Historical source · 1908

Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 172

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Page 172 of 179

Vamose

Vamose, va-mōs′, v.i. (slang) to be off, to be gone. [Sp. vamos, 1st pers. pl. pres. indic.—L. vadimus, we go—vadĕre, to go.]

English · e-38700-8493

Vamp

Vamp, vamp, n. the upper leather of a boot or shoe.—v.t. to repair with a new vamp: to patch old with new: give a new face to: (mus.) to improvise an accompaniment to (coll.).—v.i. to improvise accompaniments, to travel,

English · e-38700-8494

Vampire

Vampire, vam′pīr, n. in eastern Europe, an accursed body which cannot rest in the kindly earth, but nightly leaves its grave to suck the blood of sleeping men: an extortioner.—n. Vam′pire-bat, the name of several species

English · e-38700-8495

Vamplate

Vamplate, vam′plāt, n. the iron plate through which the lance passed, serving as a protection to the hand when the lance was couched. [Fr. avant-plat—avant, before, plat, plate.]

English · e-38700-8496

Van

Van, van, n. the front: the front of an army or a fleet: the leaders of any movement. [Abbrev. of vanguard.]

English · e-38700-8497 · brief source record

Van

Van, van, n. a fan for grain, &c.: a vane, wing: a test for ascertaining the value of an ore by washing a small quantity on a shovel.—v.t. to separate ore in this way.—ns. Van′ner, an ore-separator; Van′ning. [Fr.,—L. va

English · e-38700-8498

Van

Van, van, n. a large covered wagon for goods, &c.: a light vehicle, covered or not, used by tradesmen in delivering goods: a carriage in a railway-train for carrying luggage, for the use of the guard, &c. [Short for cara

English · e-38700-8499

Vanadium

Vanadium, van-ā′di-um, n. a rare metal somewhat resembling silver in appearance, very brittle and infusible, and unoxidisible either by air or water.—ns. Van′adāte, Vanā′diāte, a salt formed by vanadic acid combined with

English · e-38700-8500

Vancourier

Vancourier, van′kōō-ri-er, n. a precursor. [Fr. avant-courier—avant, before.]

English · e-38700-8501 · brief source record

Vandal

Vandal, van′dal, n. one of a fierce race from north-eastern Germany who entered Gaul about the beginning of the 5th century, crossed the Pyrenees into Spain (leaving their name in Andalusia=Vandalitia), next under Genser

English · e-38700-8502

Vandyke

Vandyke, van-dīk′, n. one of the points forming an edge or border, as of lace, ribbon, &c.: a painting by Vandyke: a small round cape, the border ornamented with points and indentations, as seen in paintings by Vandyke o

English · e-38700-8503

Vane

Vane, vān, n. a flag or banner: a thin slip of wood or metal at the top of a spire, &c., to show which way the wind blows: a weather-cock: the thin web of a feather: one of the blades of a windmill.—adjs. Vaned, furnishe

English · e-38700-8504

Vanessa

Vanessa, va-nes′a, n. a genus of butterflies, e.g. the Vanessa atalanta or Red Admiral, Vanessa antiope or Camberwell Beauty. [Perh. intended for Phanessa—Gr. Phanēs, a mystic divinity.]

English · e-38700-8505

Vang

Vang, vang, n. (naut.) one of two guy-ropes from the end of a gaff to the deck to steady the peak. [Dut.]

English · e-38700-8506 · brief source record

Vanguard

Vanguard, van′gärd, n. the guard in the van of an army: the part of an army preceding the main body: the front line. [Formerly vantgard—Fr. avant-garde—avant, before, garde, guard.]

English · e-38700-8507

Vanilla

Vanilla, va-nil′a, n. the dried aromatic sheath-like pod or fruit of a tropical epiphytal orchid, a favourite confection.—adj. Vanill′ic. [Latinised from Fr. vanille—Sp. vainilla—vaina—L. vagina, a sheath.]

English · e-38700-8508

Vanish

Vanish, van′ish, v.i. to pass away from a place, leaving it vacant or empty: to disappear: to be annihilated or lost: (math.) to become zero: (Shak.) to exhale.—n. Van′isher.—adv. Van′ishingly.—n. Van′ishment.—Vanishing

English · e-38700-8509

Vanity

Vanity. See Vain.

English · e-38700-8510 · brief source record

Vanner

Vanner. See Van (2).

English · e-38700-8511 · brief source record

Vanquish

Vanquish, vangk′wish, v.t. to conquer: to defeat in any contest: to confute.—adj. Vanq′uishable, capable of being vanquished.—ns. Vanq′uisher; Vanq′uishment. [Fr. vaincre (pa.t. vainquis)—L. vincĕre, to conquer.]

English · e-38700-8512

Vantage

Vantage, van′tāj, n. advantage: in lawn-tennis, same as advantage: (Shak.) opportunity, convenience, excess, addition.—v.i. (Spens.) to benefit, profit.—ns. Van′tage-ground, -point, superiority of place, opportunity, &c.

English · e-38700-8513

Vantbrace

Vantbrace, Vantbrass, n. See Vambrace.

English · e-38700-8514 · brief source record

Vanward

Vanward, van′wawrd, adj. (rare) situated in or pertaining to the van or front.—n. the advance-guard of an army on the march. [Van and ward.]

English · e-38700-8515

Vapid

Vapid, vap′id, adj. having the spirit evaporated: spiritless: insipid.—adv. Vap′idly.—ns. Vap′idness, Vapid′ity. [L. vapidus.]

