V (ve).
1. V, the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. V and U are only varieties of the same character, U being the cursive form, while V is better adapted for engraving, as in stone. The two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, and till a comparatively recent date words containing them were often classed together in dictionaries and other books of reference (see U). The letter V is from the Latin alphabet, where it was used both as a consonant (about like English w) and as a vowel. The Latin derives it from it from a form (V) of the Greek vowel Υ (see Y), this Greek letter being either from the same Semitic letter as the digamma F (see F), or else added by the Greeks to the alphabet which they took from the Semitic. Etymologically v is most nearly related to u, w, f, b, p; as in vine, wine; a voirdupois, ha bit, ha ve; sa fe, sa ve; tro ver, trou badour, tro pe. See U, F, etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 265; also §§ 155, 169, 178-179, etc.
2. As a numeral, V stands for five, in English and Latin.
Vacant
Va´cant, a. [F., fr. L. vacans, -antis, p. pr. of vacare to be empty, to be free or unoccupied, to have leisure, also vocare; akin to vacuus empty, and probably to E. void. Cf. Evacuate, Void, a. ]
1. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as a vacant room.
"Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form." Shak.
"Being of those virtues vacant." Shak.
"There is no fireside, howsoe’er defended,
But has one vacant chair." Longfellow.
2. Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free; as vacant hours.
"Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those … at leisure, and vacant from the affairs of the world." Dr. H. More.
"There was not a minute of the day which he left vacant." Bp. Fell.
3. Not filled or occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer; as a vacant throne; a vacant parish.
"Special dignities which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing." Shak.
4. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as a vacant mind.
"The duke had a pleasant and vacant face." Sir H. Wotton.
"When on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood." Wordsworth.
5. (Law) Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier; as a vacant estate. Bouvier. Vacant succession (Law), one that is claimed by no person, or where all the heirs are unknown, or where all the known heirs to it have renounced it. Burrill.
Syn. — Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle. — Vacant, Empty. A thing is empty when there is nothing in it; as an empty room, or an empty noddle. Vacant adds the idea of having been previously filled, or intended to be filled or occupied; as a vacant seat at table; a vacant office; vacant hours. When we speak of a vacant look or a vacant mind, we imply the absence of the intelligence naturally to be expected there.
Vacate
Va´cate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vacated p. pr. & vb. n. Vacating.] [L. vacare, vacatum, to be empty. See Vacant.]
1. To make vacant; to leave empty; to cease from filling or occupying; as it was resolved by Parliament that James had vacated the throne of England; the tenant vacated the house.
2. To annul; to make void; to deprive of force; to make of no authority or validity; as to vacate a commission or a charter; to vacate proceedings in a cause.
"That after act vacating the authority of the precedent." Eikon Basilike.
"The necessity of observing the Jewish Sabbath was Vacated by the apostolical institution of the Lord’s Day." R. Nelson.
3. To defeat; to put an end to. [R.]
"He vacates my revenge." Dryden.
Vacation
Va•ca´tion, n. [F., fr. L. vacatio a being free from a duty, service, etc., fr. vacare. See Vacate.]
1. The act of vacating; a making void or of no force; as the vacation of an office or a charter.
2. Intermission of a stated employment, procedure, or office; a period of intermission; rest; leisure.
"It was not in his nature, however, at least till years had chastened it, to take any vacation from controversy." Palfrey. Hence, specifically: - (a) (Law) Intermission of judicial proceedings; the space of time between the end of one term and the beginning of the next; nonterm; recess. "With lawyers in the vacation." Shak. (b) The intermission of the regular studies and exercises of an educational institution between terms; holidays; as the spring vacation. (c) The time when an office is vacant; esp. (Eccl.), the time when a see, or other spiritual dignity, is vacant.
Vacatur
Va•ca´tur, n. [NL., it is made void, fr. L. vacare to be empty. See Vacant.] (Law) An order of court by which a proceeding is set aside or annulled.
