varnishn.1
/ˈvɑːnɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈvɑrnɪʃ/ 1. in extended use.1720 A. Pope Verses Addison's Medals 31 This, the blue vernish, that, the green endears, The sacred rust of twice ten hundred years.1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. iii. 48 By encrusting them with a black varnish of soot.1838 R. W. Emerson Oration before Lit. Societies 7 The sense of spiritual independence is like the lovely varnish of the dew.figurative.1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi II. iv. iii. 131 The varnish of power brings forth at once the defects and the beauties of the human portrait.1860 R. W. Emerson Behaviour in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 149 They [sc. manners] form at last a rich varnish, with which the routine of life is washed.1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 Feb. 1/2 There is a film of Levantine varnish around the court at Constantinople.
a. Resinous matter dissolved in some liquid and used for spreading over a surface in order to give this a hard, shining, transparent coat, by which it is made more durable or ornamental.In early use, dry resinous matter for making a solution of this kind.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > painting or coating materials > [noun] > varnish
varnish1341
vernix1573
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > equipment for painting or drawing > [noun] > varnish
mastic varnish1510
white varnish1560
varnish1633
brush-varnish1875
α.
β. 1546 in Surrey Archæol. Coll. (1869) 4 106 Item for ij lb. of varnysch, ij s. viij d.1620 in J. Harland House & Farm Accts. Shuttleworths (1856) II. 244 Three pound of varnishe for the caroache, xxjd.1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words Varnish, is that wherewith a picture is rubbed over to make it shine and have a glosse; there is also a ground or varnish which is laid upon a plate that is to be etched.1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Wounds Let him drop some Varnish with a Feather to the bottom.1777 J. Cook Voy. S. Pole II. iii. xi. 146 As we had neither pitch, tar, nor rosin, left to pay the seams, this was done with varnish of pine.1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 86 As wood, and many other substances..are porous and apt to imbibe water,..it is proper to give them a coat of varnish.1843 C. J. Lever Jack Hinton 66 Like the varnish upon a picture, it brings out all the colour into strong effect.1894 S. R. Bottone Electr. Instr. Making (ed. 6) 60 When the sectors are firmly stuck down to the glass, and the varnish quite dry.in extended use.1785 W. Cowper Task i. 40 Now came the cane from India, smooth and bright With Nature's varnish.1341–2 in F. R. Chapman Sacrist Rolls Ely (1907) II. 121 In vj libr. de albo vernich, prec. lbr. iijd.
1358 in Pipe Roll 32 Edw. III m. 34/1 b In .iiij. Mill'de vernisshe; .v. lb de vermeillone.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. v. 70 Venim or vernisch or vinegre, I trouwe, Walleþ in my wombe.
14.. in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 163 For to make wernysch.—Take a galon of good ale, and put thereto iij ounces of gumme of Arabyke [etc.].
1466 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 349 My mastyr receyvid of Fynches man of Colchestre a li. of vernyshe, pryse .vj.d.
1501 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 64 For iij vnce quhit vernys.
1507 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1902) IV. 90 Caddes, verneis, rede lede.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 284/2 Vernysshe, uernys.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xv. 99 b They vse by continuall artifice Terebinthe and vernish.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres v. 135 Aqua vitæ, liquid vernize..arsenike.
1633 J. Hart Κλινικη i. xvii. 69 The oile of walnuts is..used..by painters for vernice.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 285 Apelles..did by an inimitable invention anoint his finished workes with..a thinne kinde of inke or vernish.
1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick xvi. 341 Powder Iuniper-gum, which Scriveners call Vernish, and add it to the rest.
1706 J. Stevens New Spanish Dict. i Barniz, Vernish.
b. With a and plural. A special preparation of this nature.Many varieties are enumerated in special works from Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (1753) onwards.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > painting or coating materials > [noun] > varnish > a particular preparation of
varnish1667
α.