English · e-38700-8516

Vaporole

Vaporole, vā′pō-rōl, n. a thin glass capsule, containing a volatile drug wrapped in cotton-wool and enclosed in a silk bag, to be crushed in the fingers so as to permit inhalation.

English · e-38700-8517

Vapour

Vapour, Vapor, vā′pur, n. the gas into which most liquids and solids are convertible by heat: the condition of a body when it becomes gas by heat: water in the atmosphere: anything vain or transitory: (pl.) a disease of

English · e-38700-8518

Vapulation

Vapulation, vap-ū-lā′shun, n. (rare) a flogging.—adj. Vap′ulātōry. [L. vapulāre, to be flogged.]

English · e-38700-8519 · brief source record

Vaquero

Vaquero, va-kā′rō, n. a herdsman.—n. Vacqueria (vak-e-rē′a), a farm for grazing cattle. [Sp.,—Fr. vacher, a cowherd—L. vacca, a cow.]

English · e-38700-8520

Vara

Vara, vä′ra, n. a Spanish-American linear measure, about thirty-three inches. [Vare.]

English · e-38700-8521 · brief source record

Varangian

Varangian, va-ran′ji-an, n. the name given by the Slavic Russians and the Greeks to one of those Northmen or Värings who made settlements on the east side of the Baltic in the second half of the 9th century, and laid the

English · e-38700-8522

Varanus

Varanus, var′a-nus, n. the typical genus of Varanidæ, a family of eriglossate lacertilians, a monitor.—n. Var′an, a varanoid lizard.—adj. Var′anoid.

English · e-38700-8523

Vare

Vare, vār, n. a wand of authority. [Sp. vara, a pole—L. vara, a trestle, forked stick—varus, crooked.]

English · e-38700-8524 · brief source record

Varec

Varec, var′ek, n. a Breton impure sodium carbonate. [Fr.,—Ice. vágrek, vágr, a wave, rek, drift.]

English · e-38700-8525 · brief source record

Vareuse

Vareuse, va-rėz′, n. a kind of loose jacket. [Fr.]

English · e-38700-8526 · brief source record

Vargueno

Vargueno, var-gā′nō, n. a form of cabinet made at Vargas in Spain, having a box-shaped body with lid, resting on columns, and opening at the bottom so as to serve as a writing-desk.

English · e-38700-8527

Variable

Variable, vā′ri-a-bl, adj. that may be varied: changeable: liable to change: unsteady: (bot., zool.) of a species embracing many individuals and groups departing more or less from the strict type: (math.) quantitatively

English · e-38700-8528

Variance

Variance, vā′ri-ans, n. state of being varied: an alteration: a change of condition: (law) a discrepancy: difference that arises from, or produces, dispute.—n. Vā′riant, a different form of the same original word: a diff

English · e-38700-8529

Varicella

Varicella, var-i-sel′a, n. chicken-pox—applied also loosely to various eruptive diseases, as swine-pox, hives, or varioloid.—adjs. Varicell′ar, pertaining to varicella; Varicell′oid, resembling varicella.

English · e-38700-8530

Varicocele

Varicocele, var′i-kō-sēl, n. an enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord, or sometimes of the veins of the scrotum. [L. varix, a dilated vein, Gr. kēlē, a tumour.]

English · e-38700-8531

Varicoloured

Varicoloured, vā′ri-kul-urd, adj. diversified in colour.—Also Varicol′orous. [L. varius, various, color, colour.]

English · e-38700-8532 · brief source record

Varicorn

Varicorn, vā′ri-korn, adj. having diversiform antennæ.—n. a varicorn beetle. [L. varius, various, cornu, a horn.]

English · e-38700-8533 · brief source record

Varicose

Varicose, var′i-kōs, adj. permanently dilated or enlarged, as a vein, the actual dilatation being called a varix—most often in the sub-mucous veins of the rectum (constituting hæmorrhoids or piles), in the spermatic vein

English · e-38700-8534

Variegate

Variegate, vā′ri-e-gāt, v.t. to mark with different colours.—ns. Variegā′tion, in plants, a condition in which other colours are exhibited in parts where green is the normal colour; Vā′riegātor. [L. variegatus—varius, va

English · e-38700-8535

Variety

Variety, va-rī′e-ti, n. the quality of bring various: difference: many-sidedness, versatility: a collection of different things: one of a number of things nearly allied to each other: one or more individuals of a species

English · e-38700-8536

Variola

Variola, vā-rī′ō-la, n. smallpox.—adjs. Varī′olar, Variol′ic, Varī′olous.—ns. Variolā′tion, inoculation with the virus of smallpox; Vā′riole, a shallow pit or pitted marking, a foveole; Varī′olite, a rock covered with pe

English · e-38700-8537

Variometer

Variometer, vā-ri-om′e-tėr, n. an instrument used in measuring magnetic intensity. [L. varius, various, Gr. metron, measure.]

English · e-38700-8538

Variorum

Variorum, vā-rī-ō′rum, adj. a term applied to an edition of some work in which the notes of various commentators are inserted. [From the full Latin 'editio cum notis variorum.']

English · e-38700-8539

Various

Various, vā′ri-us, adj. varied, different: several: unlike each other: changeable: uncertain: variegated.—adv. Vā′riously.—n. Vā′riousness. [L. varius.]

English · e-38700-8540

Variscite

Variscite, var′i-sīt, n. a mineral very like a greenish turquoise found in Brittany. [From L. Variscia, Voigtland, part of Saxony.]

English · e-38700-8541

Varix

Varix, vā′riks, n. abnormal dilatation or tortuosity of a vein:—pl. Var′icēs. [L.,—varus, bent.]

