Antonyms for black

Grammar : Adj, noun

Spell : blak

Phonetic Transcription : blæk

Definition 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

Synonyms for black

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