the darkest shade of black, or used figuratively to mean the most evil, dark, or depressing.
Superlative form of 'black,' from Old English 'blæc' meaning dark or soot-colored. The word's metaphorical use for evil or despair dates back to medieval times.
English speakers have always used darkness as a metaphor for evil—the 'blackest day,' the 'blackest heart'—which tells us that ancient people associated light with goodness and safety, reflecting our deep primal fears of darkness.
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