blackening

English

Etymology

blacken +‎ -ing

Verb

blackening

1. present participle and gerund of blacken

Noun

blackening (countable and uncountable, plural blackenings)

1. (uncountable) The act or process of turning (becoming) black in colour.
2. (countable) The result or an instance of such an act or process; a black stain or mark.
3. Any of various (dark-colored) surface treatments for metal substrates, to inhibit corrosion; on steel, generally, synonym of bluing.
4. The act of defaming or sullying.

   blackenings of my reputation