SAT vocabulary
Burnish
To polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing; to enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or image).
Example
"He spent hours burnishing the antique silver until it gleamed, hoping to burnish his family's reputation after the scandal."
Etymology
From Old French 'burniss-', past participle stem of 'burnir' (to polish), from Frankish '*brūnjan' (to make brown/shiny).
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