Verner's law
Verner's law. See Law.
English · e-38700-8693 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
Coverage: the complete A–Z main-entry clusters and dictionary Addenda. Derivative words remain within their original entry clusters. Non-dictionary appendices and standalone illustrations are excluded.
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Verner's law. See Law.
English · e-38700-8693 · brief source recordVernier, ver′ni-ėr, n. a contrivance for measuring very small intervals, consisting of a short scale made to slide along a graduated instrument. [So called from Pierre Vernier (1580-1637) of Brussels, its inventor.]
English · e-38700-8694Veronal, ver′ō-nal, n. a drug used as a hypnotic, akin to trional.
English · e-38700-10054 · brief source recordVeronese, ver-ō-nēs′, or -nēz′, n. of or pertaining to Verona in Italy.—n. an inhabitant of Verona.
English · e-38700-8695 · brief source recordVeronica, vē-ron′i-ka, n. a portrait of our Saviour's face on a handkerchief—from the legend that St Veronica wiped the sweat from the face of Jesus, on His way to Calvary, with her handkerchief, whereupon His features w
English · e-38700-8696Verré, Verrey, ve-rā′, adj. Same as Vairé.
English · e-38700-8697 · brief source recordVerrel, ver′el, n. a corruption of ferrule.
English · e-38700-8698 · brief source recordVerricule, ver′i-kūl, n. a tuft of upright hairs. [L. verriculum, a net.]
English · e-38700-8699 · brief source recordVerruca, ve-rū′ka, n. a wart, a glandular elevation: one of the wart-like sessile apothecia of some lichens.—adjs. Verrū′ciform, warty; Ver′rūcose, Ver′rūcous, covered with little knobs or wart-like prominences: warty; V
English · e-38700-8700Verrugas, ve-rōō′gas, n. an endemic disease of Peru, characterised by warty tumours on the skin. [Sp.,—L. verruca, a wart.]
English · e-38700-8701Versability, ver-sa-bil′i-ti, n. aptness to be turned round.—adj. Ver′sable.—n. Ver′sableness. [L. versāre, to whirl about.]
English · e-38700-8702Versal, ver′sal, adj. (Shak.) abbrev. of universal.
English · e-38700-8703 · brief source recordVersant, ver′sant, adj. familiar, conversant: (her.) with wings erect and open.—n. the general slope of surface of a country. [Fr.,—L. versāre, to whirl about.]
English · e-38700-8704Versatile, ver′sa-til, adj. capable of being moved or turned round: changeable: unsteady: turning easily from one thing to another: (bot.) swinging freely on a support: (ornith.) reversible, of toes.—adv. Ver′satilely.—n
English · e-38700-8705Verse, vers, n. a line of poetry: metrical arrangement and language: poetry: a stanza: a short division of any composition, esp. of the chapters of the Bible, originally confined to the metrical books, applied first to w
English · e-38700-8706Versed, verst, adj. thoroughly acquainted, skilled (fol. by in): (math.) reversed.—adj. Versé (her.), reversed or turned in an unusual direction.—Also Renverse. [Fr. versé—L. versatus, pa.p. of versāri, to turn round.]
English · e-38700-8707Versicolour, ver′si-kul-ur, adj. having diverse or having changeable colours.—Also Versicol′oured. [L. versāre, to change, and colour.]
English · e-38700-8708Versiform, ver′si-form, adj. varying in form.
English · e-38700-8709 · brief source recordVerso, ver′sō, n. a left-hand page: the reverse of a coin or medal.
English · e-38700-8710 · brief source recordVerst, verst, n. a Russian mile, 3500 feet in length, or almost two-thirds of an English mile. [Russ. versta, a verst; perh. vertietĭ, to turn, cog. with L. vertĕre, to turn.]
English · e-38700-8711Versus, ver′sus, prep. against, in legal phraseology—abbreviated v. and vs. [L.]
English · e-38700-8712 · brief source recordVersute, ver-sūt, adj. crafty, wily.
English · e-38700-8713 · brief source recordVert, vert, n. in forest law, every green leaf or plant having green leaves which may serve as a covert for deer: a power to cut green trees or wood: (her.) a green colour represented by parallel lines sloping diagonally
English · e-38700-8714Vert, vert, n. a familiar word for convert or pervert.—v.i. to become such.
English · e-38700-8715 · brief source recordVertebra, ver′tē-bra, n. one of the segmented portions of the spinal column:—pl. Vertebræ (ver′te-brē).—adj. Ver′tebral.—adv. Ver′tebrally.—n.pl. Vertebrā′ta, a division of the animal kingdom containing all animals havin
English · e-38700-8716Vertex, vėr′teks, n. the top or summit: the point of a cone, pyramid, or angle; (astron.) the zenith: (anat.) the crown of the head:—pl. Ver′tices.—adj. Ver′tical, pertaining to the vertex: placed in the zenith: perpendi
English · e-38700-8717Verticillate, ver-ti-sil′āt, adj. (bot.) arranged round the stalk in a ring or whorl, as leaves or flowers, whorled.—n. Ver′ticil, a whorl. [Low L. verticillatus—verticillus, dim. of vertex.]
