blame

[[t]bleɪm[/t]]

v. blamed, blam•ing, n.

1) to hold responsible:

Don't blame me for the delay[/ex]

2) to find fault with; censure:

I don't blame you for leaving[/ex]

3) to place the responsibility for (usu. fol. by on):

to blame a mistake on someone[/ex]

4) inf blast; damn (used as a mild curse):

Blame the rotten luck[/ex]

5) an act of attributing fault; censure; reproof

6) responsibility for anything deserving of censure:

to take the blame for an error[/ex]

•

- to blame

Etymology: 1150–1200; ME < AF, OF blasmer < VL *blastēmāre, for LL blasphēmāre to blaspheme blame′less, adj. blame′less•ly, adv. blame′less•ness, n. blam′er, n. usage: Blame on (They blamed the fight on me), blame alone (They blamed me), and blame for (They blamed me for it) all occur in educated usage and are all acceptable. Blame on is, however, considered informal by some commentators.