English · e-38700-8542 · brief source record

Varlet

Varlet, vär′let, n. a footman: a low fellow: a scoundrel.—n. Var′letry (Shak.), the rabble, the crowd. [O. Fr. varlet, formerly vaslet, from a dim. of Low L. vassalis.]

English · e-38700-8543

Varmin

Varmin, Varmint, var′min, var′mint, dialectal variants for vermin.

English · e-38700-8544 · brief source record

Varnish

Varnish, vär′nish, v.t. to cover with a liquid so as to give a glossy surface to: to give a fair appearance to.—n. a sticky liquid which dries and forms a hard, lustrous coating: a glossy, lustrous appearance: any gloss

English · e-38700-8545

Varriated

Varriated, var′i-ā-ted, adj. (her.) battlemented with solid projections and crenelles, both pointed bluntly, but in the latter case reversed. [So named from the resemblance to vair.]

English · e-38700-8546

Varsal

Varsal, var′sal, adj. (coll.) universal.

English · e-38700-8547 · brief source record

Varsity

Varsity, var′si-ti, n. (coll.) university.

English · e-38700-8548 · brief source record

Varsovienne

Varsovienne, var-sō-vi-en′, n. a dance imitated from the Polish mazurka, the music for such. [Fr., fem. of Varsovien—Varsovie, Warsaw.]

English · e-38700-8549

Vartabed

Vartabed, vär′ta-bed, n. one of an order of Armenian clergy devoted to teaching.—Also Var′tabet.

English · e-38700-8550 · brief source record

Varuna

Varuna, var′ōō-na, n. an ancient Indian Vedic god of heaven and day—latterly, rather the deity that rules over the waters.

English · e-38700-8551

Varus

Varus, vā′rus, n. the same as talipes varus: a knock-kneed person. [L.]

English · e-38700-8552 · brief source record

Varus

Varus, vā′rus, n. acne. [L.]

English · e-38700-8553 · brief source record

Varvels

Varvels, värv′elz, n. same as Vervels.—adj. Var′veled (her.), provided with vervels or rings.

English · e-38700-8554 · brief source record

Vary

Vary, vā′ri, v.t. to make different: to diversify, modify: (mus.) to alter or embellish a melody, preserving its identity: (Shak.) to express variously: to change to something else: to make of different kinds.—v.i. to al

English · e-38700-8555

Vas

Vas, vas, n. (anat., zool.) a vessel containing blood, &c.:—pl. Vā′sa.—adjs. Vā′sal, pertaining to a vas; Vas′iform, having the form of a duct; Vasomō′tor, serving to regulate the tension of blood-vessels, as nerves; Vas

English · e-38700-8556

Vasalium

Vasalium, va-sā′li-um, n. vascular tissue proper.

English · e-38700-8557 · brief source record

Vascular

Vascular, vas′kū-lar, adj. of or relating to the vessels of animal and vegetable bodies.—n.pl. Vasculā′res, a division of the vegetable kingdom embracing plants with vessels or ducts.—v.t. Vas′cularise.—n. Vascular′ity.—

English · e-38700-8558

Vase

Vase, vāz, or v[ä]z, n. a vessel of stone, metal, glass, or earthenware, anciently used for domestic purposes and in offering sacrifices: an ornamental vessel generally of an antique pattern: a sculptured, vaselike ornam

English · e-38700-8559

Vaseline

Vaseline, vas′e-lin, n. a yellowish, almost tasteless and inodorous, translucent substance obtained from petroleum, used as a salve, liniment, lubricant, &c. [Formed from Ger. wasser, water, and Gr. elaion, oil.]

English · e-38700-8560

Vasiform

Vasiform, Vasomotor. See Vas.

English · e-38700-8561 · brief source record

Vassal

Vassal, vas′al, n. one who holds land from, and renders homage to, a superior: a dependant, retainer: a bondman, slave: (Shak.) a low wretch.—adj. (Shak.) servile.—v.t. to enslave, to dominate.—ns. Vass′alāge, state of b

English · e-38700-8562

Vast

Vast, vast, adj. of great extent: very great in amount: very great in degree, mighty: (Shak.) vacant, desolate.—n. immensity: (coll.) a large quantity: (Shak.) the darkness of night.—ns. Vastid′ity (Shak.), immensity, de

English · e-38700-8563

Vat

Vat, vat, n. a large vessel or tank, esp. one for holding liquors.—v.t. to put in a vat.—n. Vat′ful, the contents of a vat. [Older form fat—A.S. fæt; Dut. vat, Ice. fat, Ger. fass.]

English · e-38700-8564

Vatican

Vatican, vat′i-kan, n. an assemblage of buildings on the Vatican hill in Rome, including one of the pope's palaces: the papal authority.—ns. Vat′icanism, the system of theology and ecclesiastical government based on abso

English · e-38700-8565

Vaticide

Vaticide, vat′i-sīd, n. the killing of a prophet: one who kills a prophet. [L. vates, vatis, a prophet, cædĕre, to kill.]

English · e-38700-8566

Vaticinate

Vaticinate, va-tis′i-nāt, v.t. to prophesy.—adj. Vat′ic, prophetic, oracular, inspired—also Vatic′inal.—ns. Vaticinā′tion, prophecy: prediction; Vatic′inator, a prophet. [L. vaticināri, -ātus, to prophesy—vates, a seer.]