Vaccary
Vac´ca•ry, n. [LL. vaccarium, from L. vacca cow. Cf. Vachery.] A cow house, dairy house, or cow pasture. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Wright.
Vaccinal
Vac´ci•nal, a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to vaccinia or vaccination.
Vaccinate
Vac´ci•nate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vaccinated p. pr. & vb. n. Vaccinating.] [See Vaccine.] To inoculate with the cowpox by means of a virus, called vaccine, taken either directly or indirectly from cows.
Vaccination
Vac•ci•na´tion, n. The act, art, or practice of vaccinating, or inoculating with the cowpox, in order to prevent or mitigate an attack of smallpox. Cf. Inoculation. In recent use, vaccination sometimes includes inoculation with any virus as a preventive measure; as vaccination of cholera.
Vaccinator
Vac´ci•na•tor, n. One who, or that which, vaccinates.
Vaccine point
Vac"cine point (Med.) See Point, n. , 26.
Vaccinia
Vac•cin´i•a, n. [NL. See Vaccine.] (Med.) Cowpox; vaccina. See Cowpox.
Vacher
Va•cher´, n. [F., from vache a cow. Cf. Vaquero.] A keeper of stock or cattle; a herdsman. [Southwestern U. S.] Bartlett.
Vachery
Vach´er•y, n. [F. vacherie, from vache a cow, L. vacca. Cf. Vaccary.]
1. An inclosure for cows.
2. A dairy. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Prompt. Parv.
Vacillancy
Vac´il•lan•cy, n. The quality or state of being vacillant, or wavering. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Vacillant
Vac´il•lant, a. [L. vacillans, p. pr. of vacillare: cf. F. vacillant. See Vacillate.] Vacillating; wavering; fluctuating; irresolute.
Vacillate
Vac´il•late, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vacillated p. pr. & vb. n. Vacillating.] [L. vacillare, vacillatum; cf. Skr. vañc.]
1. To move one way and the other; to reel or stagger; to waver.
"[A spheroid] is always liable to shift and vacillatefrom one axis to another." Paley.
2. To fluctuate in mind or opinion; to be unsteady or inconstant; to waver.
Syn. — See Fluctuate.
Vacillating
Vac´il•la•ting, a. Inclined to fluctuate; wavering. Tennyson. — Vac´il•la•ting•ly, adv.
Vacillatory
Vac´il•la•to•ry, a. Inclined to vacillate; wavering; irresolute. Hawthorne.
Vacuate
Vac´u•ate, v. t. [L. vacuatus, p. p. of vacuare to empty, from vacuus empty. See Vacant.] To make void, or empty. [R.]
Vacuation
Vac•u•a´tion, n. The act of emptying; evacuation. [R.]
Vacuity
Va•cu´i•ty, n. [L. vacuitas. See Vacuous.]
1. The quality or state of being vacuous, or not filled; emptiness; vacancy; as vacuity of mind; vacuity of countenance.
"Hunger is such a state of vacuity as to require a fresh supply of aliment." Arbuthnot.
2. Space unfilled or unoccupied, or occupied with an invisible fluid only; emptiness; void; vacuum.
"A vacuity is interspersed among the particles of matter." Bentley.
"God … alone can answer all our longings and fill every vacuity of our soul." Rogers.
3. Want of reality; inanity; nihility. [R.]
"Their expectations will meet with vacuity." Glanvill.
Vacuolated
Vac´u•o•la•ted, a. (Biol.) Full of vacuoles, or small air cavities; as vacuolated cells.
Vacuolation
Vac´u•o•la´tion, n. (Biol.) Formation into, or multiplication of, vacuoles.
Vacuole
Vac´u•ole, n. [L. vacuus empty: cf. F. vacuole.] (Biol.) A small air cell, or globular space, in the interior of organic cells, either containing air, or a pellucid watery liquid, or some special chemical secretions of the cell protoplasm. Contractile vacuole. (Zoöl.) See under Contractile, and see Illust. . of Infusoria, and Lobosa. — Food vacuole. (Zoöl.) See under Food, and see Illust. of Infusoria.