β. 1692 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 420 A pattent is past for the invention of a varnish to preserve guns, &c. from rust.1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. (at cited word) The Varnishes used by the Chinese are two.1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VIII. 24 It is only formed by a beautiful brown varnish, laid upon a white ground.1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 538 Dragon's blood..is used also to give a red colour to varnishes.1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 235 In using the varnishes..care must be taken not to apply too great a quantity of them to the surface of the calico.1667 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 2 417 How, in China and Japan, they make the Black-vernish.
1667 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 2 487 This Author mentions..their [sc. Chinese] Vernice, of which he sets down some Receipts both for the Red and Black.
1676 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 11 714 An Oyl, of which the Persians make a Vernis.
c. A solution of this kind spread on a surface; the coating or surface so formed.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > [noun] > varnishing > coating of
varnish1643
varnishing1754
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > painting or coating materials > [noun] > varnish > coating or surface formed by
varnish1643
1643 E. Bowles Plaine Eng. 13 Posts whose varnish is..worne off.
1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura i. 9 Not much unlike to our Etching with points, and Needles on the Vernish.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 33/1 Lime..for plaistering..gives the best varnish to the Work.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. ii. 5 All things were in a state of high varnish and polish.
1871 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. ix. 240 When it was found that all chemical precipitates radiated alike, it was the radiation from a varnish common to them all which showed the observed constancy.
d. A preparation of boiled oil (or other substances) used in the making of printers' ink.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > inking equipment > [noun] > preparation used to make printer's ink
varnish1807
1807 T. Thomson Syst. Chem. (ed. 3) II. 445 The oil is..boiled gently till it acquires the proper consistence. In this state it is called the varnish.
1841 T. C. Hansard Treat. Printing & Type-founding 106 The next..article is nut or linseed oil boiled and burnt into a varnish.
e. A medical preparation resembling a varnish, for application to the skin.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > ointments, etc. > [noun] > paint or varnish
paint1899
varnish1899
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VIII. 582 Both tar and pyrogallol work better as paints and varnishes than the chrysa~robin.
f. A resinous deposit formed in engines by the oxidation of fuel and lubricating oils.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > [noun] > clogging due to deposit > deposit
varnish1948
1948 A. P. Fraas Combustion Engine viii. 241 The resins may deposit with the sludge or may form thin adherent coatings on engine parts. In the latter case the coatings are called varnish or lacquer because of their appearance.
1967 Boston Sunday Herald 26 Mar. i. 1/2 Don't be fooled by slow cranking because ‘varnish’ on the pistons will cause so much drag that a hot engine may resist cranking until it cools.
1981 Pop. Hot Rodding Feb. 84/1 Oxidation produces new compounds, loosely termed sludge, varnish and acid, which are detrimental to the lubrication system.
2. figurative.
a. A specious gloss or outward show; a pretence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [noun] > instance of
showa1500
making-upa1525
shine?1529
face1542
varnish1565
copy of one's countenance1579
false1598
mock-beggar1603
mockerya1616
umbrage1634
simulacrum1833
phoney war1939
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare xx. 595 This of late yeeres was the Schooledoctours Catholique meaninge,..whiche now M. Hardinge and his Felowes are faine, for shame, to colour ouer with some finer Uernishe.
a1617 S. Hieron Penance for Sinne in Wks. (1620) II. 362 God will not be dallyed with; this outward varnish cannot bleare His eyes.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 114 For the better varnish the Duke would not be his own judge.
1765 Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 163 It is impossible to get the least certain intelligence from thence, as nothing comes out of the closet but with a double varnish.
1782 V. Knox Ess. (1819) II. lvii. 1 Qualities, which, when seen in their true light, and without the varnish of deceit, are peculiarly unpleasing.
1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. vii. 338/1 The affectation of legal forms afforded him a thin varnish for his proceedings.
1844 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 291 Women will..always give a varnish of duty to their inclinations.
