Burnish | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Būr'nish, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. BURNISHED; p. pr. & vb. n. BURNISHING.] [Fr. & Pr. brunir, It. brunire, Sp. bruñir, Pg. brunir and bornir, M. H. Ger. brūnen, D. bruynen, to make brown, bright, or glossy, to polish, from Fr. & Pr. brun, It., Sp., & Pg. bruno, D. bruin, M. H. Ger. brūn. See BROWN.]

Sense 1. To make smooth and bright; to polish; specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and smooth, without scraping or removing any thing from the surface; as, to burnish brass or silver.

The frame of burnished steel, that cast a glare From far, and seemed to thaw the freezing air. Dryden.

Sense 2. To render bright or resplendent.

Now the village windows blaze, Burnished by the setting sun. Cunningham.

Būr'nish, v. i.

verbintransitive

To grow or become smooth, or smooth and glossy, as from swelling or filling out; to grow full and plump.

The slender poet must have time to grow, And spread and burnish as his brothers do. Dryden.

My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell. Herbert.

Būr'nish, n.

noun

n. The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. Crashaw.