Vacuous
Vac´u•ous, a. [L. vacuus. See Vacant.] Empty; unfilled; void; vacant.
"Boundless the deep, because I am who fill
Infinitude; nor vacuous the space." Milton.
"That the few may lead selfish and vacuous days." J. Morley.
Vacuousness
Vac´u•ous•ness, n. The quality or state of being vacuous; emptiness; vacuity. W. Montagu.
Vacuum
Vac´u•um, n. ; pl. E. Vacuums (#), L. Vacua (#). [L., fr. vacuus empty. See Vacuous.]
1. (Physics) A space entirely devoid of matter (called also by way of distinction, absolute vacuum); hence, in a more general sense, a space, as the interior of a closed vessel, which has been exhausted to a high or the highest degree by an air pump or other artificial means; as water boils at a reduced temperature in a vacuum.
2. The condition of rarefaction, or reduction of pressure below that of the atmosphere, in a vessel, as the condenser of a steam engine, which is nearly exhausted of air or steam, etc.; as a vacuum of 26 inches of mercury, or 13 pounds per square inch. Vacuum brake, a kind of continuous brake operated by exhausting the air from some appliance under each car, and so causing the pressure of the atmosphere to apply the brakes. — Vacuum pan (Technol.), a kind of large closed metallic retort used in sugar making for boiling down sirup. It is so connected with an exhausting apparatus that a partial vacuum is formed within. This allows the evaporation and concentration to take place at a lower atmospheric pressure and hence also at a lower temperature, which largely obviates the danger of burning the sugar, and shortens the process. — Vacuum pump. Same as Pulsometer, 1. — Vacuum tube (Phys.), a glass tube provided with platinum electrodes and exhausted, for the passage of the electrical discharge; a Geissler tube. — Vacuum valve, a safety valve opening inward to admit air to a vessel in which the pressure is less than that of the atmosphere, in order to prevent collapse. — Torricellian vacuum. See under Torricellian.
Vadium
Va´di•um, n. [LL., from L. vas, vadis, bail.] (Law) Pledge; security; bail. See Mortgage. Vadium vivum [LL.] (Law), a living pledge, which exists where an estate is granted until a debt is paid out of its proceeds.
Vae, n. See Voe. [Scot.]
Vafrous
Va´frous, a. [L. vafer.] Crafty; cunning; sly; as vafrous tricks. [Obs.] Feltham.
Vagabond
Vag´a•bond, a. [F., fr. L. vagabundus, from vagari to stroll about, from vagus strolling. See Vague.]
1. Moving from place to place without a settled habitation; wandering. "Vagabond exile." Shak.
2. Floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro.
"To heaven their prayers
Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds
Blown vagabond or frustrate." Milton.
3. Being a vagabond; strolling and idle or vicious.
Vagabond
Vag´a•bond, n. One who wanders from place to place, having no fixed dwelling, or not abiding in it, and usually without the means of honest livelihood; a vagrant; a tramp; hence, a worthless person; a rascal.
"A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be." Gen. iv. 12. In English and American law, vagabond is used in bad sense, denoting one who is without a home; a strolling, idle, worthless person. Vagabonds are described in old English statutes as "such as wake on the night and sleep on the day, and haunt customable taverns and alehouses, and routs about; and no man wot from whence they came, nor whither they go." In American law, the term vagrant is employed in the same sense. Cf Rogue, n. , 1. Burrill. Bouvier.
Vagabondize
Vag´a•bond•ize, v. i. To play the vagabond; to wander about in idleness.
Vagal
Va´gal, a. [See Vagus.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the vagus, or pneumogastric nerves; pneumogastric.
Vagancy
Va´gan•cy, n. [From L. vagans, p. pr. See Vagantes.] A wandering; vagrancy. [Obs.]
"A thousand vagancies of glory and desight." Milton.
Vagarious
Va•ga´ri•ous, a. Given to, or characterized by, vagaries; capricious; whimsical; crochety.