English · e-38700-8718Vertigo, ver′ti-gō, or ver-tī′gō, n. a sensation of giddiness: dizziness.—adjs. Vertiginate (ver-tij′-), Vertig′inous, turning round: affected with vertigo: giddy.—adv. Vertig′inously.—n. Vertig′inousness. [L.,—vertĕre,
English · e-38700-8719Vertu, old spelling of virtue.—adj. Ver′tuous (Spens.), possessing virtue or power.
English · e-38700-8720 · brief source recordVertumnus, ver-tum′nus, n. an ancient Roman divinity of gardens and orchards, a spring god.
English · e-38700-8721 · brief source recordVerulamian, vėr-ū-lā′mi-an, adj. of or pertaining to St Albans, or Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam, Viscount St Albans (1561-1626). [L. Verulamium, an ancient British city near the site of St Albans.]
English · e-38700-8722Veruled, ver′ōōld, adj. (her.) ringed, as a horn, in a different tincture.—n. Ver′ules (her.), a bearing consisting of a series of concentric rings, one within another. [Virole.]
English · e-38700-8723Vervain, ver′vān, n. a plant of the genus Verbena—credited with efficacy in love-philtres, good against witches, &c. [O. Fr. verveine—L. verbēna.]
English · e-38700-8724Verve, verv, n. the enthusiasm which animates a poet or artist: animation: energy. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8725 · brief source recordVervelle, ver-vel′, n. the loop that secured the camail in medieval armour. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8726 · brief source recordVervels, verv′elz, n.pl. small rings attached to the ends of the jesses of a hawk, through which the leash is passed that fastens the hawk to its block.—adj. Verv′elled. [Fr. vervelle.]
English · e-38700-8727Vervet, ver′vet, n. a South African monkey.
English · e-38700-8728 · brief source recordVery, ver′i, adj. true (now used chiefly in an intensive sense): real (so in B.): actual—sometimes used in superlative form Ver′iest.—adv. in a high degree.—In very deed, of a truth, certainly. [Older form veray—O. Fr. v
English · e-38700-8729Vesalian, vē-sā′li-an, adj. connected with the name of the anatomist Andreas Vesalius (1514-64).
English · e-38700-8730 · brief source recordVesania, vē-sā′ni-a, n. insanity.
English · e-38700-8731 · brief source recordVesica, vē-sī′ka, n. (anat.) a bladder, sac, esp. the urinary bladder:—pl. Vesicæ (vē-sī′sē).—adjs. Ves′ical, of or pertaining to a vesica; Ves′icant, blistering.—n. a substance that vesicates or raises blisters.—v.t. Ve
English · e-38700-8732Vesper, ves′pėr, n. the evening star, Venus: the evening: (pl.) the last but one of the seven canonical hours: evensong, evening service generally.—adj. Ves′peral, pertaining to the evening or to vespers.—n. Ves′per-bell
English · e-38700-8733Vespertilio, ves-pėr-til′i-ō, n. a Linnæan genus of mammals, of order Primates—the modern order Chiroptera.—adj. Vespertil′ionine.
English · e-38700-8734Vespiary, ves′pi-a-ri, n. a hornet's nest.—adj. Ves′piform, Ves′pine, wasp-like.
English · e-38700-8735 · brief source recordVessel, ves′el, n. a vase or utensil for holding something: a hollow structure made to float on water, used for conveyance, &c.: a tube in which fluids, as blood, &c., are contained: a person considered as an agent of Go
English · e-38700-8736Vest, vest, n. that which is put on as dress: a garment: a waistcoat: formerly a cassock-like garment: a kind of close jacket worn by women, an extra piece or trimming on the front of the bodice of a woman's gown, often
English · e-38700-8737Vesta, ves′ta, n. among the Romans, the chaste goddess that presided over the family, in whose temple the sacred fire was continually kept burning: the fourth planetoid discovered in 1807: a match or waxlight:—pl. Ves′ta
English · e-38700-8738Vestibule, ves′ti-būl, n. an open court or porch before a house: a hall next the entrance to a house: (anat.) a small bony cavity forming part of the ear—also Vestib′-ūlum.—v.t. to furnish with a vestibule.—adjs. Vestib′
English · e-38700-8739Vestige, ves′tij, n. a track or footprint: traces or remains of something: (biol.) an organ or tissue which still survives but has lost the utility it possessed, but corresponding to a useful part in an organism of lower
English · e-38700-8740Vestiment, ves′ti-ment, n. (Spens.)=Vestment.
English · e-38700-8741 · brief source recordVestiture, ves′ti-tūr, n. the hairs, scales, &c. covering a surface.
English · e-38700-8742 · brief source recordVestlet, vest′let, n. a tubicolous sea-anemone of genus Cerianthus.
English · e-38700-8743 · brief source recordVestment, vest′ment, n. something put on, a garment: a long outer robe: (pl.) articles of dress worn by the clergy during divine service and the administration of the sacraments—amice, alb, girdle, maniple, stole, chasub
English · e-38700-8744Vestry, ves′tri, n. a room adjoining a church in which the vestments are kept and parochial meetings held, any small room attached to a church: in English parishes, a meeting of the ratepayers to elect parish officers, t
English · e-38700-8745Vesture, ves′tūr, n. clothing: dress: a robe: integument.—v.t. to clothe, robe.—adjs. Ves′tūral; Ves′tūred.—n. Ves′tūrer, one who has charge of ecclesiastical vestments.