1895 R. B. Cunninghame Graham Notes Menteith i. 7 Convention has lent a thin varnish of hypocrisy to manners.
b. Without article.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [noun]
hue971
glozea1300
showingc1300
coloura1325
illusionc1340
frontc1374
simulationc1380
visage1390
cheera1393
sign?a1425
countenance?c1425
study?c1430
cloak1526
false colour1531
visure1531
face1542
masquery?1544
show1547
gloss1548
glass1552
affectation1561
colourableness1571
fashion1571
personage?1571
ostentation1607
disguise1632
lustrementa1641
grimace1655
varnish1662
masquerade1674
guisea1677
whitewash1730
varnish1743
maya1789
vraisemblance1802
Japan1856
veneering1865
veneer1868
affectedness1873
candy coating1885
simulance1885
window dressing1903
1743 London Mag. 346 The authentick Gazette, which..never once dealt in Puff or Varnish, but told the Truth.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas III. vii. xv. 205 From the clerk of the kitchen I required the buttery accounts without varnish or concealment.
1850 R. W. Emerson Plato in Representative Men ii. 87 This eldest Goethe, hating varnish and falsehood, delighted in revealing the real at the base of the accidental.
3.
a. A means of embellishment or adornment; a beautifying or improving quality or feature.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [noun] > ornamentation or decoration > an ornament > means of ornamenting
garnishing1530
varnish1599
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 23 I might enamell..this deuice more artificially and masterly, and attire it in his true orient varnish and tincture.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. ii. 69 Though..Diuinitie, For onely varnish, haue but Veritie.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. G4 My intent is without varnish or amplification, iustly to weigh the dignitie of knowledge in the ballance with other things. View more context for this quotation
1671 E. Panton Speculum Juventutis Ded. Though it have not the Romantick varnish of stile, worthy your Majestie's view and regard.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 364. ⁋1 This last Qualification..serves as a Varnish to all the rest.
1727 S. Switzer Pract. Kitchen Gardiner lxxviii. 392 Neatness and politure ought now..to serve for a varnish to the alleys and the dress'd grounds.
1863 N. Hawthorne Our Old Home II. 67 A cloudy and rainy day takes the varnish off the scenery.
b. Gloss, brilliancy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > reflection > [noun] > lustre or shine from reflected light
orientness1519
lustrec1522
gloss1538
brightshine1573
shine1601
sheen1604
polishing1611
polish1629
oriencya1651
glare1658
glossiness1680
nitency1768
varnish1841
burnishing1851
orience1858
shininess1872
patina1931
1841 T. C. Hansard Treat. Printing & Type-founding 107 The turpentine is added to give greater varnish [to the ink].
4. An external appearance or display of some quality without underlying reality. (Cf. veneer n.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [noun]
hue971
glozea1300
showingc1300
coloura1325
illusionc1340
frontc1374
simulationc1380
visage1390
cheera1393
sign?a1425
countenance?c1425
study?c1430
cloak1526
false colour1531
visure1531
face1542
masquery?1544
show1547
gloss1548
glass1552
affectation1561
colourableness1571
fashion1571
personage?1571
ostentation1607
disguise1632
lustrementa1641
grimace1655
varnish1662
masquerade1674
guisea1677
whitewash1730
varnish1743
maya1789
vraisemblance1802
Japan1856
veneering1865
veneer1868
affectedness1873
candy coating1885
simulance1885
window dressing1903
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. ii. §8 He lived long enough to have..judgement to distinguish a meer outside and varnish, from what was solid and substantial.
1778 F. Burney Let. 21 Aug. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 90 Such a fine varnish of low politeness!—such a struggle to appear a Gentleman!
1796 E. Gibbon Let. 20 May (1956) II. 109 I..laugh at her Paris varnish, and oblige her to become a simple reasonable Suissesse.
1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. lv. 113 New forms..destitute of life and reality, an empty varnish.
1853 C. Merivale Fall Rom. Republic iv. 100 But this varnish of superior culture seems to have failed in softening a rough plebeian nature.
