Var″nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Varnished (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Varnishing.] [Cf. F. vernir, vernisser. See Varnish, n.]
1. To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as, to varnish a table; to varnish a painting.
2. To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt. “Beauty doth varnish age.” Shak.
Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. Milton.
Cato's voice was ne'er employed
To clear the guilty and to varnish crimes. Addison.