English · e-38700-8746Vesuvian, vē-sū′vi-an, adj. pertaining or relating to Vesuvius, a volcano near Naples.—n. a kind of match used in lighting cigars, &c.—n. Vesū′vianīte, a mineral allied to garnet, sometimes called pyramidal garnet, found
English · e-38700-8747Vet., vet, n. (coll.) an abbreviation from veterinary (surgeon).
English · e-38700-8748 · brief source recordVetch, vech, n. a genus of plants, mostly climbing, some cultivated for fodder, esp. the tare.—n. Vetch′ling, a name of various vetch-like plants.—adj. Vetch′y, abounding with vetches: (Spens.) consisting of vetches. [O.
English · e-38700-8749Veteran, vet′e-ran, adj. old, experienced: long exercised, esp. in military life.—n. one long exercised in any service, esp. in war.—v.t. Vet′eranise, to make veteran.—v.i. (U.S.) to re-enlist for military service. [L. v
English · e-38700-8750Veterinary, vet′e-ri-na-ri, adj. pertaining to the art of treating the diseases of domestic animals: professing or practising this art.—n. one skilled in the diseases of domestic animals.—Also Veterinā′rian. [L. veterina
English · e-38700-8751Vetiver, vet′i-vėr, n. the dried roots of the cuscus-grass, with an odour like sandalwood—making baskets, fans, and mats,
English · e-38700-8752Veto, vē′tō, n. any authoritative prohibition: the power of rejecting or forbidding:—pl. Vetoes (vē′tōz).—v.t. to reject by a veto: to withhold assent to.—Absolute veto, a veto without restriction. [L. vetāre, to forbid.
English · e-38700-8753Vettura, vet-tōō′ra, n. an Italian four-wheeled carriage.—n. Vetturino (vet-tōō-rē′nō), one who drives or lends for hire a vettura:—pl. Vetturi′ni. [It.,—L. vectura, a carrying—vehĕre, to convey.]
English · e-38700-8754Vetust, vē-tust′, adj. old. [L. vetustus—vetus, old.]
English · e-38700-8755 · brief source recordVex, veks, v.t. to harass: to torment: to irritate by small provocations: to agitate: to contest.—v.i. (obs.) to be vexed.—n. (Scot.) a trouble.—n. Vexā′tion, a vexing: state of being vexed: trouble: a teasing annoyance:
English · e-38700-8756Vexillum, vek-sil′um, n. in the ancient Roman army, a standard, the troop serving under such a standard: (eccles.) a processional banner: (bot.) the large posterior petal of a papilionaceous flower—also Vex′il; the web o
English · e-38700-8757Via, vī′a, or vē′a, n. a highway, a road, a route—via London=by way of London: a natural passage of the body.—n. Viam′eter, an odometer.—adj. Viat′ic.—n.pl. Viat′icals, military baggage.—Via dolorosa, the Way of Calvary
English · e-38700-8758Via, vē′a, interj. away! off! either in command or defiance. [It.,—L. via, way.]
English · e-38700-8759 · brief source recordViable, vī′a-bl, adj. capable of living.—n. Viabil′ity. [Fr., through Low L.—L. vita, life.]
English · e-38700-8760 · brief source recordViaduct, vī′a-dukt, n. a road or railway carried by a structure over a valley, river, &c. [L. via, a way, ducĕre, ductum, to lead, bring.]
English · e-38700-8761Vial, vī′al, n. same as Phial, v.t. to keep in a vial.—n. Vī′alful.—Pour out vials of wrath, to inflict judgment (Rev. xvi. 1): to storm, rage.
English · e-38700-8762Viand, vī′and, n. food, articles for food—usually in pl. [Fr. viande—Low L. vivanda (for vivenda), food necessary for life—L. vivĕre, to live.]
English · e-38700-8763Viaticum, vī-at′ik-um, n. (orig.) provisions for the way: (R.C. Church) the eucharist given to persons in danger of death: a portable altar.—n. Viā′tor, a traveller, wayfarer: a summoner, apparitor. [L.,—via, a way.]
English · e-38700-8764Vibex, vī′beks, n. a purple spot under the skin in certain fevers:—pl. Vibī′ces. [L.]
English · e-38700-8765 · brief source recordVibraculum, vī-brak′ū-lum, n. one of the long whip-like appendages of the cells of some Polyzoa:—pl. Vibrac′ūla.—Also Vibracūlā′rium.
English · e-38700-8766Vibrate, vī′brāt, v.i. to shake: to tremble: to move backwards and forwards: to swing: to pass from one state to another.—v.t. to cause to shake: to move to and fro: to measure by moving to and fro: to affect with vibrat
English · e-38700-8767Vibrato, vē-brä′tō, n. a pulsating effect in vocal music, caused by rapid variation of emphasis on the same tone. [It.]
English · e-38700-8768 · brief source recordVibrio, vib′rī-ō, n. a name given with much laxity to various kinds of more or less screw-shaped Bacteria—also to small nematoid worms, such as cause ear-cockles in wheat.—n. Vib′rion, a motile bacterium. [L. vibrāre.]
English · e-38700-8769Vibrissa, vī-bris′a, n. a whisker, as of a cat: a rictal bristle in birds: bristle, hair, as in the nostril:—pl. Vibriss′æ (-ē). [L., 'a hair in the nostril.']
