tarnish
nounEtymology
From Middle English ternysshen, from Old French terniss-, stem of ternir (“to make dim, make wan”), borrowed from Old High German *ternen, tarnen, from Proto-West Germanic *darnijan (“to conceal”). Doublet of dern and darn.
- derived from *ternen✻
- derived from ternir
- inherited from ternysshen
Definitions
Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
- Limiting the use of silver to special occasions might invite tarnish unless the pieces are carefully protected.
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
- Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.
To compromise, damage, soil, or sully.
- He is afraid that she will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees with her.
- I have next shown you the Greeks, and " the wisdom" of their philosophy, often travesting, sometimes tarnishing the Christian religion : […]
- The greed that many players show tarnishes the game.
›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer
To lose its lustre or attraction
To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
- Till thy freſh Glories, vvhich novv ſhine ſo bright, / Grovv Stale and Tarniſh vvith our daily ſight.
To use a sign, image, expression, etc. sufficiently close to a trademarked one that it…
To use a sign, image, expression, etc. sufficiently close to a trademarked one that it brings disrepute to it.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
A definitional loop anchored at tarnish. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.
A definitional loop anchored at tarnish. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.
5 hops · closes at tarnish
curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA