varnish

plural varnishes · alternative obsolete vernish

1. countableuncountableA clear or translucent liquid coating composed of resin dissolved in a solvent, which dries by evaporation to form a hard, protective, and typically glossy finish.

   ..; and this process should be continued until all the gum is properly dissolved, which is easily known by having an empty tin can to pour the varnish into, until near the last, which is to be poured into a gallon measure;...

   1847, editorial staff, “White Hard Spirit of Wine Varnish”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 72

2. countableuncountableAnything resembling such a coating; a glossy appearance.

   the varnish of the holly and ivy

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

3. broadlycountablefigurativelyuncountableA deceptively showy appearance.

   And set a double varnish on the fame / The Frenchman gave you.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]

4. UScountabledatedinformaluncountablerail transportA passenger train, probably derived from the varnished passenger cars used at one time.

   Every transcontinental but two settled on the simple articulated for freight service, and all of them coupled their varnish to the 4-8-4.

   1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co.

present singular third person varnishes · participle present varnishing · participle past varnished · past varnished · alternative obsolete vernish

1. intransitiveTo apply varnish.
2. transitiveTo cover up with varnish.
3. transitiveTo make something superficially or deceptively attractive

   varnish the report

4. transitiveTo gloss over a defect.

   [...] Go love thy infant; love thy wood-chopper: be good-natured and modest: have that grace; and never varnish your hard, uncharitable ambition with this incredible tenderness for black folk a thousand miles off. Thy love afar is spite at home.

   1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”, in Essays: First Series