Bedim

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /bɪˈdɪm/

Definitions

1. To lessen the brightness or clarity of an object, causing it to appear muted or less distinct in terms of visibility or light reflectance
2. To reduce the intensity of light or color so that something appears less vivid or clear
3. To cause an image or environment to become faint or shadowed by decreasing its light or shine

Etymology: The verb "bedim" is a straightforward formation: the prefix "be-" attached to the adjective "dim." The prefix comes from Old English "be-", which could turn a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to cover, affect, or make something in the manner of" the base word. Its ancestry runs back through Proto-Germanic and into the very old Indo-European root that also gave rise to the idea of "up" or "over." "Dim" is much older in English than the prefix-plus-word combination. Its own roots are in Middle English and it was used as an adjective meaning "not bright" or "obscure" long before anyone needed a verb for the process. Once speakers had "dim" as a quality, adding "be-" let them describe the act of making something dim, so that a light, a view, or a reputation could be said to be bedimmed.

Synonyms: darken, diminish

Antonyms: brighten, illuminate