11-07-2007, 12:10 AM
Because I'm already considered a dunderhead in many circles, I'll just come right out with it and say that the verb (transitive) polio, polire means "to polish, or shine up", but (looking sheepishly around), I thought "burnish" was basically an older word for "polish". A burnished piece of brass is as shiny as it can be got, regardless of the polishing medium, as is a polished one. It's more a matter of which linguistic turn you take to get to the shine than a difference of appearance, unless I miss the whole point.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.