Var·nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Varnished p. pr. & vb. n. Varnishing.]
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.”
Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. --Milton.
Cato's voice was ne'er employed
To clear the guilty and to varnish crimes. --Addison.
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varnished
adj : having a coating of stain or varnish [syn: stained]