The verb "blacken out" means to become or cause something to be covered in black or darkness. The spelling of this word can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as /blækən aʊt/. The first syllable "black" is pronounced with a short "a" sound and the "ck" cluster. The second syllable "en" is pronounced with a short "e" sound and the "n" consonant. Lastly, the word ends with the two-syllable word "out" pronounced with an "aʊ" diphthong and a voiceless "t" consonant.
Blacken out is a phrasal verb that can be used in various contexts to describe the action of obscuring, covering, or making something completely black or dark. It can refer to the physical act of applying black paint or substance on an object to make it indistinguishable or to remove any distinguishable features. For example, one can blacken out a text by covering it with a layer of black ink or by using a permanent marker to render it unreadable.
Additionally, blacken out can also describe the action of rendering someone unconscious or causing them to lose consciousness, leading to a temporary period of memory loss. This can happen due to extreme stress, traumatic experiences, or the use of certain substances. For instance, a person may blacken out after the impact of a serious car accident, and they may not remember anything that occurred during that specific period.
Moreover, blacken out can be used metaphorically to express the erasure or removal of specific memories, information, or details from one's mind. This could be intentional, as in deliberately forgetting or suppressing painful experiences, or it could be unintentional due to a lapse in memory or mental health issues.
Overall, blacken out encompasses the ideas of darkening, obscuring, rendering unconscious, and forgetting, depending on the specific context in which it is used.
The phrase "blacken out" does not have a specific etymology as it is formed through the combination of two separate words: "blacken" and "out". However, we can examine the etymology of each individual word to understand the origins of the phrase.
1. Blacken:
The term "blacken" dates back to Old English, where the word was spelled "blæcan" and meant "to make black". It derived from the Proto-Germanic word "blakaz", which also meant "black". The word "blacken" is formed by adding the suffix "-en" to the word "black", which indicates a change or transformation.
2. Out:
The word "out" originated from Old English as well, spelled as "ūt". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "ūt", which had a similar meaning referring to something external or beyond.