gilt / gild
10 years ago No Comments

(pronounced gihlt OR gihld)

This kind of gilt is sooooo much better than the other kind. Example: Some people feel guilt over gilding every little thing in their homes with too much gilt. Yes, to gild something is to overlay it with a thin covering of gold (or a close substitute). Ceilings, moldings, decorative accessories: people will apply gilt to anything. You may have heard your grandmother use the phrase “gild the lily,” which means to add unnecessary ornamentation to something that’s beautiful in its own right. (Update for 200X: too much bling.) One last thing: The verb gild should not be confused with the noun guild, which is an association of people with similar interests or pursuits. In Medieval times, guilds were like trade associations made up of merchants or craftsmen; these days, the definition isn’t so strict.
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