Black"en (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackened (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Blackening.] [See Black, a., and cf. Black, v. t. ] 1. To make or render black.

While the long funerals blacken all the way.
Pope.

2. To make dark; to darken; to cloud. "Blackened the whole heavens." South.

3. To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character.

Syn. -- To denigrate; defame; vilify; slander; calumniate; traduce; malign; asperse.

Black"en, v. i. To grow black or dark.

• To make black.
  
• To make dirty.
  
• To defame or sully.
       Malice delights to blacken the characters of prominent men. — Napoleon Bonaparte
  
• To cook (meat or fish) by coating with pepper, etc., and quickly searing in a hot pan.
  
• To become black.
       The sky blackened as the storm clouds rolled in.