English · e-38700-8770Vibrogen, vib′rō-jen, n. (bot.) active cellular tissue arranged in layers in the cortex of certain tendrils, causing circumnutation.
English · e-38700-8771Viburnum, vī-bur′num, n. a genus of plants of the order Caprifoliaceæ, the species being shrubs with simple leaves, natives chiefly of the northern parts of the world.—Viburnum opulus is the Guelder Rose or Snowball Tree
English · e-38700-8772Vicar, vik′ar, n. one who holds authority as the delegate or substitute of another: a parson of a parish where the tithes are impropriate to a layman or to a chapter, he receiving only the smaller tithes or a salary: (R.
English · e-38700-8773Vice, Vise, vīs, n. an iron or wooden screw-press, fixed to the edge of a workboard, for holding anything tightly while being filed, &c.: (Shak.) a grip, grasp.—v.t. to screw. [Fr. vis (It. vite, screw)—L. vitis, tendril
English · e-38700-8774Vice, vīs, n. a blemish or fault: immoral conduct: depravity of manners: a bad trick or habit in a horse: mischievousness: the stock buffoon in the old English Moralities or moral plays.—n. Vicios′ity.—adj. Vicious (vish
English · e-38700-8775Vice, vīs, prep. in the place of: also a prefix denoting in the compound word one who acts in place of or is second in rank to another.—n. a vice-chairman, &c.: one who acts in place of a superior.—ns. Vice′-ad′miral, on
English · e-38700-8776Vicenary, vis′e-nā-ri, adj. of or belonging to the number twenty: twentieth.—adj. Vīcen′nial, continuing or comprising twenty years: occurring once every twenty years. [L. vicenarius—viceni—viginti, twenty.]
English · e-38700-8777Vicinage, vis′i-nāj, n. neighbourhood: the places near: neighbourliness.—adj. Vic′inal, neighbouring.—n. Vicin′ity, neighbourhood: nearness: that which is near. [O. Fr. veisinage—veisin—L. vicinus, neighbouring—vicus, a
English · e-38700-8778Vicissitude, vi-sis′i-tūd, n. change from one thing to another: change: revolution.—adjs. Vicissitū′dinary, Vicissitū′dinous, changeful, changeable. [L. vicissitudo—vicis, change.]
English · e-38700-8779Victim, vik′tim, n. a living being offered as a sacrifice: some thing or person destroyed in the pursuit of an object: a person suffering injury: a dupe.—n. Victimīsā′tion.—v.t. Vic′timīse, to make a victim of: to cheat.
English · e-38700-8780Victor, vik′tor, n. one who conquers on any particular occasion: one who defeats in battle: a winner:—fem. Vic′tress, Vic′toress, Vic′trix.—adjs. Vic′tor, Victō′rious, relating to victory: superior in contest: having ove
English · e-38700-8781Victoria, vik-tō′ri-a, n. a genus of gigantic aquatic plants of the water-lily family, native to South America, its one species, Victoria regia, named after Queen Victoria: a low, light, four-wheeled carriage, seating tw
English · e-38700-8782Victorine, vik-tō-rēn′, n. a kind of fur tippet worn by ladies: a variety of peach.
English · e-38700-8783 · brief source recordVictual, vīt′l, n. provision of food, that which is necessary for living, food for human beings (gener. in pl.).—v.t. to supply with victuals or food: to store with provisions:—pr.p. Victualling (vit′l-ing); pa.t. and pa
English · e-38700-8784Vicugna, Vicuña, vi-kōō′nya, or vi-kū′na, n. a species or variety of the South American genus Auchenia (allied to the camels), which also includes the llama, alpaca, and the guanaco.—n. Vicu′na-cloth, a trade name for a
English · e-38700-8785Vidame, vē-dam′, n. in French feudal jurisprudence, the deputy of a bishop in temporal affairs: a minor noble. [Low L. vice, in place of, dominus, lord.]
English · e-38700-8786Vide, vī′dē, see, imper. of L. vidēre, to see.—Vide antea=see before; Vide infra=see below; Vide post=see after; Vide supra=see above; Quod vide, or q.v.=which see.
English · e-38700-8787Videlicet, vi-del′i-set, adv. to wit, that is, namely—generally Viz., and rendered 'namely.' [L., for vidēre licet, it is permitted to see.]
English · e-38700-8788Videndum, vī-den′dum, n. a thing to be seen:—pl. Vīden′da. [L., ger. of vidēre, to see.]
English · e-38700-8789 · brief source recordVidette. Same as Vedette.
English · e-38700-8790 · brief source recordVidimus, vid′i-mus, n. an inspection, as of accounts, &c. [L., 'we have seen'—vidēre, to see.]
English · e-38700-8791 · brief source recordViduous, vid′ū-us, adj. widowed.—ns. Vid′ūage, widowhood; Vid′uāte, the position or order of widows; Viduā′tion, the state of being widowed; Vidū′ity, widowhood. [L. vidua, a widow.]