Vagary
Va•ga´ry, n. ; pl. Vagaries (#). [L. vagari to stroll about. See Vague.]
1. A wandering or strolling. [Obs.]
2. Hence, a wandering of the thoughts; a wild or fanciful freak; a whim; a whimsical purpose. "The vagaries of a child." Spectator.
"They changed their minds,
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell." Milton.
Vagina
Va•gi´na, n. ; pl. Vaginae (#). [L. vagina a scabbard or sheath.]
1. (Anat.) (a) A sheath; a theca; as the vagina of the portal vein. (b) Specifically, the canal which leads from the uterus to the external orifice if the genital canal, or to the cloaca.
2. (Zoöl.) The terminal part of the oviduct in insects and various other invertebrates. See Illust. , of Spermatheca.
3. (Bot.) The basal expansion of certain leaves, which inwraps the stem; a sheath.
4. (Arch.) The shaft of a terminus, from which the bust of figure seems to issue or arise.
Vaginant
Vag´i•nant, a. [Cf. F. vaginant. See Vagina.] Serving to in invest, or sheathe; sheathing. Vaginant leaf (Bot.), a leaf investing the stem or branch by its base, which has the form of a tube. { Vag´i•nate, Vag´i•na•ted } a. [See Vagina.] Invested with, or as if with, a sheath; as a vaginate stem, or one invested by the tubular base of a leaf.
Vaginati
Vag•i•na´ti, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of birds comprising the sheathbills.
Vaginitis
Vag•i•ni´tis, n. [NL. See Vagina, and -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the vagina, or the genital canal, usually of its mucous living membrane.
Vagissate
Vag´is•sate, v. i. [L. vagari to stroll or wander.] To caper or frolic. [Obs.]
Vagous
Va´gous, a. [L. vagus. See Vague.] Wandering; unsettled. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
Vagrant
Va´grant, a. [Probably fr. OF. waucrant, wacrant, p. p. of waucrer, wacrer, walcrer, to wander (probably of Teutonic origin), but influenced by F. vagant, p. pr. of vaguer to stray, L. vagari. Cf. Vagary.]
1. Moving without certain direction; wandering; erratic; unsettled.
"That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took." Prior.
"While leading this vagrant and miserable life, Johnson fell in live." Macaulay.
2. Wandering from place to place without any settled habitation; as a vagrant beggar.
Vagrantness
Va´grant•ness, n. State of being vagrant; vagrancy.
Vague (vag), a. [ Compar. Vaguer (vag"er); superl. Vaguest.] [F. vague, or L. vagus. See Vague, v. i.]
1. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond. [Archaic] "To set upon the vague villains." Hayward.
"She danced along with vague, regardless eyes." Keats.
2. Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as a vague idea; a vague proposition.
"This faith is neither a mere fantasy of future glory, nor a vague ebullition of feeling." I. Taylor.
"The poet turned away, and gave himself up to a sort of vague revery, which he called thought." Hawthorne.
3. Proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as a vague report.
"Some legend strange and vague." Longfellow. Vague year. See Sothiac year, under Sothiac.
Syn. — Unsettled; indefinite; unfixed; ill-defined; ambiguous; hazy; loose; lax; uncertain.
Vagueness
Vague´ness, n. The quality or state of being vague.
Vail, n. & v. t. Same as Veil.
Vail, v. t. [Aphetic form of avale. See Avale, Vale.] [Written also vale, and veil.]
1. To let fail; to allow or cause to sink. [Obs.]
"Vail your regard
Upon a wronged, I would fain have said, a maid!" Shak.
2. To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like.
"France must vail her lofty-plumed crest!" Shak.
"Without vailing his bonnet or testifying any reverence for the alleged sanctity of the relic." Sir. W. Scott.
Vaimure
Vai´mure, n. An outer, or exterior. wall. See Vauntmure. [Obs.] Hakluyt.
Vain, a. [ Compar. Vainer superl. Vainest.] [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. Vanish, Vanity, Vaunt to boast.]
