tarnish

English

Etymology

From Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir (“to make dull, deaden, tarnish”), from Old French ternir (“to make dim, make wan”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *tarnjan (“to cover up, conceal, hide”), from Proto-Germanic *darnijanan (“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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Noun

tarnish (uncountable)

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

Verb

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

1. To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

   Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.

2. To soil, sully, damage or compromise

   He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.