English → Latin
“gloss” in Latin
nītorto bear or rest upon something, lean on; to be supported by; to rely on; to trust; to be based on; to press forward, advsplendorsheen, brightness, brilliance, luster, splendor; renown, famefulgorlightning; flash, glitter, gleam, brightness, splendourlevōto raise, elevate, lift up; to make light, lighten; to relieve, ease, comfortlevigōto make light, lightenpoliōto polish, to smoothvestīmentumgarment, robe, article of clothing; clothes, clothing, garmentssplendidussplendid, bright, glittering; distinguished, noble, illustriousglossēmaan antiquatedinterpretorto explain, expound; to interpret, translate; to understand, conclude
The English word gloss itself goes back to Latin glōssa.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
gloss
External lustre, nitor: splendor: fulgor: levor (Lucr., Plin.; smoothness). (The words are found in this connection and order.) candorque et levor (Plin.; of a glossy white smoothness). To put a gloss upon anything, levigare: polire (general terms for making a smooth surface; polire also implying that the external appearance is improved by it: polire vestes, Plin.; vestimenta, Ulp.); also, splendidum or nitidum facerealiquid; in splendorem dare aliquid; nitorem inducere alicui rei; candoremque et levorem alicui rei afferre [Plin.).
gloss v.
glossema, or, plur., glossemata interpretari (i. e., to explain unusual words, glossemata; Varr., L.L., 7, 3, 88, § 34): glossas scribere (Varr., L.L., 7, 2, 82, § 10, to compile glossaries; glossae here = a collection of glossae, unusual words, Varr.): interpretari: explanare: *verba margini ascribere.
To put a gloss upon [Vid.
gloss
s.] .
To gloss over anything [Vid: To COLOR = “to make plausible”].
To make sly remarks, obliquis orationibus carpere (Suet.; aliquem): oblique perstringere (Tac.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for gloss?
- The usual Latin words for “gloss” are nītor, splendor, fulgor; also levō, levigō, poliō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.