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Webster 1913 Edition


Gloss

Gloss

(glŏs)
,
Noun.
[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
.
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

,
Verb.
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
.
The
glossed
and gleamy wave.
J. R. Drake.

Gloss

,
Noun.
[OE.
glose
, F.
glose
, L.
glossa
a difficult word needing explanation, fr. Gr. [GREEK] tongue, language, word needing explanation. Cf.
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

(glŏs)
,
Verb.
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

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To make comments; to comment; to explain.
Dryden.
2.
To make sly remarks, or insinuations.
Prior.

Webster 1828 Edition


Gloss

GLOSS

,
Noun.
[Gr. the tongue, and a strap. L. has glossa, a tongue, and interpretation. In Heb. signifies to shine, but from the sense of smoothness. L. lustro; Eng. luster.]
1.
Brightness or luster of a body proceeding from a smooth surface; as the gloss of silk; cloth is calendared to give it a gloss.
2.
A specious appearance or representation; external show that may mislead opinion.
It is no part of my secret meaning to set on the face of this cause any fairer gloss than the naked truth doth afford.
3.
An interpretation artfully specious.
4.
Interpretation; comment; explanation; remark intended to illustrate a subject.
All this, without a gloss or comment,
He would unriddle in a moment.
Explaining the text in short glosses.
5.
A literal translation.

GLOSS

,
Verb.
T.
To give a superficial luster to; to make smooth and shining; as, to gloss cloth by the calendar; to gloss mahogany.
1.
To explain; to render clear and evident by comments; to illustrate.
2.
To give a specious appearance to; to render specious and plausible; to palliate by specious representation.
You have the art to gloss the foulest cause.

GLOSS

,
Verb.
I.
To comment; to write or make explanatory remarks.
1.
To make sly remarks.