Dictionary definitions
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gloss
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Gloss \Gloss\ (gl[o^]s), n. [Cf. Icel. glossi a blaze, glys
finery, MHG. glosen to glow, G. glosten to glimmer; perh.
akin to E. glass.]
1. Brightness or luster of a body proceeding from a smooth
surface; polish; as, the gloss of silk; cloth is
calendered to give it a gloss.
[1913 Webster]
It is no part . . . to set on the face of this cause
any fairer gloss than the naked truth doth afford.
--Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
2. A specious appearance; superficial quality or show.
[1913 Webster]
To me more dear, congenial to my heart,
One native charm than all the gloss of art.
--Goldsmith.
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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Gloss \Gloss\ (gl[o^]s), v. t.
1. To render clear and evident by comments; to illustrate; to
explain; to annotate.
[1913 Webster]
2. To give a specious appearance to; to render specious and
plausible; to palliate by specious explanation.
[1913 Webster]
You have the art to gloss the foulest cause.
--Philips.
[1913 Webster]
.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Gloss \Gloss\, v. i.
1. To make comments; to comment; to explain. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make sly remarks, or insinuations. --Prior.
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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Gloss \Gloss\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Glossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Glossing.] To give a superficial luster or gloss to; to make smooth and shining; as, to gloss cloth. [1913 Webster] The glossed and gleamy wave. --J. R. Drake. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Gloss \Gloss\, n. [OE. glose, F. glose, L. glossa a difficult word needing explanation, fr. Gr. ? tongue, language, word needing explanation. Cf. Gloze, Glossary, Glottis.] [1913 Webster] 1. A foreign, archaic, technical, or other uncommon word requiring explanation. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. An interpretation, consisting of one or more words, interlinear or marginal; an explanatory note or comment; a running commentary. [1913 Webster] All this, without a gloss or comment, He would unriddle in a moment. --Hudibras. [1913 Webster] Explaining the text in short glosses. --T. Baker. [1913 Webster] 3. A false or specious explanation. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

