Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- adj. Chiefly New England & Upper Southern U.S. Damned. See Regional Note at tarnation.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- An epithet of reprobation: used as a piece of mild profanity.
Etymologies
Examples
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'Twas 'cause it took him so 'tarnal long to dig a basket, that the pertaters grew ahead of him in the row -- that's right!
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"Boys, I'm drinking, and I don't care, fur my spunk's up, and I'd just's soon bet her all the first bet; them tarnal fellers guzzled me out of $1,000 in Cincinnater, and I wants ter get even."
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"You wouldn't feel it so, if ye hadn't been too 'tarnal lazy to change yer seat," sniffed his wife.
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"I don't feel good in the tarnal stuff things, nohow."
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'Pears to me it's tarnal long abeout it; it ollers acts contrairy when mother's in a hurry for her tea!'
Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No 3, September 1863 Devoted to Literature and National Policy
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He's talked about ye every tarnal day since he first seen ye, an 'they ain't been nothin' in his mind since, except yer welfare.
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"Guess that memorial service must be all over, from the racket they're makin 'with them tarnal carts," he said.
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Does dirty work fer any tarnal critter at'll pay him well fer it.
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"Who holds the key to that tarnal hole, anyway, Tad?"
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You're so tarnal lazy, you think dinner time is early.
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