1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. "Thy vain excuse." Shak.
"Every man walketh in a vain show." Ps. xxxix. 6.
"Let no man deceive you with vain words." Eph. v. 6.
"Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye!" Shak.
"Vain visdom all, and false philosophy." Milton.
2. Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as vain toil; a vain attempt.
"Bring no more vain oblations." Isa. i. 13.
"Vain is the force of man
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain." Dryden.
3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; having a high opinion of one’s own accomplishments with slight reason; conceited; puffed up; inflated.
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?" James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.).
"The minstrels played on every side, Vain of their art." Dryden.
4. Showy; ostentatious.
"Load some vain church with old theatric state." Pope.
Syn. — Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal; shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant; deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling.
Vair, n. [F. vair, from OF. vair, a., L. varius various, variegated. See Various, and cf. Menivel.] The skin of the squirrel, much used in the fourteenth century as fur for garments, and frequently mentioned by writers of that period in describing the costly dresses of kings, nobles, and prelates. It is represented in heraldry by a series of small shields placed close together, and alternately white and blue. Fairholt.
"No vair or ermine decked his garment." Sir W. Scott.Counter vair (Her.), a fur resembling vair, except in the arrangement of the patches or figures.
Vairy
Vair´y, a. [F. vaire. See Vair, n. ] (Her.) Charged with vair; variegated with shield-shaped figures. See Vair.
Vaisya
Vais´ya, n. [Skr. vaiçya.] The third of the four great original castes among the Hindus, now either extinct or partially represented by the mercantile class of Banyas. See the Note under Caste, 1.
Vaivode
Vai´vode, n. [Cf. F. vayvode. See Waywode.] See Waywode.
Vakeel
Va•keel´, n. [Ar. wakil.] A native attorney or agent; also an ambassador. [India]
Valance
Val´ance, n. [Perhaps fr. OF. avalant descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler to go down, let down, descent (cf. Avalanche); but probably from the town of Valence in France.]
1. Hanging drapery for a bed, couch, window, or the like, especially that which hangs around a bedstead, from the bed to the floor. [Written also valence.]
"Valance of Venice gold in needlework." Shak.
2. The drooping edging of the lid of a trunk. which covers the joint when the lid is closed.
Valance
Val´ance, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Valanced p. pr. & vb. n. Valancing ] To furnish with a valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery.
"His old fringed chair valanced around with party- colored worsted bobs." Sterne.
Vale, n. [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. low ground, marsh meadow. Cf. Avalanche, Vail to lower, Valley.] A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. " Make me a cottage in the vale." Tennyson.
"Beyond this vale of tears there is a life above." Montgomery.
"In those fair vales, by nature formed to please." Harte. Vale is more commonly used in poetry, and valley in prose and common discourse.
Syn. — Valley; dingle; dell; dale.
Vale, n. See 2d Vail, 3.
Valediction
Val•e•dic´tion, n. [L., valedicere, valedictum, to say farewell; vale farewell (imperative of valere to be strong or well) + dicere to say. See Valiant, Diction.] A farewell; a bidding farewell. Donne.
Valence
Va´lence, n. [From L. valens, - entis, p. pr. of valere to have power, to be strong. See Valiant.] (Chem.) The degree of combining power of an atom (or radical) as shown by the number of atoms of hydrogen (or of other monads, as chlorine, sodium, etc.) with which it will combine, or for which it can be substituted, or with which it can be compared; thus, an atom of hydrogen is a monad, and has a valence of one; the atoms of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon are respectively dyads, triads, and tetrads, and have a valence respectively of two, three, and four. The valence of certain elements varies in different compounds. Valence in degree may extend as high as seven or eight, as in the cases of iodine and osmium respectively. The doctrine of valence has been of fundamental importance in distinguishing the equivalence from the atomic weight, and is an essential factor in explaining the chemical structures of compounds.
Valency
Val´en•cy, n. ; pl. Valencies . (Chem.) (a) See Valence. (b) A unit of combining power; a so-called bond of affinity.
