Origin: 1250–1300; ME
whitenen; see white, -en 1 
Synonyms:
Whiten, blanch, bleach mean to make or become white. To whiten implies giving a white color or appearance by putting a substance of some kind on the outside: to whiten shoes. To blanch implies taking away natural or original color throughout: to blanch celery by growing it in the dark. To bleach implies making white by placing in (sun) light or by using chemicals: to bleach linen, hair.
Antonyms:
blacken.
[hwahyt-n, wahyt-n] 