verb
blanch
BLANCH/blæntʃ/
To turn pale from shock, fear, or illness.
The man blanches when he lifts a garden pot and discovers a snake.
Etymology
Old French blanchir meant “to whiten,” and English blanch first meant making something white or pale. The sense shifted to becoming pale, as a person's face may do from fear or shock.
More examples
- She blanched when the doctor mentioned surgery.
- He blanches with nausea and reaches for a chair.
- Her face blanches at the news of the accident.
Forms
blanch · blanches · blanched · blanching
pallor noun — Unusual paleness of the skin or face.
Similar words
- pale
- More general; need not suggest sudden shock or fear.
- whiten
- Describes becoming white, not specifically losing facial color.