1868 M. Pattison Suggestions Acad. Organisation iv. 65 The youth comes up with a varnish of accomplishment beyond his real powers.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
varnish brush n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > painting and drawing > equipment for painting or drawing > [noun] > brush > types of
pencila1350
calaber pencil1583
washing-brush1585
softener1756
hair-pencil1763
camel('s) hair pencil1771
pound brush1780
dabberc1790
varnishing brush1825
writer1825
red sable1859
sweetener1859
varnish brush1859
fitch1873
sable-brush1873
wash-brush1873
Poona brush1875
hake1882
rigger1883
airbrush1884
liner1886
sable1891
stippler1891
aerograph1898
mop brush1904
filbert brush1950
1859 F. S. Cooper Ironmongers' Catal. 38 Varnish Brushes.
varnish gum n.
ΚΠ
1892 Daily News 13 Feb. 7/3 Cinchona..bark sold well, but varnish gums generally eased off.
varnish-house n.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1269 Crystal varnish may be made..in the varnish-house.
varnish-maker n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > makers of other manufactured materials > [noun] > of other materials
mortar-maker1359
wax-maker1515
petre man1594
saltpetre-maker1611
starch man1699
varnish-maker1753
icemaker1775
kelper1808
black lead maker1813
bone man1834
kelp-burner1845
black-salter1866
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Spike,..an essential oil, much used by the varnish-makers and the painters in enamel.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1267 The choice of linseed oil is of peculiar consequence to the varnish-maker.
varnish pot n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > [noun] > rounded vessel or pot > for varnish
varnish pot1825
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 739 Put the copal, coarsely pulverized, into a varnish pot.
varnish-remover n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > other cleaning methods, devices, or substances > [noun] > substances
ox-gall?c1450
Spanish white1546
pipeclay1732
bottle-cleaner1788
ox bile1815
amole1831
benzol1838
benzine-collas1864
benzene1872
benzoline1874
varnish-remover1965
1965 P. D. Samman Nails in Disease ix. 83 Nail varnish and varnish removers and excess manicuring may be of some importance aetiologically.
1973 C. Williams Man on Leash ix. 131 That crap they shot into my arm. Battery solution or varnish remover.
varnish-secretor n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Rhopalocera (butterflies) > [noun] > family Pieridae > genus Pieris > pieris brassicae (cabbage butterfly) > pair of ducts containing yellow fluid
varnish-secretor1826
1826 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. IV. xli. 126 Varnish-secretor (Colleterium)... In the cabbage butterfly there is a pair of ovate ones [sc. oviduct vessels],..filled with a yellow fluid, which Reaumur and Herold think is used for varnishing or gumming the eggs.
b.
varnish-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > painting or coating materials > [adjective] > varnished or lacquered > like varnish
varnishy1841
varnish-like1916
1916 Nature 25 May 269/2 Boiled linseed oil on exposure to the air is converted by oxidation into a hard varnish~like product.
1965 Finer & Savage Sel. Lett. J. Wedgwood 13 The ancient red-figure vases were decorated by reserving the figures on a red pottery ground, surrounding them with a black varnishlike slip.
C2.
varnish sumac n. the Japanese tree Rhus vernicifera from which lacquer is obtained.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > sumacs > [noun]
buck's-horna1450
rhus?1541
sumac1548
Venice sumac1597
poisonwood1671
poison tree1676
swamp sumac1722
urushi1727
stag-horn1753
Venetian sumac1755
poison ash1757
ipoh1779
poison sumac1785
ailanthus tree1789
Japan varnish1789
vinegar-plant1797
mountain sumac1813
poison dogwood1814
upas1814
karee1815
fustet1821
taaibos1821
poison elder1822
varnish sumac1822
Japan lacquer1835
tree of heaven1845
anacard1847
smoke plant1856
tanners' sumac1858
swamp dogwood1859
smoke-tree1860
wax-tree1866
wig-sumac1867
wig-tree1867
burnwood1874
vinegar-tree1874
mountain manchineel1884
valley of death tree1888
sugar-bush1900
smoke bush1902
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. III. 647 I mean several of the acrid poisons, as..rhus vernix, varnish sumach.
