TARNATION

Etymology

Noun

tarnation (countable and uncountable, plural tarnations)

(archaic) The act or process of damnation or reprobation; hell.

(obsolete) Someone or something that causes trouble; troublemaker.

Interjection

tarnation

(archaic) Used to express anger, irritation, disappointment, annoyance, contempt, etc.

Adjective

tarnation (comparative more tarnation, superlative most tarnation)

Bothersome; devilish.

Generic intensifier.

Adverb

tarnation (comparative more tarnation, superlative most tarnation)

Very; extremely.

Usage notes

This New Englandism has fallen out of use in New England, but is remembered for its colorfulness and is still used in the Southeastern United States as a minced oath, where ‘hell’ or ‘damn’ would otherwise be said, especially in the phrase "what in tarnation".