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tarnish |
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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