varnish-tree n. one or other of various trees yielding a resinous substance used as a varnish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular tree or plant yielding useful gum or resin > [noun] > names applied to various trees
gum tree1676
gum-wood1683
bloodwood1697
varnish-tree1758
kino1876
1758 Philos. Trans. 1757 (Royal Soc.) 50 453 He says, speaking of this true varnish-tree, that callicuts are painted with the juice of this shrub.
1758 Philos. Trans. 1757 (Royal Soc.) 50 448 I suppose he means, by this true varnish-tree, the Carolina pennated Toxicodendron.
1843 Penny Cycl. XXVI. 147/2 The theetsee, or varnish-tree of the Burmese, has been described and figured by Dr. Wallich, by the name of Melanorrhœa usitata. He identified it with the Kheu, or varnish-tree of Munnipore.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 443/1 The natives speak of the tree producing this resin, E[læagia] utilis, as the Wax tree or Varnish tree.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 1204/2.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
varnishn.2
/ˈvɑːnɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈvɑrnɪʃ/ An act of varnishing; an application of varnish.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > [noun] > varnishing
varnishing1505
varnish1601
shellacking1881
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 515 If you be desirous to keepe any yron-worke from rust, give it a vernish with cerusse, plastre, and tar, incorporat all together.
1755 Dict. Arts & Sci. at Japanning If it be not well done, polishing will be necessary, for which reason you must give it five or six varnishes more.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
varnishv.
/ˈvɑːnɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈvɑrnɪʃ/ 1. absolute.1573 Art Limming (1588) 9 If you will vernish on silver, then take the Almon of Bengewyne.a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. xi. 234 He drew, he varnished, he carpentered. View more context for this quotation
a. transitive. To paint over, to coat, with varnish; to overlay with a thin coating composed of varnish.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > work with coating or covering materials [verb (intransitive)] > varnish
varnish1398
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with coating or covering materials > work with coating or covering materials [verb (transitive)] > varnish
varnish1398
revarnish1793
shellac1917
cellulose1928
polyurethane1977
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xvii. xxiii Bokes þat beþ yvarnesched with þe gomme þerof beþ nouȝt iȝete wiþ wormes.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 509/1 Vernyschyn, vernicio.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 765/2 I vernysshe a spurre, or any yron with vernysshe, je vernis. Come hyther, spurryer, be my spurres well vernysshed.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xij Some had their armyng sweardes freshly burnyshed and some had them conningly vernished.
1599 A. Hume Hymnes sig. F3 Corslets of pruif, and mony targe of steill, Sum varneist bright, sum dorred diuerslie.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iv. xxix. 288 They bringe likewise from this Province oyle of Aspicke, which..Painters vse much..to vernish the pictures.
1699 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ II. iii. xv. 137 Several other Colours were also made use of; nor were they barely varnish'd over with them, for they had a curious Art of Annealing them by Wax melted in the Fire.
1702 W. J. tr. C. de Bruyn Voy. Levant xxxvii. 147 Plaister varnish'd with a green colour.
1755 Dict. Arts & Sci. at Japanning With a pencil varnish it over with the finest white varnish.
1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing ii. 112 These pictures, I am persuaded, were afterwards constantly varnished.
