Depolishes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To remove the shine or smoothness from a surface ; to diminish the quality or reputation of something ; to make less polished or refined
2. The act of stripping away gloss or elegance from an object ; the process of reducing the value or esteem of a person or thing ; causing a loss of smoothness or sophistication
3. Removing brightness or luster from a surface ; lowering the standing or dignity of an entity ; rendering something rougher or less sophisticated in appearance or character

Etymology: Depolishes is the third-person singular form of "depolish", so the verb's own story is the one that matters. It is a plain formation: the prefix "de-", which English took from Latin "dē" and which here means "down from" or "away", attached to "polish". The result is a word built from parts that were already in use, rather than a coinage with a dramatic backstory. "Polish" itself came into English from Old French "polir", ultimately from Latin "polire", meaning to make smooth or to rub something until it gleams. "Depolish" reverses that action: where polishing adds lustre, depolishing strips it away, leaving a surface dull or matte. The sense has since widened from the physical to the figurative, so a reputation or a performance can be depolished in the same way a tabletop can.