English · e-38700-8567

Vaudeville

Vaudeville, vōd′vil, n. originally a popular song with topical allusions: a play interspersed with dances and songs incidentally introduced and usually comic.—n. Vaude′villist, a composer of these. [From vau (val) de Vir

English · e-38700-8568

Vaudois

Vaudois, vō-dwo′, n. a native of Vaud: the dialect spoken in Vaud.—adj. pertaining to Vaud or its people.

English · e-38700-8569 · brief source record

Vaudois

Vaudois, vō-dwo′, n. one of the Waldenses (q.v.).—adj. Waldensian.

English · e-38700-8570 · brief source record

Vaudoo

Vaudoo. See Voodoo.

English · e-38700-8571 · brief source record

Vault

Vault, vawlt, n. an arched roof: a chamber with an arched roof, esp. one underground: a cellar: anything vault-like: a leap or spring by means of a pole or by resting the hands on something: the bound of a horse: a jump.

English · e-38700-8572

Vaunce

Vaunce, väns, v.i. (Spens.) to advance.

English · e-38700-8573 · brief source record

Vaunt

Vaunt, vawnt′, or vänt, v.i. to make a vain display: to boast.—v.t. to make a vain display of: to boast of.—n. vain display: boast.—ns. Vaun′ter; Vaun′tery, vaunting.—adj. Vaunt′ful.—n. Vaun′ting.—adv. Vaun′tingly. [O. F

English · e-38700-8574

Vaunt

Vaunt, vänt, n. (Shak.) the first part. [Van.]

English · e-38700-8575 · brief source record

Vaunt-courier

Vaunt-courier, vänt′-kōō′-ri-ėr, n. (Shak.). Same as Vancourier.

English · e-38700-8576 · brief source record

Vaut

Vaut, vawt, v.i. (Spens.) same as Vault.—adj. Vau′ty, vaulted.

English · e-38700-8577 · brief source record

Vavasour

Vavasour, vav′a-sōōr, n. in feudal times, one who held his lands not directly of the crown but of one of the higher nobility.—n. Vav′asōry, the tenure or lands of a vavasour. [O. Fr.,—Low L. vassus vassorum, vassal of va

English · e-38700-8578

Vaward

Vaward, vā′wawrd, n. and adj. Same as Vanward.

English · e-38700-8579 · brief source record

Veadar

Veadar, vē′a-dar, n. the name of the intercalary or thirteenth month of the Jewish year, which must have been inserted about every third year. [Heb., 'the additional adar,' from ve, and, and adar, so called because it wa

English · e-38700-8580

Veal

Veal, vēl, n. the flesh of a calf.—n. Veal′-skin, a skin-disease marked by white shiny tubercles on the ears and neck.—adj. Veal′y, like veal or like a calf: immature. [O. Fr. veël (Prov. vedel)—L. vitellus, dim. of vitu

English · e-38700-8581

Vector

Vector, vek′tor, n. (math.) any directed quantity, as a straight line in space, involving both its direction and magnitude.—n. Vectitā′tion, a carrying.—adj. Vectō′rial. [L.,—vehĕre, vectum, to convey.]

English · e-38700-8582

Veda

Veda, vā′dä, n. the four holy books of the Hindus—Rigveda, or Veda of praises or hymns; Sâmaveda, or Veda of chants or tunes; Yajurveda, or Veda of prayers; and Atharvaveda, or Veda of the Atharvans:—pl. Vedas (vā′däz).—

English · e-38700-8583

Vedette

Vedette, ve-det′, n. a mounted sentry stationed at the outposts of an army to watch an enemy. [Fr.,—It. vedetta—vedere, to see—L. vidēre, to see.]

English · e-38700-8584

Veer

Veer, vēr, v.i. to change direction, as the wind: to alter, of the course of a ship: to change one's mind.—v.t. to turn, shift: to change a ship's course by turning her head away from the wind.—n. and adj. Veer′ing.—adv.

English · e-38700-8585

Veery

Veery, vēr′i, n. the tawny thrush of North America.

English · e-38700-8586 · brief source record

Vega

Vega, vā′ga, n. a tract of flat land, a tobacco-field in Cuba. [Sp.]

English · e-38700-8587 · brief source record

Vegetable

Vegetable, vej′e-ta-bl, n. an organised body without sensation and voluntary motion, nourished by roots fixed in the ground: a plant for the table.—adj. belonging to plants: consisting of or having the nature of plants:

English · e-38700-8588

Vehement

Vehement, vē′he-ment, adj. passionate: furious: very eager or urgent.—ns. Vē′hemence, Vē′hemency, the quality of being vehement: violence: great ardour or fervour.—adv. Vē′hemently. [O. Fr.,—L. vehemens, from ve, out of,

English · e-38700-8589

Vehicle

Vehicle, vē′hi-kl, n. any kind of carriage or conveyance: that which is used to convey: (med.) a substance in which a medicine is taken: (paint.) a liquid used to render colours, varnishes, &c. fit for use.—adjs. Vehic′ū

English · e-38700-8590

Vehmgericht

Vehmgericht, fām′ge-richt, n. one of the dread medieval German tribunals, empowered by the emperors to try cases in which the penalty was death and to execute the punishment on the guilty—also Fem′gerichte, or simply Veh

English · e-38700-8591

Veil

Veil, vāl, n. a curtain: anything that hides an object: a piece of muslin or thin cloth worn by ladies to shade or hide the face: a cover: a disguise: an obscuration of the clearness of the tones in pronunciation: in fun

English · e-38700-8592

Veilleuse

Veilleuse, vā-lyėz′, n. a shaded night-lamp.

