Dimly or unclear in vision; with eyes watery, tired, or obscured; also meaning vague or unclear.
From Middle English 'blere,' possibly from Old Norse 'bleyra.' The word originally described a physical eye condition, then expanded metaphorically to mean any kind of obscured perception or vagueness.
Before glasses or contacts, 'blear-eyed' was one of the most common complaints—wet marketplaces, smoky fires, and dust meant most people went around with perpetually tired, watery eyes!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.