Finish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Finished; p. pr. & vb. n. Finishing.]
Etymology: [F. finir (with a stem finiss- in several forms, whence E. - ish: see -ish.),fr. L. finire to limit, finish, end, fr. finis boundary, limit, end; perh. for fidnis, and akin findere to cleave, E. fissure.]
1. To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to make an end of; to terminate. And heroically hath finished A life heroic. Milton.
2. To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish.
Syn. -- To end; terminate; close; conclude; complete; accomplish; perfect.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Finish, v. i.
1. To come to an end; to terminate. His days may finish ere that hapless time. Shak.
2. To end; to die. [R.] Shak.
Finish, n.
1. That which finishes, puts an end to
2. (Arch.)
The joiner work and other finer work required for the completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside finish, and Outside finish.
3. (Fine Arts) (a) The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence, minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like. (b) See Finishing coat, under Finishing.
4. The result of completed labor, as on the surface of an object; manner or style of finishing; as, a rough, dead, or glossy finish given to cloth, stone, metal, etc.
5. Completion; -- opposed to Ant: start, or Ant: beginning.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for finish; he lists it under cease, do, end.
Where he writes about it:
We may say of the least item of daily work, "It is done," and of the grandest human achievement, "Well done!" Finish and complete signify to bring to an end what was previously begun; there is frequently the difference in usage that finish is applied to the fine details and is superficial, while complete is comprehensive, being applied to the whole ideal, plan, and execution; as, to finish a statue; to complete a scheme of philosophy. — from do
We finish a garment or a letter, complete an edifice or a life-work, consummate a bargain or a crime, discharge a duty, effect a purpose, execute a command, fulfil a promise, perform our daily tasks, realize an ideal, accomplish a design, achieve a victory. — from do
To finish is to do the last thing there is to do; as, "I have finished my course," 2 Tim. iv, 7. — from end
Finish has come to mean, not merely to complete in the essentials, but to perfect in all the minute details, as in the expression "to add the finishing touches." The enumeration is completed; the poem, the picture, the statue is finished. — from end