4 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Tarnish \Tar"nish\, v. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Tarnish \Tar"nish\, n.
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Tarnish \Tar"nish\, v. 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}, a., 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.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
tarnish
n : discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
v : make dirty or spotty; also used metaphorically: "The silver
was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her
reputation was sullied after the affair with a married
man" [syn: {maculate}, {sully}, {defile}]
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