English · e-38700-8593 · brief source record

Vein

Vein, vān, n. one of the vessels or tubes which convey the blood back to the heart: one of the horny tubes forming the framework of an insect's wings: (bot.) one of the small branching ribs in a leaf: a seam of a differe

English · e-38700-8594

Velamentum

Velamentum, vel-a-men′tum, n. a membrane or membraneous envelope—also Velā′men.—adj. Velamen′tous, veil-like.

English · e-38700-8595 · brief source record

Velarium

Velarium, vē-lā′ri-um, n. an awning which could be drawn over the Roman amphitheatre: the marginal membrane of certain hydrozoans:—pl. Velā′ria.

English · e-38700-8596

Velatura

Velatura, vel-a-tōō′ra, n. a method of glazing a painting by rubbing on colour with the hand. [It.]

English · e-38700-8597 · brief source record

Veldt

Veldt, velt, n. in South Africa, the name given to unforested or thinly-forested grass country.—Also Veld. [Dut. veld, field.]

English · e-38700-8598

Vele

Vele, vēl, n. (Spens.). Same as Veil.

English · e-38700-8599 · brief source record

Velia

Velia, vē′li-a, n. a genus of semi-aquatic water-bugs.

English · e-38700-8600 · brief source record

Velitation

Velitation, vel-i-tā′shun, n. a slight skirmish.

English · e-38700-8601 · brief source record

Velite

Velite, vē′līt, n. a light-armed Roman soldier. [L. veles, velitis.]

English · e-38700-8602 · brief source record

Vell

Vell, vel, v.t. (prov.) to cut the turf from.

English · e-38700-8603 · brief source record

Vell

Vell, vel, n. (prov.) rennet.

English · e-38700-8604 · brief source record

Velleity

Velleity, ve-lē′i-ti, n. (rare) volition in its lowest form: mere inclination. [Low L. velleitas, irregularly formed from L. velle, to wish.]

English · e-38700-8605

Vellenage

Vellenage, vel′en-āj, n. (Spens.) slavery—the same as Villeinage. [Villain.]

English · e-38700-8606 · brief source record

Vellet

Vellet, vel′et, n. (Spens.). Same as Velvet.

English · e-38700-8607 · brief source record

Vellicate

Vellicate, vel′i-kāt, v.t. and v.i. to twitch.—n. Vellicā′tion.—adj. Vell′icātive. [L. vellicāre,-ātum, to pluck.]

English · e-38700-8608 · brief source record

Vellon

Vellon, ve-lyōn′, n. a Spanish money of account.

English · e-38700-8609 · brief source record

Velloped

Velloped, vel′opt, adj. (her.) having pendant wattles. [Prob. jelloped for dewlapped.]

English · e-38700-8610 · brief source record

Vellozia

Vellozia, ve-lō′zi-a, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Hæmodoraceæ, found in Brazil, Madagascar, &c. [Vellozo, Brazilian botanist.]

English · e-38700-8611

Vellum

Vellum, vel′um, n. a finer kind of parchment prepared by lime-baths and burnishing from the skins of calves, kids, or lambs. [O. Fr. velin—Low L. (charta, paper), vitulina, of a calf—L. vitulus.]

English · e-38700-8612

Veloce

Veloce, ve-lō′che, adv. (mus.) with great rapidity.

English · e-38700-8613 · brief source record

Velocipede

Velocipede, vē-los′i-pēd, n. a light vehicle originally moved by striking the toes on the road, now with a treadle—its developments are the bicycle and tricycle.—ns. Veloc′iman, a velocipede driven by hand; Velocipē′dean

English · e-38700-8614

Velocity

Velocity, vē-los′i-ti, n. swiftness: speed: rate of change of position of a point per unit of time.—n. Velocim′eter, an apparatus for measuring velocity.—Initial velocity, the rate of movement of a body at starting, esp.

English · e-38700-8615

Velum

Velum, vē′lum, n. a velarium: the ciliated disc-like fold of the integument with which some embryo molluscs are provided:—pl. Vē′la.—adj. Vē′lāte, having a velum.—n. Vēlā′tion, formation of a velum.—adjs. Vēlif′erous, Vē

English · e-38700-8616

Velure

Velure, vel′ūr, n. velvet: a silk or plush pad for smoothing or giving lustre to silk hats—also Velours (ve-loor′).—v.t. to dress with a velure.—n. Veloutine′, a corded fabric of merino and fancy wool.—adj. Velū′tinous,

English · e-38700-8617

Velvet

Velvet, vel′vet, n. a cloth made from silk, with a close shaggy pile: a similar cloth made of cotton: the velvet-like covering of a growing antler: (slang) money gained by gambling.—adj. made of velvet: soft like velvet.

English · e-38700-8618

Vena

Vena, vē′na, n. a vein.—Vena cava, the largest vein in the body, entering the right auricle of the heart.

English · e-38700-8619 · brief source record

Venal

Venal, vē′nal, adj. that may be sold or got for a price: held for sale: mercenary.—n. Venal′ity, quality of being venal: prostitution of talents or services for a reward.—adv. Vē′nally. [Fr.,—L. venalis—venus, sale; Gr.

English · e-38700-8620

Venal

Venal, vē′nal, adj. pertaining to a vein or veins: contained in the veins. [L. vena, a vein.]

English · e-38700-8621 · brief source record

Venatic

Venatic, -al, vē-nat′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to hunting.—adv. Venat′ically.—adj. Venatō′rial. [Venery.]

English · e-38700-8622 · brief source record

Venation

Venation, ve-nā′shun, n. the way in which the leaves of plants are arranged: in insects, the distribution of the veins of the wings. [Vein.]

