Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
BLIGHT
I. noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1578
1. a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and death of parts (as leaves and tubers), an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes blight, something that frustrates plans or hopes, something that impairs or destroys, a deteriorated condition ,
II. verb
Date: 1664
transitive verb to affect (as a plant) with blight, to impair the quality or effect of , intransitive verb to suffer from or become affected with blight