1861 T. A. Trollope La Beata I. vii. 152 The copy..was not to be sent home till it had been varnished.
b. transferred. To invest with a bright or glossy appearance; to smear or stain with some substance similar to varnish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautify (the person) [verb (transitive)]
highta1200
atiffe?c1225
tiff?c1225
wyndre?a1366
kembc1386
picka1393
prunec1395
tifta1400
varnishc1405
finea1425
tifflea1425
quaint1484
embuda1529
trick?1532
trick1545
dill1548
tricka1555
prink1573
smug1588
sponge1588
smudge1589
perk1590
primpc1590
sponge1592
tricksy1598
prime1616
sprug1622
briska1625
to sleek upa1625
trickify1678
prim1688
titivate1705
dandify1823
beflounce1824
befop1866
spry1878
lustrify1886
dude1899
doll1916
tart1938
youthify1945
pansy1946
spiv1947
dolly1958
zhuzh1970
the world > matter > light > reflection > [verb (transitive)] > polish or cause to shine with reflected light
frot?c1225
burnishc1325
polisha1382
varnishc1405
silvera1592
shine1604
frub1611
rutilate1623
silken1757
gloss1762
pearl1843
gloze1880
lap1881
sheen1901
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 229 Wel hath this Millere vernysshed his heed Ful pale he was for dronke, and noght reed.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 53 Ful pale drunke, weel vernyssht of visage.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 54 And whan thou hast weel vernyssht thi pate, To take a sleepe in hast thou wolt the dresse.
1589 R. Greene Ciceronis Amor 9 I found him in his bed chamber his wife slaine and the blade yet varnished with bloud grasped in his fist.
a1618 J. Sylvester New-polished Spectacles in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 1183 The Leaves fresh varnisht lively green, The Blossoms various to bee seen.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 11 Her eyes are..of a pure golden colour, most admirable to behold, especially when varnish'd with a full light.
a1733 A. Ramsay Tartana 17 You who..Drain from the flow'rs the early dews of May, To varnish on your cheek the crimson dye.
1841 S. Maunder Sci. & Lit. Treasury (1848) at Scarabæus The colour [of the Scarabæus auratus] is most brilliant, highly varnished, and of a golden green.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. x. 90 Next morning, that horrible old Lady Tippins..begins to be dyed and varnished for the interesting occasion.
2. To embellish or adorn; to improve, trick out, furbish up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautify [verb (transitive)] > ornament > trim or deck out
perfurnish1375
enflourish?a1400
varnish14..
perform1420
to pick outc1429
polish?1440
trimc1516
to set out1523
trick?1532
face1542
trick1545
prank1546
tricka1555
bawdefy1562
tickle1567
prink1573
finify1586
deck1587
decore1603
betrima1616
fangle1615
beprank1648
prim1688
to garnish outa1704
decorate1782
to do off1794
dizen1807
tricolatea1825
fal-lal1845
14.. Sir Beues (MS. C.) 3777 Blak sendel and..rede, Vernysched wiþ rosys off syluyr bryȝt.
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 118 The Elizabeth of Euphues, beeing but shadowed for others to vernish, but begunne for others to ende.
1589 ‘Marphoreus’ Martins Months Minde sig. Gv All my foolerie I bequeath to my good friend Lanam;..it..may serue (perhappes) for yong beginners, if it be newe varnisht.
1639 G. Daniel Vervicensis 720 My Name, which stood The Boast of Fame, I varnish't with my Blood.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 162 To dress up and to varnish the Story of Pausanias.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 509 Which were set off with all the fulsom rhetorick that the penners could varnish them with.
1789 H. L. Piozzi Observ. Journey France II. 374 [Here is] old Franck's Seven Acts of Mercy varnished up.
1887 Huxley in Life (1900) II. 154 It will go on and be varnished into a simulacrum of success.
3. To cover or overlay with a specious or deceptive appearance; to gloss over, disguise.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > present speciously [verb (transitive)] > improve appearance
paintc1390
set1540
daub1543
plaster1546
varnish1571
to gild over1574
adorn1589
parget1592
glaze1605
apparel1615
pranka1616
lustre1627
candidate1628
varnish1641
lacquer1688
whitewash1703
tinsel1748
duff1750
fineer1765
veneer1847
superficialize1851
gloss1879
window dress1913
beglamour1926
sportswash2012
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (iv. 3) Though they be wylfully blind & vernish their unryghtuousnesse with counterfet colours.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxv. 164 The Church of Rome hath hetherto practised and doth professe the same adoration to the signe of the Crosse..howsoeuer they varnish and qualifie their sentence.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 14 But what doe wee suffer..Prelatisme, as we do, thus to blanch and varnish her deformities with the faire colours..of Episcopacie?
