patina

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The Word of the Day for October 23 is:

patina   \puh-TEE-nuh\   noun
     1 : a green film formed on copper and bronze by exposure to moist air  b : 
a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use
    *2 : an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or 
established character
     3 : a superficial covering or exterior

Example sentence:
     The weather-beaten inns and storefronts along the seaside give the area 
the patina of a Colonial whaling village.

Did you know?
     Italians began using "patina" in the 17th century to refer to the green 
film that is produced on the surface of copper. They borrowed the word from 
Latin, where it means "a shallow dish." (Presumably, the Italian meaning 
developed from the observation of such film forming on copper dishes.) By the 
mid-18th century, English speakers were also calling the green film "patina." 
And by the early 20th century, "patina" was being used in English for the gloss 
of polished metals, like silver, as well as wooden furniture -- a meaning that 
led to its literary use for a surrounding aura, as demonstrated in this quote 
from Stella Gibbons' _Cold Comfort Farm_ (1932): "The very atmosphere seemed 
covered with a rich patina of love."  

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.




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