fernissa

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from French vernis, via Middle Low German.

Noun

fernissa c

  1. varnish
  2. (figuratively) a veneer (misleading outward appearance)
    • 1941, Karin Boye, “Asketer”, in Bebådelse, Stockholm: Albert Bonniers förlag, page 141:
      Civilisationen har aldrig trängt längre än till ytan hos de flesta, och nu är det vildens syn på världen och vildens ansatser till tänkande – magiskt tänkande – som bryter igenom den tunna fernissan. Du har rätt. Om vi inte ser upp, står medeltiden för dörren igen.
      Civilisation has never penetrated further than the surface of most people, and now it is the savage’s view of the world and the savage’s attempts at thinking – magical thinking – that break through the thin veneer. You are right. If we are not careful, the Middle Ages will be at the door again.

Declension

Declension of fernissa
nominative genitive
singular indefinite fernissa fernissas
definite fernissan fernissans
plural indefinite fernissor fernissors
definite fernissorna fernissornas

Verb

fernissa (present fernissar, preterite fernissade, supine fernissat, imperative fernissa)

  1. to varnish (apply varnish (to))

Conjugation

Conjugation of fernissa (weak)
active passive
infinitive fernissa fernissas
supine fernissat fernissats
imperative fernissa —
imper. plural1 fernissen —
present past present past
indicative fernissar fernissade fernissas fernissades
ind. plural1 fernissa fernissade fernissas fernissades
subjunctive2 fernisse fernissade fernisses fernissades
present participle fernissande
past participle fernissad

1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

References

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