ppl. a. [f. BURNISH v.1]

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  1.  Made bright and shining as by friction, polished.

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c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., A. 77. As bornyst syluer þe lef onslydez.

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1413.  Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, V. v. Bryght bornyshed gold.

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c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 130. Hys byrnyst brand he byrstyt at ye last.

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1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. ii. 196. The Barge … like a burnisht Throne Burnt on the water.

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a. 1775.  Pope, Odyss., IV. 66.

        High on a massy vase of silver mold,
The burnish’d laver flames with solid gold.

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1789.  Wordsw., Even. Walk. The whole wide lake … like a burnished mirror glows.

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  b.  fig.

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1853.  3 June, Bright, Sp. India (1876), 11. The glossed and burnished statement.

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  2.  transf. Having the appearance of polished metal; bright, shining, glossy.

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c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., A. 220. Bornyste quyte watz hyr uesture.

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1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., II. i. 2. The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne.

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1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 501. Serpent … With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold.

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1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., Burial of Dead, iii. Let some graceful arch be there … With burnish’d ivy for its screen.

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  b.  Of deer: (see the vb.)

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1649.  G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., 232. Chase Whole Burnish’t Herds.

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1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 422. A Steer … whose Head … with burnish’d Horns begins to spread.

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