TARNISH

I. verb Etymology: Middle English ternysshen, from Middle French terniss-, stem of ternir, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German tarnan to hide Date: 15th century transitive verb to dull or destroy the luster of by or as if by air, dust, or dirt ; soil , stain , 2. to detract from the good quality of ; vitiate , to bring disgrace on ; sully , intransitive verb to become ~ed, ~able adjective II. noun Date: 1684 something that ~es