English · e-38700-8792Vie, vī, v.i. to strive for superiority.—v.t. to contend about: (Shak.) to offer as a stake or wager:—pr.p. vy′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. vīed.—n. (obs.) a contest. [M. E. vien, by aphæresis from envien, to vie, through Fr. fr
English · e-38700-8793Vielle, vi-el′, n. an old form of viol. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8794 · brief source recordViennese, vi-e-nēs′, or -nēz′, adj. pertaining to Vienna.—n. an inhabitant, or the inhabitants, of Vienna.
English · e-38700-8795 · brief source recordView, vū, n. a seeing: sight: reach of the sight: whole extent seen: that which is seen: inspection, as by a jury, of the place of a crime, of the corpse, &c.: direction in which a thing is seen: the picture of a scene:
English · e-38700-8796Vifda, vif′da, n. in Shetland, meat hung and dried without salt.—Also Viv′da.
English · e-38700-8797 · brief source recordVigesimal, vī-jes′i-mal, adj. twentieth.—n. Vigesimā′tion, the putting to death of every twentieth man.—adj. Viges′imo-quar′to, formed of sheets folded so as to make twenty-four leaves. [L. vigesimus—viginti, twenty.]
English · e-38700-8798Vigia, vi-jē′a, n. a hydrographical warning on a chart, of a rock, &c. [Sp.]
English · e-38700-8799 · brief source recordVigil, vij′il, n. watching: keeping awake for religious exercises: the eve before a feast or fast day, originally kept by watching through the night.—n. Vig′ilance, wakefulness: watchfulness: circumspection: (obs.) a gua
English · e-38700-8800Vigneron, vēn-ye-rong, n. a vine-grower. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8801 · brief source recordVignette, vin-yet′, n. any small ornamental engraving, design, or photograph not enclosed by a definite border: (orig.) an ornamental flourish of vine leaves and tendrils on manuscripts and books.—v.t. to treat or produc
English · e-38700-8802Vigour, vig′ur, n. active strength: physical force: vital strength in animals or plants: strength of mind: energy.—adj. Vig′orous, strong either in mind or body.—adv. Vig′orously.—n. Vig′orousness. [Fr.,—L. vigor—vigēre,
English · e-38700-8803Viking, vī′king, n. one of the piratical Northmen who in the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries ravaged the coasts of western Europe.—n. Vī′kingism, characteristics, acts, &c. of Vikings. [Ice. víkingr, (lit.) 'a creeker'—víkr
English · e-38700-8804Vilayet, vil-a-yet′, n. the name given to the great provinces into which the Ottoman empire is divided.
English · e-38700-8805 · brief source recordVild, vīld, adj. (Spens.) vile, wicked.—adv. Vild′ly.
English · e-38700-8806 · brief source recordVile, vīl, adj. worthless: mean: morally impure: wicked: (B.) poor, cheap.—adv. Vile′ly.—n. Vile′ness.—ns. Vilificā′tion, act of vilifying: defamatory speech: abuse; Vil′ifīer.—v.t. Vil′ify, to make vile: to attempt to d
English · e-38700-8807Villa, vil′a, n. a country residence or seat: a suburban mansion—also Vill.—ns. Vill′adom, villas collectively, people living in them; Vill′āge, any small assemblage of houses, less than a town: (orig.) a number of house
English · e-38700-8808Villain, vil′ān, or vil′in, n. a wicked wretch: a man extremely degraded: in feudal times, a member of the lowest class of unfree persons.—ns. Vill′aināge, Vill′anāge, Vill′eināge, Vill′enāge, in feudal times, the tenure
English · e-38700-8809Villanelle, vil-a-nel′, n. a poem, of a form borrowed from the French, consisting of nineteen lines on two rhymes, arranged in six stanzas, the first five having three, the last four lines. [It. villanella—villano, rusti
English · e-38700-8810Villarsia, vi-lār′si-a, n. a genus of widely distributed aquatic or marsh plants, of order Gentianaceæ—named from the French botanist Dominique Villars (1745-1814).
English · e-38700-8811Villegiatura, vi-lėj-a-tōō′ra, n. country retirement. [It.,—villegiare, to stay at a country-seat—villa, a country-seat.]
English · e-38700-8812Villein, another spelling of villain (only in its original meaning).
English · e-38700-8813 · brief source recordVilli, vil′ī, n.pl. (anat.) fine small fibres covering certain membranes: (bot.) fine soft hairs on fruits, flowers, and other parts of plants:—sing. Vill′us.—adjs. Vill′iform, having the form or appearance of villi; Vil
English · e-38700-8814Vim, vim, n. (slang) energy, force. [Accus. of L. vis, strength.]
English · e-38700-8815 · brief source recordVimen, vī′men, n. a long flexible shoot of a plant.—adjs. Vim′inal; Vimin′eous. [L.]
English · e-38700-8816 · brief source recordVina, vē′na, n. an East Indian musical instrument having five or seven steel strings stretched on a long fretted finger-board over two gourds.
English · e-38700-8817Vinaigrette, vin-ā-gret′, n. a small box of silver or gold for holding aromatic vinegar, used as a smelling-bottle. [Fr.,—vinaigre.]
English · e-38700-8818Vinasse, vi-nas′, n. a residual product containing potash salts, obtained from the wine-press, &c. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8819 · brief source recordVinaya Pitaka, vin′a-ya pit′a-ka, n. one of the three parts of the Tripitaka (q.v.).