English · e-38700-8623

Vend

Vend, vend, v.t. to give for sale, to sell: to give for money: to make an object of trade.—ns. Vendee′, the person to whom a thing is sold; Ven′der, -dor, one who sells; Vendibil′ity.—adj. Vend′ible, that may be sold: th

English · e-38700-8624

Vendace

Vendace, ven′dās, n. a variety of the whitefish, found in Great Britain only in the Castle Loch at Lochmaben. [O. Fr. vendese, vandoise (Fr. vandoise); orig. unknown.]

English · e-38700-8625

Vendémiaire

Vendémiaire, vong-dā-mi-ār′, n. the first month in the French Revolutionary Calendar, from 22d September to 21st October. ['The vintage-month,' Fr.,—L. vindemia, vintage—vinum, wine, demĕre, to take off—de, off, emĕre, t

English · e-38700-8626

Vendetta

Vendetta, ven-det′ta, n. the practice—not yet entirely extinct in Calabria and Corsica—of individuals taking private vengeance on those who have shed the blood of their relatives. [It.,—L. vindicta, revenge—vindicāre, to

English · e-38700-8627

Veneer

Veneer, ve-nēr′, v.t. to overlay or face with another and superior wood: to cover with a thin coating of any substance other than wood: to disguise with artificial attractiveness.—n. a thin coating, as of wood: false sho

English · e-38700-8628

Venefical

Venefical, vē-nef′i-kal, adj. poisonous, using sorcery—also Venefi′cial, Venefi′cious.—v.t. Ven′enāte, to poison.—adj. poisoned.—n. Venenā′tion.—adjs. Venenif′luous; Ven′enous. [L. veneficium, a poisoning—venenum, poison

English · e-38700-8629

Venerable

Venerable, ven′e-ra-bl, adj. that may be venerated: worthy of veneration, reverence, or honour: rendered sacred by religious or other associations: aged.—n. Ven′erableness.—adv. Ven′erably. [L. venerabilis—venerāri, to v

English · e-38700-8630

Venerate

Venerate, ven′e-rāt, v.t. to honour or reverence with religious awe: to reverence: to regard with the greatest respect.—adjs. Ven′erant (rare), Ven′erātive, reverent.—ns. Venerā′tion, the act of venerating: the state of

English · e-38700-8631

Venereal

Venereal, vē-nē′rē-al, adj. pertaining to or arising from sexual intercourse: exciting desire for sexual intercourse: curing venereal diseases.—adj. Venē′reous, lascivious: stimulating sexual desire, aphrodisiac.—n. Ven′

English · e-38700-8632

Venery

Venery, ven′ėr-i, n. the act or exercise of hunting: the sports of the chase.—ns. Ven′erer, a gamekeeper, hunter; Veneur (ve-nėr′), a person having an oversight of the chase. [O. Fr. venerie—vener—L. venāri, to hunt.]

English · e-38700-8633

Venesection

Venesection, vē-nē-sek′shun, n. the section or cutting open of a vein for letting blood: blood-letting. [L. vena, a vein, sectio, cutting.]

English · e-38700-8634

Venetian

Venetian, vē-nē′shan, adj. of or belonging to Venice.—n. a native or inhabitant of Venice: a strong tape for Venetian-blinds: a domino.—n. Venē′tian-blind, a blind for windows formed of thin slips of wood, so hung as to

English · e-38700-8635

Venew

Venew, ven′ū, Veney, ven′i, n. (Shak.) a bout at fencing, a thrust, a hit. [Venue.]

English · e-38700-8636 · brief source record

Venge

Venge, venj, v.t. (Shak.) to avenge, to punish.—adj. Venge′able (Spens.), revengeful: deserving to be revenged.—n. Venge′ance, the infliction of punishment upon another in return for an injury or offence: retribution: (S

English · e-38700-8637

Veni Creator

Veni Creator, vē′nī krē-ā′tor, n.—more fully, 'Veni Creator Spiritus'—a hymn of the Roman Breviary, used at Whitsuntide, ordinations, &c.—not to be confounded with the Veni Sancte Spiritus, Et emitte coelitus, the 'Golde

English · e-38700-8639

Venial

Venial, vē′ni-al, adj. pardonable: excusable: allowed.—adv. Vē′nially.—ns. Vē′nialness, Venial′ity.—Venial sin (see Mortal). [Fr.,—L. venialis, pardonable—venia, pardon.]

English · e-38700-8638

Venison

Venison, ven′i-zn, or ven′zn, n. the flesh of animals taken in hunting, esp. the deer. [Fr. venaison—L. venatio, a hunting, game—venāri, to hunt.]

English · e-38700-8640

Venite

Venite, vē-nī′tē, n. in liturgics, the 95th Psalm. [From its opening words, 'Venite exultemus.']

English · e-38700-8641 · brief source record

Vennel

Vennel, ven′el, n. (Scot.) an alley, a narrow street. [Fr. venelle, a small street.]

English · e-38700-8642 · brief source record

Venom

Venom, ven′um, n. any drink, juice, or liquid injurious or fatal to life: poison: spite: malice.—adj. (Shak.) venomous, poisonous.—v.t. to infect with poison.—n. Ven′om-duct, in a poisonous animal, the duct conveying ven

English · e-38700-8643

Venose

Venose, vē′nōs, adj. (bot.) having well-marked veins, veined.—n. Vēnos′ity, the state or quality of being venous: (med.) a condition of the blood in which the venous blood is unnaturally abundant.—adj. Vē′nous, pertainin

English · e-38700-8644

Vent

Vent, vent, n. a small opening to let air, &c., escape: the flue of a chimney: the opening in the top of a barrel allowing air to pass in as the liquid is drawn out: a gimlet used to extract a little liquid from a barrel

English · e-38700-8645

Vent

Vent, vent, n. scent: (hunting) the act of taking breath.—v.i. to sniff, snort: to take breath: (Scot.) of a chimney, to draw.—Vent up (Spens.), to lift so as to give air. [O. Fr.,—L. ventus, wind.]

