Category:Gloss

Gloss, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. glossi a blaze, glys finery, MHG. glosen to glow, G. glosten to glimmer; perh. akin to E. glass.]

1. Bbrightness or luster of a body proceeding from a smooth surface; polish; as, the gloss of silk; cloth is calendered to give it a gloss. It is no part. . . to set on the face of this cause any fairer gloss than the naked truth doth afford. Hooker.

2. A specious appearance; superficial quality or show. To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm than all the gloss of art. Goldsmith.

gloss Gloss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Glossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Glossing.]

Defn: To give a superficial luster or gloss to; to make smooth and shining; as, to gloss cloth. The glossed and gleamy wave. J. R. Drake.

gloss Gloss, n. Etym: [OE. glose, F. glose, L. glossa a difficult word needing explanation, fr. Gr. Gloze, Glossary, Glottis.]

1. A foreign, archaic, technical, or other uncommon word requiring explanation. [Obs.]

2. An interpretation, consisting of one or more words, interlinear or marginal; an explanatory note or comment; a running commentary. All this, without a gloss or comment, He would unriddle in a moment. Hudibras. Explaining the text in short glosses. T. Baker.

3. A false or specious explanation. Dryden.

gloss Gloss, v. t.

1. To render clear and evident by comments; to illustrate; to explain; to annotate.

2. To give a specious appearance to; to render specious and plausible; to palliate by specious explanation. You have the art to gloss the foulest cause. Philips.

gloss Gloss, v. i.

1. To make comments; to comment; to explain. Dryden.

2. To make sly remarks, or insinuations. Prior.