tarnation, n., a., adv. slang (chiefly U.S.).
(tɑːˈneɪʃən)
A variant of darnation, damnation n. 3; app. associated with tarnal.
A. as n.
| 1790 R. Tyler Contrast v. i. 68 Tarnation! That's no laughing matter though. 1801 G. Hanger Life II. 151 The Americans say, Tarnation seize me, or swamp me, if I don't do this or that. 1830 W. Carleton Traits Irish Peasantry I. 49 Tare-nation to the rap itself's in my company. 1832 New England Mag. (Boston) III. 380 We have ‘Tarnation’ and ‘darnation’ for damnation. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 183 Wall, tarnation strike me! 1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling v. 49 Git away, you blasted bacon-thieves!.. Git to tarnation! 1983 C. MacLeod Bilbao Looking-Glass xix. 175 Tarnation! Here comes another o' them mobile camera units. |
B. as adj. Damned, damnable, execrable.
| 1784 W. Wilson in Mem. (1896) 47 They only came to look at the ‘tarnation Tories’ from Canada. 1835–40 Haliburton Clockm. (1862) 54 Now, says he, I'm in a tarnation hurry. 1857 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. (1883) II. 329 After having been all but asphyxiated with tarnation folly. |
C. as adv. Damnably, desperately, execrably.
| 1790 R. Tyler Contrast v. i. (1887) 88 What the rattle makes you look so tarnation glum? 1830 Galt Lawrie T. ii. i, Which is tarnation bad. 1890 Gunter Miss Nobody vi, People..don't call me ‘my good man’, for they know I'm a tarnation bad one when I'm riled, sonny! |