Gloss — Defs

01 n. 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.

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.

02 v. t. To give a superficial luster or gloss to; to make smooth and shining; as, to gloss cloth.

imp. & p. p. Glossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Glossing

1.
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.

03 n. A foreign, archaic, technical, or other uncommon word requiring explanation.

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.

04 v. t. To render clear and evident by comments; to illustrate; to explain; to annotate.

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.

05 v. i. To make comments; to comment; to explain.