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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Tarnish \Tar"nish\, verb (used with an object) [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}, adjective, 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.
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |