Revarnish

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To coat a surface again with varnish to restore or protect its finish
2. To renew the protective or glossy layer on an object by adding another varnish layer
3. To refresh the appearance of a surface by covering it with a new varnish coat

Etymology: Revarnish is about as transparent as English compounds get: the prefix "re-", meaning again, attached to "varnish", a coating applied to wood, paintings or other surfaces to protect them and bring out their shine. To revarnish something is to put a fresh layer of that coating over an existing one, usually because the old finish has dulled, yellowed or cracked with age. The base word "varnish" came into English in the late Middle Ages, borrowed from Old French "vernis", which in turn came from medieval Latin "veronix", a resin of uncertain origin. The prefix "re-" is a much older and more productive element, borrowed from Latin and used freely in English to form verbs meaning to do something a second time or to restore something to an earlier state.

Synonyms: refinish, recoat, restore