Patina

WORD OF THE DAY

patina / noun / puh-TEE-nuh

Definition
1a: a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
1b: 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

Examples
"She has attracted a popular following for stories grounded in historical fact, adorned with a patina of romance and adventure."
— Stephanie Parkyn, Canberra Times (Australia), 1 Jan. 2022

The owners of this 18-room townhouse added modern appliances but kept the patina of the room’s existing subway tile.
— Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, 11 July 2022

Did You Know?
When Italians began using patina in the 17th century to refer to the green film that forms on the surface of copper, they were drawing on Latin, in which patina 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 20th century, they'd expanded the word's application to surface appearances of things that have grown more beautiful with age or use—think of an old wooden desk or a tarnished silver goblet.
Use of the word to refer to thin layers both literal and figurative ("a patina of grime," "a patina of respectability") followed soon after.