To cover something with a thin layer of gold or gold-colored substance, or to make something appear more valuable or attractive than it really is.
From Old English 'gyldan,' from 'gold' (the metal). The verb directly derives from the noun gold, following the pattern where precious metals produce verbs meaning 'to coat with.' The figurative sense emerged in medieval times.
The phrase 'gild the lily' perfectly captures an eternal human impulse—we see something beautiful and want to make it MORE beautiful, even though that's usually just wasteful! This ancient verb has captured that very modern desire for excess for over a thousand years.
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