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Added 9 October 2026

blacken

/ˈblækən/ verb

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about blacken at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Make or become black.
The smoke blackened the ceiling
Burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color.
The cook blackened the chicken breast

Origin

From Middle English blaknen, blakkenen, equivalent to black + -en (verbal suffix).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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