Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not soiled; not tarnished; not stained; unblemished: as, untarnished silk; an untarnished reputation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Not tarnished

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (of reputation) free from blemishes

Etymologies

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Examples

  • They are proud to transmit their title untarnished to their descendants, are ready to make serious sacrifices in its behalf, to exercise the rigid self-denials of family control for its sake, and to engrave the motto of "noblesse oblige" on their hearts in order to sustain it; but they bitterly complain that without the majorat, and the transmission of outward, visible supports in land and houses to strengthen it, the empty sound carries little weight.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte Vol. III. (of IV.) William Milligan Sloane 1889

  • Provided that our virtue be high and our name untarnished, then our office may be low and our income meagre, it is not the fault of our talents, and we should not feel oppressed by it.

    Lunheng 1962

  • I like to think that you have come out of all your troubles quite unscathed, young, your name untarnished, your hands clean.

    Don Orsino 1881

  • They have to support the honour of an ancient family, and to hand down the name untarnished to their posterity.

    Diary in America, Series Two Frederick Marryat 1820

  • Ney -- the bravest of the brave -- left alone in Russia at the last with seven hundred foreign recruits, men picked from here and there, called in from the highways and hedges to share the glory of the only Marshal who came back from Moscow with a name untarnished -- Ney and Girard, musket in hand, were the last to cross the bridge, shouting defiance at their Cossack foes, who, when they had hounded the last of the French across the frontier, flung themselves down on the bloodstained snow to rest.

    Barlasch of the Guard Henry Seton Merriman 1882

  • I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Miguel Syjuco 2010

  • It is clear Edwards doesn't have as much experience as Cheney, but as a result of that he has an 'untarnished' feel to him that makes me think he would not put up with any of the standard bullshit that got thrown at him.

    catpewk Diary Entry catpewk 2004

  • Max Abelson and Michael McDonald of Bloomberg News debunked her "untarnished" track record and Spaceballs-worthy jabberwocky:

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Janet Tavakoli 2011

  • These volunteers went before their state leaders because America's natural heritage is important, because clean and untarnished wilderness is vital to public health, and because both are under attack.

    Bill Meadows: Americans Speak up for Our Great Outdoors Bill Meadows 2011

  • Bloomberg also reported that 60 Minutes was wrong about her untarnished' track record.

    Janet Tavakoli: 2011: The Year 60 Minutes Misled Americans About Municipal Bonds Janet Tavakoli 2011

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