tarnishes
|tar-nish-es|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɑːrnɪʃɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɑːnɪʃɪz/
(tarnish)
dull or damage
Etymology
'tarnish' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'tarnishen', where the root related to making something dull or dark.
'tarnish' changed from Old French forms such as 'ternir'/'tarnir' (meaning to darken or make dull) and Middle English 'tarnishen', and eventually became the modern English word 'tarnish'.
Initially, it meant 'to make dark or dull' (especially of surfaces); over time it broadened to include 'to damage luster' and metaphorically 'to damage reputation or character'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'tarnish': spots, areas, or instances of discoloration or loss of luster on a surface.
There are tarnishes on the silver tray.
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Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'tarnish': (1) to lose luster or to make (a metal surface) less bright or discolored, typically by chemical action; (2) to damage or sully (a reputation, image, etc.).
Contact with air tarnishes the silver.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/04 02:35