The phrase "blots out" refers to the act of obscuring, covering, or eliminating something. Its phonetic transcription in IPA is /blɑts/ /aʊt/. The first syllable is pronounced with a voiced bilabial stop /b/ followed by a lax open-mid back vowel /ɑ/. The second syllable has a voiceless dental fricative /θ/ and an unrounded tense /s/. The third syllable consists of a mid-lax back vowel /aʊ/ and a voiceless alveolar plosive /t/. The spelling of the word "blots out" conforms to English orthography rules.
Blots out is a phrasal verb that refers to the action of completely obscuring or erasing something. It can be used both literally and figuratively.
In a literal sense, the term often describes the act of covering or smudging a surface in a way that renders the original image or writing indistinguishable. For example, if one spills ink on a piece of paper and it spreads over the words, it blots out the text by making it illegible. In this case, blots out signifies the physical obstruction or cancellation of something visually or textually.
Figuratively, blots out is used to describe the obliterating or overshadowing of something non-tangible, such as memories, emotions, or thoughts. For instance, when an individual experiences a traumatic event, they may try to blot out the memory to protect themselves from the pain. In this context, blots out refers to the deliberate suppression or repression of specific memories or feelings.
Additionally, blots out can be employed metaphorically to convey the idea of overshadowing or overwhelming. For example, if a sudden tragedy occurs, it may blot out one's joy or happiness, as the overwhelming sadness consumes them.
Overall, whether taken literally or figuratively, blots out implies a process of obscuring, erasing, or suppressing something, be it physical, emotional, or conceptual, resulting in its substantial removal or diminishment.
The phrase "blots out" consists of two main components: "blots" and "out".
The term "blots" is actually the third-person singular form of the verb "blot". Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English word "blotian", which means "to spot, stain, or make something dirty". The word "blot" itself is derived from the Old Norse word "blotr", which means "a spot or a stain".
The word "out" has its roots in Old English as well, coming from the Old English word "ūt", which means "outside" or "out of". It has remained relatively unchanged throughout its evolution to its present form.
So, when combined, the phrase "blots out" implies the act of completely covering or obscuring something by staining or dirtying it, causing it to vanish from view or consciousness.