Added 8 October 2026

darken

/ˈdɑɹkən/ verb

In Latin: nigresco Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about darken at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To make dark or darker by reducing light.
To become dark or darker (having less light).
To get dark (referring to the sky, either in the evening or as a result of cloud).

From Middle English derkenen, dirkenen, from Old English *deorcnian, *diercnian (“to darken”), from Proto-West Germanic *dirkinōn (“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”).