|
|
black
- Main Entry:
- 1black
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈblak\
- Function:
- adjective
- Etymology:
- Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a: of the color black b (1): very dark in color <his face was black with rage> (2): having a very deep or low register <a bass with a black voice> (3): heavy, serious <the play was a black intrigue>2 a: having dark skin, hair, and eyes : swarthy <the black Irish> b (1)often capitalized : of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin <black Americans> (2): of or relating to the African-American people or their culture <black literature> <a black college> <black pride> <black studies> (3): typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of black culture <trying to sound black> <tried to play blacker jazz>3: dressed in black4: dirty, soiled <hands black with grime>5 a: characterized by the absence of light <a black night> b: reflecting or transmitting little or no light <black water> c: served without milk or cream <black coffee>6 a: thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked <a black deed> b: indicative of condemnation or discredit <got a black mark for being late>7: connected with or invoking the supernatural and especially the devil <black magic>8 a: very sad, gloomy, or calamitous <black despair> b: marked by the occurrence of disaster <black Friday>9: characterized by hostility or angry discontent : sullen <black resentment filled his heart>10chiefly British : subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union11 aof propaganda : conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale b: characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda <black radio>12: characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire <black humor>13: of or relating to covert intelligence operations <black government programs>
— black·ish \ˈbla-kish\ adjective — black·ly adverb
— black·ness noun
|
|
|
|
