blacken Hear it!

blacken Definition

blacken (blak′ən)

intransitive verb

to become black or dark

Etymology: ME blaknen < blak, black

transitive verb

  1. to make black; darken
  2. to hurt or damage by slander, libel, etc. to blacken a reputation

blacken Related Forms
black′·ener noun
blacken Synonyms

blacken

v.

  1. To make black

    darken, nigrify, make black, begrime; see dirty, shade 2.

  2. To smirch

    sully, tarnish, attack; see slander.

  3. To become black

    grow black, grow dark, dim, deepen; see shade 3.

blacken Usage Examples

Object

  • sky: When I arrived the heavens opened and the sky blackened just in time to see... .
  • ruin: They could see the village below them at some distance: a collection of blackened ruins, ghostly in the glare of day.
  • timber: There were also blackened roof timbers under layers of old plaster from a smoke hole of about 1300.
  • smoke: We have successfully analyzed DNA from smoke blackened thatch from Cruck Cottage, Oxfordshire, dating from the 13th or 14th century.
  • face: With blackened faces, the group would sing at houses in hopes for coins, gifts or food.
  • reputation: The wolf's blackened reputation was irreclaimable for centuries.

Preposition: with

  • soot: The script is engraved into the pole with a knife, then blackened with soot.
  • age: A brass foundry has some black houses nearby the walls were externally clad with copper sheets, now blackened with age.

Subject

  • frost: Pots emerging, a little blackened by last frost.
  • smoke: The older the gods are, and the more blackened by incense smoke, the more venerable and potent they will be.
  • fire: Its walls are blackened by fire, yet most of the folders are intact.

Modifying Another Word

  • slightly: Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30-40 minutes or until slightly blackened.
  • completely: He struggles to his feet, his exposed skin now completely blackened by a chemical reaction.
  • now: A brass foundry has some black houses nearby the walls were externally clad with copper sheets, now blackened with age.
  • not: The larger diameter collagen fibers formed from Type I collagen are not blackened by silver.
  • equally: Have limited import mistake hindered the produced equally blackened images thompson's letter to.
  • all: Grill 15 to 20 minutes or until garlic is tender and red pepper is blackened all over; turn pepper every 5 minutes.

Preposition: by

  • frost: Pots emerging, a little blackened by last frost.
  • smoke: The older the gods are, and the more blackened by incense smoke, the more venerable and potent they will be.
  • fire: Its walls are blackened by fire, yet most of the folders are intact.