English · e-38700-8820 · brief source recordVinca, ving′ka, n. a genus of woody herbaceous plants of the dogbane family, the periwinkles.
English · e-38700-8821 · brief source recordVincentian, vin-sen′shi-an, adj. pertaining to St Vincent de Paul (1576-1660) or to the charitable associations founded by him.
English · e-38700-8822Vincible, vin′si-bl, adj. that may be conquered.—ns. Vincibil′ity, Vin′cibleness. [L. vincibilis—vincĕre, to conquer.]
English · e-38700-8823 · brief source recordVinculum, ving′kū-lum, n. a band: a bond: (math.) a horizontal line placed over several quantities to show that they are to be treated as one: (anat.) a ligamentous band.—v.t. Vin′culāte, to bind. [L.,—vincīre, to bind.]
English · e-38700-8824Vindemial, vin-dē′mi-al, adj. pertaining to the vintage.—v.i. Vindē′miate, to gather the vintage.
English · e-38700-8825 · brief source recordVindicate, vin′di-kāt, v.t. to lay claim to: to defend: to maintain by force.—n. Vindicabil′ity.—adj. Vin′dicable, that may be vindicated or defended.—n. Vindicā′tion, act of vindicating: defence: justification: support.
English · e-38700-8826Vine, vīn, n. the plant from which wine is made: the woody climbing plant that produces grapes: (hort.) a climbing or trailing plant, or its stem.—adj. Vīnā′ceous, belonging to wine or grapes: wine-coloured.—ns. Vī′nāge,
English · e-38700-8827Vinegar, vin′e-gar, n. the form of acetic acid generally preferred for culinary purposes—made by the fermentation of vegetable substances, from malt, or from inferior wines: sourness of temper.—v.t. to apply vinegar to.—
English · e-38700-8828Vinewed, vin′ūd, adj. (Shak.) mouldy: musty.
English · e-38700-8829 · brief source recordVingt-et-Un, vangt-ā-ung′, n. a game of cards, the aim in which is to get as near as possible to the value of twenty-one (hence the name) without exceeding it. The game is played with the whole pack, the ordinary cards b
English · e-38700-8830Vint, vint, v.t. to make or prepare, as wine. [Formed from vintage.]
English · e-38700-8831 · brief source recordVintage, vin′tāj, n. the gathering of grapes: the yearly produce of grapes: the time of grape-gathering: wine.—n. Vin′tāger. [Fr. vendange—L. vindemia—vinum, wine, grapes, demĕre, to remove—de, out of or away, emĕre, to
English · e-38700-8832Vintner, vint′nėr, n. a wine-seller.—ns. Vint′nery, the trade of a vintner; Vint′ry, a store for wine. [O. Fr. vinetier, through Low L.—L. vinetum, a vineyard—vinum, wine.]
English · e-38700-8833Viol, vī′ol, n. a musical instrument which was the immediate precursor of the violin, having from three to six strings, and played by means of a bow.—ns. Viola (vē-ō′la, or vī′ō-la), a larger description of violin having
English · e-38700-8834Violate, vī′ō-lāt, v.t. to injure: to abuse: to ravish: to profane: to break forcibly: to transgress.—adj. Vī′olable, that may be violated, injured, or broken.—adv. Vi′olably.—ns. Vīolā′tion, the act of violating or inju
English · e-38700-8835Violent, vī′ō-lent, adj. acting with physical force or strength: moved by strong feeling: passionate: vehement: outrageous: produced by force: intense: compulsory: unnatural.—v.i. (Shak.) to be violent.—n. Vī′olence, the
English · e-38700-8836Violet, vī′ō-let, n. any plant of genus Viola, of many species, with a flower generally of some shade of blue, but also white and yellow, and most often fragrant: the colour of the violet, a bluish or light purple.—adj.
English · e-38700-8837Violin, vī-ō-lin′, n. a musical instrument of four strings placed with a bow: a fiddle: a player on the violin.—ns. Violin′-bow, a bow for sounding the violin; Vī′olinist, a player on the violin. [It. violino—viola.]
English · e-38700-8838Violoncello, vē-ō-lon-chel′ō, or vī-ō-lon-sel′ō, n. a large four-stringed musical instrument of the violin class, the quality of its tone even more sympathetic than that of the violin, held between the knees in playing—i
English · e-38700-8839Violone, vē-ō-lō′nā, n. the largest kind of bass viol, having strings tuned an octave lower than the violoncello. [It.,—viola.]
English · e-38700-8840Viper, vī′pėr, n. a genus of venomous snakes, representative of family Viperidæ—the Common Viper or adder being the only poisonous snake indigenous to Britain: loosely, any venomous serpent except a rattlesnake, any cobr
English · e-38700-8841Virago, vi-rā′go, or vī-rā′gō, n. a masculine woman: a bold, impudent woman: a termagant.—adjs. Viragin′ian, Viraginous (viraj′-).—n. Viragin′ity. [L.,—vir, a man.]
English · e-38700-8842Vire, vēr, n. a crossbow-bolt: (her.) an annulet. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8843 · brief source recordVirelay, vir′e-lā, n. an ancient kind of French poem in short lines, and consisting of only two rhymes, their order as well as the length of the verses being arbitrary. [Fr. virelai—virer, to turn, lai, a song.]
