ppl. a. [L. prec.]
1. Coated with varnish; † painted.
1553. Acc. Ld. H. Treas. Scot., X. 176. Ane pair of warnist styrrep irnis.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. v. 33. Nor thrust your head … To gaze on Christian fooles with varnisht faces.
1599. Minsheu, Span. Dial., 3/2. What rapier?… None but that varnist rapier, least it should raine.
1671. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. v. 29. I am credibly inform’d, that the Art of making the like Varnish’d Wares, is now begun to be a Trade at Paris.
1755. Dict. Arts & Sci., s.v. Japanning, Laying this paper upon the table, or piece of varnished-work.
1794. R. J. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 247. The varnished superior surface imbibes the essential particles.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlix. Brown silk stockings, highly varnished shoes, and gold buckles.
b. transf. Presenting a shining or glossy appearance as if coated with varnish.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. III. i. 25. Fresh varnish’d groves, tall hills, and gilded clouds Arching an eyelid for the glowing Morn.
1646. Quarles, Eglogues, ix. See, how sweat imbalmes His varnisht Temples!
1733. Pope, Donne’s Sat., IV. 208. Such painted puppets! such a varnish’d race Of hollow gew-gaws, only dress and face!
c. 1820. Dublin Hosp. Rep., III. 23. A florid, clear, varnished tongue.
1855. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., V. 83. The variety … termed the Varnished Willow, is an upright tree.
2. fig. a. Embellished; speciously tricked out.
1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, 129. A smug neate stile,… vernished phrases.
1662. Hopkins, Funeral Serm. (1685), 103. Nor easily cousened by varnisht and plausible error.
b. Simulated, pretended.
1607. Shaks., Timon, IV. ii. 36. To haue his pompe … But onely painted like his varnisht Friends.
1685. Dryden, Threnodia Aug., iv. 132. Whose noble pride Was still above Dissembled hate or varnished love.
