blackening

2 definitions found

blackening - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Blacken \Black"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackened; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Blackening.] [See Black, a., and cf. Black, v.
     t. ]
     1. To make or render black.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              While the long funerals blacken all the way. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To make dark; to darken; to cloud. "Blackened the whole
        heavens." --South.
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     3. To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as,
        vice blackens the character.
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     Syn: To denigrate; defame; vilify; slander; calumniate;
          traduce; malign; asperse.
          [1913 Webster]

blackening - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  blackening
      n 1: changing to a darker color [syn: blackening, darkening]