English · e-38700-8844Vireo, vir′ē-ō, n. a genus of American singing birds, the greenlets. [L.]
English · e-38700-8845 · brief source recordVirescent, vī-res′ent, adj. growing green, greenish.—n. Vires′cence, greenness: (bot.) the turning green of organs properly bright-coloured. [L., pr.p. of virēre, to be green.]
English · e-38700-8846Virgate, vėr′gāt, adj. like a wand or rod: slender, straight.—n. an old English measure of surface. [L. virga, a rod.]
English · e-38700-8847 · brief source recordVirgilian, vėr-jil′i-an, adj. relating to or resembling the style of Virgil, the Roman poet (70-21 B.C.).
English · e-38700-8848 · brief source recordVirgin, vėr′jin, n. a maiden: a woman who has had no sexual intercourse with man: one devoted to virginity: a madonna, a figure of the Virgin: a person of either sex who has not known sexual intercourse: any female anima
English · e-38700-8849Virginal, vėr′jin-al, n. an old keyed musical instrument, oblong in shape, one of the three forms of the harpsichord.—v.i. (Shak.) to finger, as on a virginal.
English · e-38700-8850Virginia, vėr-jin′i-a, n. a well-known brand of tobacco, grown and manufactured in Virginia.—n. Virgin′ia-creep′er, an American climbing vine, common in the south of England, remarkable for the bright-red colour it assum
English · e-38700-8851Virgule, vėr′gūl, n. a little rod: a mark of punctuation, a comma.—adj. Vir′gūlāte, rod-shaped.—n. Virgul′tum, a twig. [L. virgula—virga, a twig.]
English · e-38700-8852Virid, vir′id, adj. green.—n. Virid′ian, a deep and pure bluish-green pigment, being a hydrated sesquioxide of chromium.—adj. Viridigenous (-ij′-), producing a green tint.—ns. Virid′ity, Vir′idness, verdure: greenness. [
English · e-38700-8853Viridescent, vir-i-des′ent, adj. slightly green: greenish.—n. Virides′cence. [L. viridis, green.]
English · e-38700-8854 · brief source recordVirile, vir′il, or vī′ril, adj. of or belonging to a man or to the male sex: masculine: manly.—n. Viril′ity, the state or quality of being a man: the power of a full-grown male: the power of procreation: manhood. [L. vir
English · e-38700-8855Virole, vi-rōl′, n. a ferrule: (her.) a hoop or ring. [O. Fr.; a doublet of ferrule.]
English · e-38700-8856 · brief source recordVirtu, vėr′tōō, or -tōō′, n. a love of the fine arts: taste for curiosities: objects of art or antiquity.—adjs. Virtuose′, Virtuō′sic, exhibiting the qualities and skill of a virtuoso.—ns. Virtuos′ity, lovers of the eleg
English · e-38700-8857Virtue, vėr′tu, n. excellence: worth: moral excellence: the practice of duty: a moral excellence: sexual purity, esp. female chastity: purity: (B.) strength: force: inherent power, efficacy: one of the orders of the cele
English · e-38700-8858Virulent, vir′ū-lent, adj. full of poison: very active in injury: bitter in enmity: malignant.—ns. Vir′ulence, Vir′ulency.—adv. Vir′ulently. [L. virulentus—virus, poison.]
English · e-38700-8859Virus, vī′rus, n. contagious or poisonous matter (as of ulcers, &c.): the poison which causes infection: any foul, hurtful matter.—adjs. Vī′rose, Vī′rous; Virūlif′erous, bearing a specific virus. [L.; cog. with Gr. ios,
English · e-38700-8860Vis, vis, n. force: power:—pl. Vī′res.—Vis inertiæ, inertia: sluggishness; Vis mortua, force of pressure, dead force; Vis viva, living force, equal to the mass of a moving body multiplied by the square of its velocity. [
English · e-38700-8861Vis-à-vis, vēz′-a-vē′, adv. facing one another.—n. one who faces, or is opposite to, another: a light carriage with seats facing each other: a kind of couch. [Fr. vis, face (—L. visus, look), à, to, vis, face.]
English · e-38700-8863Visage, viz′āj, n. the face or look.—adj. Vis′aged. [Fr., through an assumed form visaticum, from L. visus, seen—vidēre, to see.]
English · e-38700-8862Viscacha, vis-kach′a, n. a South American rodent of the Chinchilla family, inhabiting the South American Pampas, of stout form and about twenty inches in length, a gregarious burrower and nocturnal in habits—also Bizcach
English · e-38700-8864Viscera, vis′e-ra, n.pl. the inner parts of the animal body: the entrails:—sing. Vis′cus.—adj. Vis′ceral, pertaining to the viscera: abdominal.—v.t. Vis′cerāte, to disembowel. [L. viscus (pl. viscera).]
English · e-38700-8865Viscount, vī′kownt, n. an officer who formerly acted as deputy to the earl, the vice-comes: a title of nobility next below an earl:—fem. Vī′scountess.—ns. Vī′scountcy, Vī′scountship, Vī′scounty, the rank or dignity of a
English · e-38700-8866Viscous, vis′kus, adj. sticky: tenacious—also Vis′cid.—ns. Viscid′ity, Vis′cousness; Viscos′ity, the property of being viscous: (phys.) that property of matter which is seen when the relative motion of parts of any body
English · e-38700-8867Viscum, vis′kum, n. a genus of parasitic plants, including the mistletoe. [L.]
