tarnish

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

   Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.

2. 2
   verb

   To compromise, damage, soil, or sully.

   He is afraid that she will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees with her.

From Middle English ternysshen, from Old French terniss-, stem of ternir (“to make dim, make wan”), borrowed from Old High German *ternen, tarnen, from Proto-West Germanic *darnijan (“to conceal”). Doublet of dern and darn.

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