the summit of his ambition”; “so many highest superlatives achieved by man”; “at the top of his profession”
degree, stage, level, point – a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process; “a remarkable degree of frankness”; “at what stage are the social sciences?”
2.
acme – the highest point (of something); “at the peak of the pyramid”
irresolute – uncertain how to act or proceed; “the committee was timid and mediocre and irresolute”
indecisive – not definitely settling something; “a long and indecisive war”
resolute – firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination; “stood resolute against the enemy”; “faced with a resolute opposition”; “a resolute and unshakeable faith”
1. Moving or jumping from one thing to another; disconnected: a desultory speech.
2. Occurring haphazardly; random. See Synonyms at chance.
[Latin dsultrius, leaping, from dsultor, a leaper, from dsultus, past participle of dsilre, to leap down : d-, de- + salre, to jump; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]
desultory – marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another; “desultory thoughts”; “the desultory conversation characteristic of cocktail parties”