Darken

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdɑː(ɹ)kÉ™n/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)kÉ™n

Origin

From Middle English derkenen, dirkenen, from Old English *deorcnian, *diercnian ("to darken"), equivalent to dark + -en. Cognate with Scots derken, durken ("to darken"), Old High German tarchanjan, terchinen ("to darken"), Middle High German terken, derken ("to darken").

Full definition of darken

Verb

1. (transitive) To make dark or darker by reducing light.
• Bible, Exodus x. 15They locusts covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened.
2. (intransitive) To become dark or darker (having less light).
3. (transitive) To make dark or darker in colour.
4. (intransitive) To become dark or darker in colour.
5. (transitive) To render gloomy, darker in mood
• ShakespeareWith these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not
  The mirth of the feast.
6. (intransitive) To become gloomy, darker in mood
7. (transitive) To blind, impair eyesight
• Bible, Rom xi. 10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see.
8. (intransitive) To be blinded, loose clear vision
9. To cloud, obscure, or perplex; to render less clear or intelligible.
• Bible, Job xxxviii. 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
• Francis BaconSuch was his wisdom that his confidence did seldom darken his foresight.
10. To make foul; to sully; to tarnish.
• ShakespeareI must not think there are
  Evils enough to darken all his goodness.

Derived terms

• darkener
• darken someone's door

Synonyms

• blacken

Anagrams

• danker
• endark
• Kendra
• narked
• ranked