glosses
|gloss-es|
🇺🇸
/ˈɡlɔsɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈɡlɒsɪz/
(gloss)
shine or explanation
Etymology
'gloss' originates from Middle English 'gloss', borrowed from Old French 'glose' (or 'glosse'), which in turn comes from Late Latin 'glossa', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'glōssa' meaning 'tongue' or 'language'.
'glōssa' (Greek) → 'glossa' (Late Latin) → 'glose'/'glosse' (Old French) → 'gloss' (Middle English) → modern English 'gloss'.
Initially it referred to 'tongue' or 'language' and then 'an explanation of a word'; over time it broadened to include 'explanatory note' and also a separate sense of 'surface sheen' in English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an explanatory note, comment, or translation added to a text (often in the margins or between lines).
The editor added glosses to the medieval manuscript to explain obscure terms.
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Noun 2
a shine or sheen on a surface; surface luster.
Different varnishes produced different glosses on the wood samples.
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Verb 1
to provide an explanation or interpretation of a word or passage (often by adding a gloss).
She often glosses difficult terms in her lectures so students can follow along.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/09/22 13:29