blacken

English

/ˈblækən/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To cause to be or become black.
  • (intransitive) To become black.
  • (transitive) To make dirty.
  • To defame or sully.
  • (transitive) To cook (meat or fish) by coating with pepper, etc., and quickly searing in a hot pan.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English blaknen affix from English black (dark haired, black haired).

Origin

English

black

Gloss

dark haired, black haired

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms