Swarthier

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Displaying a more tanned or darker skin hue than typical subjects
2. Characterized by a complexion that is deeper in tone and more shadowed compared to others
3. Having a skin color noticeably deeper or more sun-darkened than average

Etymology: "Swarthier" is the comparative of "swarthy," so it means "more swarthy," and the comparative ending is the only piece that needs explaining: English simply adds "-ier" to the adjective. The real story lies in the stem. "Swarthy" is an alteration of the older "swarty," which was built from "swart," meaning black, dark, or dusky, with the suffix "-y" attached. "Swart" descends from Old English "sweart," which meant black, so a word now used for a tanned or weathered complexion began as a plain colour term for black. The change from "swarty" to "swarthy" came through a reshaping of the spelling and sound that made the word look more like "swart" plus "-hy" or "-th," so the modern form is the result of an alteration rather than a straightforward extension of the older root.

Synonyms: darker, browner

Antonyms: fairer, lighter