English · e-38700-8868 · brief source recordVise. See Vice (1).
English · e-38700-8869 · brief source recordVisé, vē-zā′, n. an indorsement on a passport denoting that it has been officially examined, and that the bearer may proceed on his journey.—v.t. to indorse a passport.—Also Visa (vē′za). [Fr.,—Low L. visāre, freq. of L.
English · e-38700-8870Vishnu, vish′nōō, n. the second god of the Hindu triad, now the most worshipped of all Hindu gods. He became specially the benefactor of man in his avatars or incarnations, ten in number—according to others, twenty-two.
English · e-38700-8871Visible, viz′i-bl, adj. that may be seen: obvious.—ns. Visibil′ity, state or quality of being visible, or perceivable by the eye; Vis′ibleness.—adv. Vis′ibly.—Visible Church, the body of professing Christians, as opposed
English · e-38700-8872Visigoth, viz′i-goth, n. one of the Western Goths, as distinguished from the Ostrogoths or Eastern Goths. They formed settlements in the south of France and in Spain, and their kingdom in the latter lasted into the 8th c
English · e-38700-8873Vision, vizh′un, n. the act or sense of seeing: sight: anything seen: anything imagined to be seen: a divine revelation: an apparition: anything imaginary.—v.t. to see as a vision: to present as in a vision.—n. (Scot.) V
English · e-38700-8874Visit, viz′it, v.t. to go to see or inspect: to attend: enter, appear in: to call on: (B.) to reward or punish.—v.i. to be in the habit of seeing or meeting each other: to keep up acquaintance.—n. act of visiting or goin
English · e-38700-8875Visite, vi-zēt′, n. a woman's close-fitting outer garment worn early in the 19th century. [Fr.]
English · e-38700-8876 · brief source recordVisive, vī′siv, adj. visual.
English · e-38700-8877 · brief source recordVisnomy, viz′no-mi, n. (Spens.), physiognomy.
English · e-38700-8878 · brief source recordVison, vī′son, n. the American mink.
English · e-38700-8879 · brief source recordVisor, viz′ur, n. a part of a helmet covering the face, movable, and perforated to see through (see Armour): a mask.—adj. Vis′ored, wearing a visor: masked. [Fr. visière—vis, countenance.]
English · e-38700-8880Vista, vis′ta, n. a view or prospect through or as through an avenue: the trees, &c., that form the avenue. [It. vista, sight, view—L. vidēre, to see.]
English · e-38700-8881Visual, viz′ū-al, adj. belonging to vision or sight: visible: produced by sight: used in sight: used for seeing.—n. Visualisā′tion.—v.t. Vis′ualīse, to make visible or visual, externalise to the eye.—v.i. to call up a cl
English · e-38700-8882Vital, vī′tal, adj. belonging or contributing to life: containing or necessary to life: important as life: essential.—n. Vītalisā′tion.—v.t. Vī′talise, to make vital or alive: to give life to or furnish with the vital pr
English · e-38700-8883Vitellus, vī-tel′us, n. the yolk of an egg.—adjs. Vit′ellary, Vitell′ine, pertaining to the vitellus, or forming such.—n. Vitell′icle, a yolk-sac.—adj. Vitelligenous (-ij′-), producing yolk. [L., 'a yolk,' a transferred
English · e-38700-8884Vitex, vī′teks, n. a genus of trees or shrubs of the natural order Verbenaceæ. [L.]
English · e-38700-8885 · brief source recordVitiate, vish′i-āt, v.t. to render faulty or defective: to make less pure: to deprave: to taint—earlier Vi′ciate.—ns. Vitiā′tion; Vi′tiātor; Vitios′ity, state or quality of being vicious. [L. vitiāre, -ātum—vitium. See V
English · e-38700-8886Vitilitigation, vit-i-lit-i-gā′shun, n. vexatious litigation.—v.i. Vitilit′igate.
English · e-38700-8887 · brief source recordVitis, vī′tis, n. a genus of plants, including the grape.—n. Vit′icide, a vine-destroyer, vine-pest.—adj. Vitic′olous, inhabiting, or produced upon, the vine.—ns. Vit′iculture, cultivation of the vine; Viticul′tūrist. [L
English · e-38700-8888Vitreous, vit′rē-us, adj. glassy: pertaining to, consisting of, or like glass.—ns. Vitreos′ity, Vit′reousness; Vitres′cence.—adj. Vitres′cent, tending to become glass.—n. Vit′reum, the vitreous humour of the eye.—adj. Vi
English · e-38700-8889Vitriol, vit′ri-ol, n. the popular name of sulphuric acid: a soluble sulphate of a metal—green vitriol=sulphate of iron, blue vitriol=sulphate of copper, white vitriol=sulphate of zinc.—v.t. Vit′riolāte, to convert into
English · e-38700-8890Vitro-di-trina, vit′rō-di-trē′na, n. lacework glass. [It., 'glass of lace.']
English · e-38700-8891 · brief source recordA historical dictionary can preserve useful evidence and superseded analyses at the same time. These records retain their source identity; no parent edge, sound law, first-use date or confidence score is generated from a sentence’s position.
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