(literary) To extenuate, explain away, gloss over.
To use flattering language.
- 1810, Joanna Baillie, The Family Legend: A Tragedy, Act 5, Scene 2, pages 126-127.
As he pretended, struck, then stern and silent,
Till presently assuming, like his father,
A courtesy minute and over-studied,
He glozed us with his thanks:
To smooth over; to palliate by specious explanation.
- 1906, E. A. Baker, Introduction to Moll Flanders and Roxana, G. Routledge & Sons (New York), p. xviii,
…his contempt for every romantic or sentimental motive that would gloze over real causes, and represent the conduct of human beings rather as we would have it to be than as it is…
To give a shine to (something or someone).