a1649 W. Drummond Skiamachia in Wks. (1711) 198 Wicked Counsels may be varnished with the shining Oil of sly Pretences.
1713 J. Addison Cato ii. ii Cato's voice was ne'er employed To clear the guilty, and to vernish crimes.
1783 H. Blair Lect. Rhetoric II. xxv. 2 The art of varnishing weak arguments plausibly.
1835 Woman II. 241 The female character of this day is varnished, not polished.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xx. 520 He does not varnish—he does not even polish vice.
1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 166 A corrupt heart thinly varnished by a coating of affectation.
4. With over (in senses 2, 3).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautify [verb (transitive)] > ornament
dightc1200
begoa1225
fay?c1225
rustc1275
duba1300
shrouda1300
adorna1325
flourishc1325
apparel1366
depaintc1374
dressa1375
raila1375
anorna1382
orna1382
honourc1390
paintc1390
pare1393
garnisha1400
mensk?a1400
apykec1400
hightlec1400
overfretc1440
exornc1450
embroider1460
repair1484
empare1490
ornate1490
bedo?a1500
purfle?a1500
glorify?1504
betrap1509
broider1509
deck?1521
likelya1522
to set forth1530
exornate1539
grace1548
adornate1550
fardc1550
gaud1554
pink1558
bedeck1559
tight1572
begaud1579
embellish1579
bepounce1582
parela1586
flower1587
ornify1590
illustrate1592
tinsel1594
formalize1595
adore1596
suborn1596
trapper1597
condecorate1599
diamondize1600
furnish1600
enrich1601
mense1602
prank1605
overgreen1609
crown1611
enjewel1611
broocha1616
varnish1641
ornament1650
array1652
bedub1657
bespangle1675
irradiate1717
gem1747
begem1749
redeck1771
blazon1813
aggrace1825
diamond1839
panoply1851
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > present speciously [verb (transitive)] > improve appearance
paintc1390
set1540
daub1543
plaster1546
varnish1571
to gild over1574
adorn1589
parget1592
glaze1605
apparel1615
pranka1616
lustre1627
candidate1628
varnish1641
lacquer1688
whitewash1703
tinsel1748
duff1750
fineer1765
veneer1847
superficialize1851
gloss1879
window dress1913
beglamour1926
sportswash2012
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 7 God..never intended to leave the governement..to be patch't afterwards, and varnish't over with the devices..of mans imagination.
1642 J. Denham Cooper's Hill 9 And yet this act, to varnish o're the shame Of sacriledge, must beare devotions name.
1694 J. Addison Acct. Greatest Eng. Poets in Ann. Miscellany 322 Oh had the Poet ne're prophan'd his Pen, To varnish o're the Guilt of Faithless Men.
1719 E. Young Busiris iii. 38 O, how can you abuse your sacred Reason,..To varnish o'er and paint so black a Crime!
1762 J. Macpherson Diss. in Fingal p. xi When they [sc. poets] found their themes inadequate to the warmth of their imaginations, they varnished them over with fables.
1824 S. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 193 He may hide it by increased zeal and violence, or varnish it over by simulated gaiety.
1871 R. H. Hutton Theol. Ess. (1888) iii. 49 To varnish over these distinctions.
Derivatives
ˈvarnishing adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [adjective] > having or given specious appearance > making pleasing
pargeting1637
varnishing1796
1796 Mod. Gulliver 203 The mischiefs flowing from my fallacious varnishing pamphlet were not thought of.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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