Gloss

Gloss (glŏs), 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.

It is no part . . . to set on the face of this cause any fairer gloss than the naked truth doth afford.

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.

Gloss (?), v. i. 1. To make comments; to comment; to explain. Dryden.

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

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.

The glossed and gleamy wave.

Gloss, n. [OE. glose, F. glose, L. glossa a difficult word needing explanation, fr. Gr. ? 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.

Explaining the text in short glosses.

3. A false or specious explanation. Dryden.

Gloss (glŏs), 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.