blacken
pronunciation
How to pronounce blacken in British English: UK [ˈblækən]
How to pronounce blacken in American English: US [ˈblækən]
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- Verb:
- make or become black
- burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
Word Origin
- blacken (v.)
- c. 1200, "become black or dark;" early 14c., "make black, darken, dye (hair);" see black + -en (1). Figurative sense of "to besmirch" (with dishonor, etc.) is from early 15c. Related: Blackened; blackening.
Example
- 1. A smear campaign to blacken the labour party .
- 2. He accused the newspaper of trying to blacken his name .
- 3. Don 't blacken my good name by spreading lies .
- 4. The middle page of a book , blacken it with ink .
- 5. Blacken ovals completely ; erase answers completely .