English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Verb

edit

burnished

  1. simple past and past participle of burnish

Adjective

edit

burnished (not comparable)

  1. Polished, made shiny by rubbing (especially with a burnisher).
  2. (figurative) Blazing, bright.
    • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 167:
      Mor. Miſlike me not for my complexion,
      The ſhadowed liuerie of the burniſht ſunne,
      To whom I am a neighbour,and neere bred.
      Bring me the faireſt creature North-ward borne,
      Where Phœbus fire ſcarce thawes the yſicles,
      And let vs make inciſion for your loue,
      To proue whoſe blood is reddeſt,his or mine.

Derived terms

edit