# blacken

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈblækən/ · frequency rank #70,504

## Definitions
1. To cause to be or become black.
2. To become black.
3. To make dirty.
4. To defame or sully.
5. To cook (meat or fish) by coating with pepper, etc., and quickly searing in a hot pan.

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

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/blacken