English · e-38700-8646

Vent

Vent, vent, n. the act of selling, sale: market. [O. Fr. vente—Low L. vendita, a sale—L. vendĕre, -dĭtum, to sell.]

English · e-38700-8647 · brief source record

Ventanna

Ventanna, ven-tan′a, n. a window. [Sp.]

English · e-38700-8648 · brief source record

Venter

Venter, ven′tėr, n. the belly, abdomen. [L.]

English · e-38700-8649 · brief source record

Ventilate

Ventilate, ven′ti-lāt, v.t. to fan with wind: to open to the free passage of air: to cause fresh air to pass through: to expose to examination and discussion: to make public.—adj. Ven′tilable.—ns. Ventilā′brum, flabellum

English · e-38700-8650

Ventose

Ventose, ven′tōs, adj. windy.—n. the sixth month of the French Revolutionary Calendar, 19th February to 20th March.—n. Ventos′ity, windiness: empty pride. [L. ventosus—ventus, wind.]

English · e-38700-8651

Ventral

Ventral, ven′tral, adj. belonging to the belly: (bot.) denoting the anterior or inferior surface: in the body, situated opposite the dorsal or back aspect.—n. in fishes, one of the posterior fins.—advs. Ven′trad (zool.,

English · e-38700-8652

Ventriculite

Ventriculite, ven-trik′ū-līt, n. one of a genus of fossil sponges found in the cretaceous system, and often giving their shape to flint nodules.

English · e-38700-8653

Ventriloquism

Ventriloquism, ven-tril′ō-kwizm, n. the act or art of producing tones and words without any motion of the mouth, so that the hearer is induced to refer the sound to some other place—also Ventrilocū′tion, Ventril′oquy.—ad

English · e-38700-8654

Ventripotent

Ventripotent, ven-trip′ō-tent, adj. (rare) of great gastronomic capacity. [L. venter, belly, potens—posse, to have power.]

English · e-38700-8655

Ventrosity

Ventrosity, ven-tros′i-ti, n. the state of having a pot-belly.

English · e-38700-8656 · brief source record

Venture

Venture, ven′tūr, n. chance, luck, hazard: that which is put to hazard (esp. goods sent by sea at the sender's risk): an undertaking whose issue is uncertain or dangerous.—v.t. to send on a venture: to expose to hazard:

English · e-38700-8657

Venue

Venue, ven′ū, n. (Shak.) a hit in fencing: a bout or match: a lunge, thrust. [O. Fr.,—L. venīre, to come.]

English · e-38700-8658 · brief source record

Venue

Venue, ven′ū, n. (law) the place where an action is laid: the district from which a jury comes to try a question of fact: in England, usually the county where a crime is alleged to have been committed.—Change of venue, c

English · e-38700-8659

Venus

Venus, vē′nus, n. (Roman myth.) the goddess of love, originally of spring, patron of flower-gardens, but identified with the Greek Aphrodite: beauty and love deified: sexual commerce, venery: the most brilliant of the pl

English · e-38700-8660

Veracious

Veracious, ve-rā′shus, adj. truthful: true.—adv. Verā′ciously.—n. Verac′ity, the quality of being veracious: habitual truthfulness: truth. [L. verax, veracis—verus, true.]

English · e-38700-8661

Veranda

Veranda, Verandah, ve-ran′da, n. a kind of covered balcony or open portico, with a roof sloping beyond the main building, supported by light pillars. [Hind. varandā, perh. from Pers. barāmadah, a porch—bar, up, āmadan, t

English · e-38700-8662

Veratrum

Veratrum, vē-rā′trum, n. hellebore.—adj. Verā′tric.—ns. Verā′trin, -e, a poisonous ointment used to relieve neuralgia.—v.t. Verā′trise, to poison with veratrin. [L.]

English · e-38700-8663

Verb

Verb, verb, n. (gram.) the part of speech which asserts or predicates something.—adj. Ver′bal, relating to or consisting in words: spoken (as opposed to written): exact in words: attending to words only: literal, word fo

English · e-38700-8664

Verbena

Verbena, ver-bē′na, n. a genus of plants of natural order Verbenaceæ, cultivated for their fragrance or beauty: vervain.—adj. Verbenā′ceous. [L. verbenæ, leaves, twigs, &c.]

English · e-38700-8665

Verberate

Verberate, ver′bėr-āt, v.t. to strike.—n. Verberā′tion. [L. verberāre, -ātum, to scourge.]

English · e-38700-8666 · brief source record

Verdant

Verdant, vėr′dant, adj. green: fresh (as grass or foliage): flourishing: inexperienced: ignorant.—n. Ver′dancy.—adv. Ver′dantly.—ns. Ver′derer, -or, an officer in the old English royal forests who had charge of the vert

English · e-38700-8667

Verde-antique

Verde-antique, verd-an-tēk′, n. a beautiful stone of a dark-green colour with patches of white, and sometimes black and red—a mixture of serpentine with limestone dolomite or magnesite, much prized by the ancient Romans.

