mid-15c. (transitive), from present participle stem of Middle French ternir "dull the luster or brightness of, make dim" (15c.), probably from Old French terne (adj.) "dull, dark," which according to Diez is from a Germanic source cognate with Old High German tarnjan "to conceal, hide," Old English dyrnan "to hide, darken," from Proto-Germanic *darnjaz (see dern), but there are difficulties of form, sense, and date. Intransitive sense from 1670s. Figurative sense is from 1690s. Related: Tarnished; tarnishing.
tarnish (n.)
1713, from tarnish (v.).
例文
1. The tarnish lay thick on the inside of the ring.
指輪の内側に厚い錆が付いている。
2.Moisture leads to the tarnish of the silverware.
湿気により銀器は光沢がない。
3.Wear cotton gloves when cleaning silver,because the acid in your skin can tarnish the metal.
銀洗浄器を洗浄するときは綿手袋を着用しなければなりません。肌の酸性物質が光沢を失わせるからです。
4.The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister.