"secret, hidden" (obsolete), from Old English derne "concealed, secret, dark," from West Germanic *darnjaz (cognates: Old Saxon derni, Old Frisian dern "concealed, dark," Old High German tarni "secret, concealed, veiled").
As a verb, "to conceal," from Old English diernan "to hide." Compare Old High German tarnjan "to conceal, hide;" German Tarnkappe, Tarnhelm "magical cap or helmet which turns the wearer invisible or allows him to assume any form." Related to dark (adj.). French ternir "to tarnish, to dull" apparently is a Germanic loan-word.
双语例句
1. Why , they're a dern sight worse'n dead people.
唉, 那里比死人还可怕.
来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
2. I wouldn't give a dern for spunk - water. "
我看仙水一文钱不值? ”
来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
3. " Dern'd if I would,'said Huck.
“ 我才不干呢, ” 哈克说.
来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
4. There are precise words and obscure words in mo dern Chinese.