English · e-38700-8668

Verdict

Verdict, ver′dikt, n. the finding of a jury on a trial: decision: opinion pronounced.—Open verdict, a verdict upon an inquest which finds that a crime has been committed without specifying the criminal; Special verdict,

English · e-38700-8669

Verdigris

Verdigris, ver′di-gris, n. a basic acetate of copper, the greenish rust of copper, brass, or bronze: a bluish-green paint got artificially from copper-plates.—v.t. to coat with verdigris.—Also Ver′degris. [M. E. verdegre

English · e-38700-8670

Verditer

Verditer, ver′di-tėr, n. a light-blue pigment, essentially a hydrated cupric carbonate—Green verditer is the blue pigment changed to green by boiling. [A corr. of Fr. verd-de-terre=earth green.]

English · e-38700-8671

Verdoy

Verdoy, ver′doi, adj. (her.) charged with flowers, leaves, or vegetable charges, as a bordure. [Fr. verd, green.]

English · e-38700-8672 · brief source record

Verdun

Verdun, ver-dun′, n. a 16th-cent. form of rapier. [From the French town Verdun.]

English · e-38700-8673 · brief source record

Verecund

Verecund, ver′ē-kund, adj. (obs.) modest.—adj. Verecun′dious.—n. Verecun′dity.

English · e-38700-8674 · brief source record

Veretilliform

Veretilliform, ver-e-til′i-form, adj. rod-like, virgate.—Also Veretill′eous.

English · e-38700-8675 · brief source record

Verge

Verge, verj, n. a slender green branch, a twig: a rod, staff, or mace, or anything like them, used as an emblem of authority: extent of jurisdiction (esp. of the lord-steward of the royal household): the brink, extreme e

English · e-38700-8676

Verge

Verge, verj, v.i. to bend or incline: to tend downward: to slope: to tend: to border upon.—n. Ver′gency.—adj. Ver′gent. [L. vergĕre, to bend, incline; cf. valgus, wry.]

English · e-38700-8677

Veridical

Veridical, vē-rid′i-kal, adj. truthful, truth-telling: true.—adv. Verid′ically.—adj. Verid′icous, truthful. [L. verus, true, dicĕre, to say.]

English · e-38700-8678

Veriest

Veriest. See Very.

English · e-38700-8679 · brief source record

Verify

Verify, ver′i-fī, v.t. to make out or show to be true: to establish the truth of by evidence: to fulfil: to confirm the truth or authenticity of: (Shak.) to affirm, support, strengthen:—pa.t. and pa.p. ver′ifīed.—n. Veri

English · e-38700-8680

Verily

Verily, ver′i-li, adv. truly: certainly: really.

English · e-38700-8681 · brief source record

Verisimilar

Verisimilar, ver-i-sim′i-lar, adj. truth-like: likely: probable.—adv. Verisim′ilarly.—ns. Verisimil′itude, similitude or likeness to truth: likelihood; Verisimil′ity (obs.).—adj. Verisim′ilous. [L. verisimilis—verus, tru

English · e-38700-8682

Verity

Verity, ver′i-ti, n. the quality of being true or real: truth: a true assertion or tenet: (Shak.) honesty:—pl. Ver′ities.—adj. Ver′itable, true: according to fact: real: actual.—adv. Ver′itably.—Of a verity, certainly. [

English · e-38700-8683

Verjuice

Verjuice, ver′jōōs, n. the expressed juice of green or unripe fruit: sourness of temper.—v.t. to make sour or acid. [Fr. verjus—vert, green (cf. Verdant), and Fr. jus, juice.]

English · e-38700-8684

Vermeil

Vermeil, Vermil, ver′mil, n. (Spens.) same as Vermilion: silver-gilt.—adj. Ver′meil-tinc′tured (Milt.), tinged bright-red.

English · e-38700-8685

Vermes

Vermes, ver′mēz, n.pl. worms: the name given by Linnæus to one of the classes in his zoological system, in which he included all the invertebrate animals, other than Insecta, whether of worm-like form or not.—ns. Vermeol

English · e-38700-8686

Vermicelli

Vermicelli, ver-mi-chel′i, or -sel′i, n. the stiff paste or dough of fine wheat-flour made into small worm-like or thread-like rolls. [It., pl. of vermicello—L. vermiculus, dim. of vermis, worm.]

English · e-38700-8687

Vermilion

Vermilion, ver-mil′yun, n. a bright-red pigment obtained from cinnabar, but generally made artificially from mercury and sulphur: any beautiful red colour: (obs.) the kermes or cochineal insect, also the product of cochi

English · e-38700-8688

Vermin

Vermin, ver′min, n.sing. and pl. a worm: a name for all obnoxious insects, as bugs, fleas, and lice; troublesome animals, such as mice, rats; animals destructive to game, such as weasels, polecats, also hawks and owls: a

English · e-38700-8689

Vermuth

Vermuth, Vermouth, ver′mooth, n. a mild cordial consisting of white wine flavoured with wormwood, used as a stimulant for the appetite. [Ger. wermuth, wormwood; cf. A.S. wermōd.]

English · e-38700-8690

Vernacular

Vernacular, ver-nak′ū-lar, adj. native: belonging to the country of one's birth.—n. one's mother-tongue.—n. Vernacularisā′tion, the act of making vernacular.—v.t. Vernac′ularise, to make vernacular.—ns. Vernac′ularism, a

English · e-38700-8691

Vernal

Vernal, ver′nal, adj. belonging to the spring: appearing in spring: belonging to youth.—adv. Ver′nally.—adj. Ver′nant (Milt.), flourishing as in spring.—v.i. Ver′nāte, to flourish.—n. Vernā′tion, the particular manner of

English · e-38700-8692

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