blacken

/ˈblækən/verb
Middle School
1

To cause to be or become black.

2

To become black.

3

To make dirty.

4

To defame or sully.

5

To cook (meat or fish) by coating with pepper, etc., and quickly searing in a hot pan.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing