furbish
[ fur-bish ]
/ ˈfɜr bɪʃ /
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verb (used with object)
to restore to freshness of appearance or good condition (often followed by up): to furbish a run-down neighborhood; to furbish up one's command of a foreign language.
to polish.
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Origin of furbish
1350–1400; Middle English furbishen<Middle French forbiss-, long stem of forbir to polish, clean <Germanic; compare Old High German furban
OTHER WORDS FROM furbish
fur·bish·er, nounun·fur·bished, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use furbish in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for furbish
furbish
/ (ˈfɜːbɪʃ) /
verb (tr)
to make bright by polishing; burnish
(often foll by up) to improve the appearance or condition of; renovate; restore
Derived forms of furbish
furbisher, nounWord Origin for furbish
C14: from Old French fourbir to polish, of Germanic origin
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