2006-08-13 11:41:10 · 9 answers · asked by Who's Barry Badarnath? 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
According to http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=what+in+tarnation%3F!%3F!&defid=126504 , "What in tarnation?" is a term used by those south of the Mason-Dixon line. Used to describe suprising or shocking situations (similiar usage as "what the f*ck").
And according to http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961218
the history of the phrase is as follows:
The exact meaning of tarnation is hard to pinpoint, because it's used as an oath in relatively vague constructions.
But in many cases, "hell" or "the devil" would be a good substitute. It can be used as an interjection (just "Tarnation!," like "damn!"); as an intensive in various ways ("What in tarnation are you talkin' about?"); as a substitute for "hell" or "the devil" ("Well, tarnation strike me!"--James Joyce, Ulysses); as an adjective meaning 'damned' ("I'm in a tarnation hurry"); or as a vaguely intensive adverb like "damnably" ("He's tarnation bad").
Tarnation is probably a blend of tarnal, which is a dialect pronunciation of eternal and which was used as a mild oath, and darnation, a euphemistic variant of damnation. ("Darn" itself is also a euphemism for "damn"; its origin is obscure.) Tarnation is originally and chiefly an Americanism. It is first attested in the late eighteenth century in New England.
2006-08-13 11:46:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Define Tarnation
2016-10-05 03:17:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The exact meaning of tarnation is hard to pinpoint, because it's used as an oath in relatively vague constructions.
But in many cases, "hell" or "the devil" would be a good substitute. It can be used as an interjection (just "Tarnation!," like "damn!"); as an intensive in various ways ("What in tarnation are you talkin' about?"); as a substitute for "hell" or "the devil" ("Well, tarnation strike me!"--James Joyce, Ulysses); as an adjective meaning 'damned' ("I'm in a tarnation hurry"); or as a vaguely intensive adverb like "damnably" ("He's tarnation bad").
Tarnation is probably a blend of tarnal, which is a dialect pronunciation of eternal and which was used as a mild oath, and darnation, a euphemistic variant of damnation. ("Darn" itself is also a euphemism for "damn"; its origin is obscure.) Tarnation is originally and chiefly an Americanism. It is first attested in the late eighteenth century in New England. "
2006-08-13 11:48:06 · answer #3 · answered by ted_armentrout 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What in tarnation is a way of asking what the frick is going on.
2006-08-13 11:46:42 · answer #4 · answered by Darth Vader 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mmmmm, sausage, ripple and cheap cigars. Only your better Holy Bunny churches have that as communion. Or you can get the same effect if you down 36 chocolate/marshmellow eggs and 197 1/2 chocolate eggs (small sized), then try to get up. You get that 'swimmy' head feeling.
2016-03-17 00:02:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Tarnation" is actually a contraction of "eternal damnation," and is thus essentially a euphamism for "Hell. "'Tarnal" is a dialectical variant of "eternal." Compare "blimey" ("God blind me!") or even "zounds" (God's wounds!").
2006-08-13 11:50:10 · answer #6 · answered by blalskdja 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its Incarnation, which means Personification.
Whatz Up?
2006-08-13 11:52:44 · answer #7 · answered by Michael K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mother used this frequently when I was growing up. When asked, she told me it was a butchered version of "Entire Nation." Sounds right to me!
2006-08-13 12:27:52 · answer #8 · answered by Ronda F 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a politer way, or "sanitised" way of saying "damnation".
2006-08-13 12:34:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