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Synonyms for black


Grammar : Adj, noun
Spell : blak
Phonetic Transcription : blæk

Top 10 synonyms for black Other synonyms for the word black

Définition of black

Origin :
  • Old English blæc "dark," from Proto-Germanic *blakaz "burned" (cf. Old Norse blakkr "dark," Old High German blah "black," Swedish bläck "ink," Dutch blaken "to burn"), from PIE *bhleg- "to burn, gleam, shine, flash" (cf. Greek phlegein "to burn, scorch," Latin flagrare "to blaze, glow, burn"), from root *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn;" see bleach (v.).
  • The same root produced Old English blac "bright, shining, glittering, pale;" the connecting notions being, perhaps, "fire" (bright) and "burned" (dark). The usual Old English word for "black" was sweart (see swart). According to OED: "In ME. it is often doubtful whether blac, blak, blake, means 'black, dark,' or 'pale, colourless, wan, livid.' " Used of dark-skinned people in Old English.
  • Of coffee, first attested 1796. Meaning "fierce, terrible, wicked" is late 14c. The color of sin and sorrow since at least c.1300; sense of "with dark purposes, malignant" emerged 1580s (e.g. black magic). Black face in reference to a performance style originated in U.S., is from 1868. Black flag, flown (especially by pirates) as a signal of "no mercy," from 1590s. Black dog "melancholy" attested from 1826. Black belt is from 1875 in reference to districts of the U.S. South with heaviest African population; 1870 with reference to fertility of soil; 1913 in judo sense. Black power is from 1966, associated with Stokely Carmichael.
  • adj dark, inky
  • adj hopeless
  • adj dirty
  • adj angry
  • adj evil
  • noun african-american
Example sentences :
  • A vote was taken on the question of exile, and the black pebbles predominated.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • “Moors be not all black, neither be they all worshippers of Mahound,” replied Ambrose.
  • Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
  • No; it has two stacks; and it's not your people because the Lotus is black.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • But this slab of black basalt was different from anything that had ever been discovered.
  • Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
  • Many of them were black, and a good share were of the female sex.
  • Extract from : « Harriet, The Moses of Her People » by Sarah H. Bradford
  • Charles had said as he fingered his throat, which was patched with black and blue.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • And we'll say nothing to Dick until we've got it all in black and white.
  • Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
  • In other words, a great part of his gold has sprung from the blood of black slaves.
  • Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook
  • Bill Dozier was with him, Bill who was the black sheep in the fine old Dozier family.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • He reined the pinto under the trees to look up at that tall, black mass.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

Antonyms for black

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019