Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Varnish?

\Var"nish\, n. [OE. vernish, F. vernis, LL. vernicium; akin to F. vernir to varnish, fr. (assumed) LL. vitrinire to glaze, from LL. vitrinus glassy, fr. L. vitrum glass. See {Vitreous}.] 1. A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture. Note: According to the sorts of solvents employed, the ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes. --Encyc. Brit 2. That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance. The varnish of the holly and ivy. --Macaulay. 3. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss. And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gave you. --Shak. {Varnish tree} (Bot.), a tree or shrub from the juice or resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the genus {Rhus}, especially {R. vernicifera} of Japan. The black varnish of Burmah is obtained from the {Melanorrh[oe]a usitatissima}, a tall East Indian tree of the Cashew family. See {Copal}, and {Mastic}.
\Var"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Varnished}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Varnishing}.] [Cf. F. vernir, vernisser. See {Varnish}, n.] 1. To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as, to varnish a table; to varnish a painting. 2. To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt. ``Beauty doth varnish age.'' --Shak. Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. --Milton. Cato's voice was ne'er employed To clear the guilty and to varnish crimes. --Addison.