| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
varnish (ˈvɑːnɪʃ) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | Also called: oil varnish a preparation consisting of a solvent, a drying oil, and usually resin, rubber, bitumen, etc, for application to a surface where it polymerizes to yield a hard glossy, usually transparent, coating |
| 2. | See also spirit varnish a similar preparation consisting of a substance, such as shellac or cellulose ester, dissolved in a volatile solvent, such as alcohol. It hardens to a film on evaporation of the solvent |
| 3. | Also called: natural varnish the sap of certain trees used to produce such a coating |
| 4. | a smooth surface, coated with or as with varnish |
| 5. | an artificial, superficial, or deceptively pleasing manner, covering, etc; veneer |
| 6. | chiefly (Brit) another word for nail polish |
| —vb | |
| 7. | to cover with varnish |
| 8. | to give a smooth surface to, as if by painting with varnish |
| 9. | to impart a more attractive appearance to |
| 10. | to make superficially attractive |
| [C14: from Old French vernis, from Medieval Latin veronix sandarac, resin, from Medieval Greek berenikē, perhaps from Greek Berenikē, city in Cyrenaica, Libya where varnishes were used] | |
| 'varnisher | |
| —n | |