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Webster 1913 Edition

Tarnish

Tar′nish

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tarnished
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Tarnishing
.]
[F.
ternir
, fr. OHG.
tarnen
to darken, to conceal, hide; akin to OS.
dernian
to hide, AS.
dernan
,
dyrnan
, OHG.
tarni
hidden, OS.
derni
, AS.
derne
,
dyrne
. Cf.
Dern
,
Adj.
, and see
-ish
.]
To soil, or change the appearance of, especially by an alternation induced by the air, or by dust, or the like; to diminish, dull, or destroy the luster of; to sully;
as, to
tarnish
a metal; to
tarnish
gilding; to
tarnish
the purity of color
.
“Tarnished lace.”
Fuller.
Used also figuratively;
as, to
tarnish
one’s honor
.
Syn. – To sully; stain; dim.

Tar′nish

,
Verb.
I.
To lose luster; to become dull;
as, gilding will
tarnish
in a foul air
.
Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright,
Grow stale and
tarnish
with our daily sight.
Dryden.

Tar′nish

,
Noun.
1.
The quality or state of being tarnished; stain; soil; blemish.
2.
(Min.)
A thin film on the surface of a metal, usually due to a slight alteration of the original color;
as, the steel
tarnish
in columbite
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tarnish

T`ARNISH

, v.t.
1.
To sully; to soil by an alteration induced by the air, or by dust and the like; to diminish or destroy luster; as, to tarnish a metal; to tarnish gilding; to tarnish the brightness or beauty of color.
2.
To diminish or destroy the purity of; as to tarnish reputation or honor.

T`ARNISH

,
Verb.
I.
To lose luster; to become dull; as, polished substances of gilding will tarnish in the course of time. Metals tarnish by oxydation.

Definition 2024

tarnish

tarnish

English

Noun

tarnish ‎(uncountable)

  1. Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.

Translations

Verb

tarnish ‎(third-person singular simple present tarnishes, present participle tarnishing, simple past and past participle tarnished)

  1. (intransitive) To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
    Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.
  2. (transitive) To soil, sully, damage or compromise
    He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.
  3. (intransitive, figuratively) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
    • Dryden
      Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, / Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.

Translations

Etymology

From Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir ‎(“to make dull, deaden, tarnish”), from Old French ternir ‎(“to make dim, make wan”), from Frankish *tarnjan ‎(“to cover up, conceal, hide”), from Proto-Germanic *darnijaną ‎(“to conceal”), from Proto-Indo-European *dher(ǝ)-, *dhrē- ‎(“to hold, hold tight, support”). Cognate with Old High German *tarnjan, tarnen ‎(“to hide, cover up, conceal”) (Modern German tarnen), Old English dyrnan, diernan ‎(“to keep secret, conceal, hide, restrain, repress”). More at dern, darn.

Pronunciation

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