Valerone
Val´er•one, n. (Chem.) A ketone of valeric acid obtained as an oily liquid.
Valerylene
Val•er•yl•ene, n. (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C5H8; — called also pentine.
Valet
Val´et ( 277), n. [F. valet, OF. vallet, varlet, vaslet. See Varlet, and Vassal.]
1. A male waiting servant; a servant who attends on gentleman’s person; a body servant.
2. (Man.) A kind of goad or stick with a point of iron. Valet de chambre [F.], a body servant, or personal attendant.
Valetudinarian
Val•e•tu•di•na´ri•an, a. [L. valetudinarius, from valetudo state of health, health, ill health, fr. valere to be strong or well: cf. F. valetudinaire. See Valiant.] Of infirm health; seeking to recover health; sickly; weakly; infirm.
"My feeble health and valetudinarian stomach." Coleridge.
"The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a valetudinarian virtue." Macaulay.
Valhalla
Val•hal´la, n. [Icel. valhöll, literally, hall of the slain; valr the slain (akin to AS. wael, OHG. wal battlefield, wuol defeat, slaughter, AS. wol pestilence) + höll a royal hall. See Hall, and cf. Walhalla.] [Written also walhalla.]
1. (Scand. Myth.) The palace of immortality, inhabited by the souls of heroes slain in battle.
2. Fig.: A hall or temple adorned with statues and memorials of a nation’s heroes; specifically, the Pantheon near Ratisbon, in Bavaria, consecrated to the illustrious dead of all Germany. { Val´iance, Val´ian•cy } n. [Cf. F. vaillance. See Valiant.] The quality or state of being valiant; bravery; valor. [Obs.] "His doughty valiance." Spenser.
Valiant
Val´iant, a. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, Equivalent, Prevail, Valid.]
1. Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as a valiant fencer. [Obs.] Walton.
2. Intrepid in danger; courageous; brave.
"A valiant and most expert gentleman." Shak.
"And Saul said to David … be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles." 1 Sam. xviii. 17.
3. Performed with valor or bravery; heroic. "Thou bearest the highest name for valiant acts." Milton.
"[The saints] have made such valiant confessions." J. H. Newman. — Val´iant•ly, adv. — Val´iant•ness, n.
Valid
Val´id, a. [F. valide, F. validus strong, from valere to be strong. See Valiant.]
1. Strong; powerful; efficient. [Obs.] "Perhaps more valid arms … may serve to better us." Milton.
2. Having sufficient strength or force; founded in truth; capable of being justified, defended, or supported; not weak or defective; sound; good; efficacious; as a valid argument; a valid objection.
"An answer that is open to no valid exception." I. Taylor.
3. (Law) Having legal strength or force; executed with the proper formalities; incapable of being rightfully overthrown or set aside; as a valid deed; a valid covenant; a valid instrument of any kind; a valid claim or title; a valid marriage.
Syn. — Prevalent; available; efficacious; just; good; weighty; sufficient; sound; well-grounded.
Validate
Val´i•date, v. t. [See Valid.] To confirm; to render valid; to give legal force to.
"The chamber of deputies … refusing to validate at once the election of an official candidate." London Spectator.
Validation
Val•i•da´tion, n. [Cf. F. validation.] The act of giving validity. [R.] Knowles.
Validly
Val´id•ly, adv. In a valid manner; so as to be valid.
Validness
Val´id•ness, n. The quality or state of being valid.
Valinch
Val´inch, n. [Cf. F. avaler to let down, drink up. Cf. Avalanche.] A tube for drawing liquors from a cask by the bunghole. [Written also velinche.]
Valkyria
Val•kyr´i•a, n. [Icel. valkyrja (akin to AS. waelcyrie); valr the slain + kjosa to choose. See Valhalla, and Choose.] (Scand. Myth.) One of the maidens of Odin, represented as awful and beautiful, who presided over battle and marked out those who were to be slain, and who also ministered at the feasts of heroes in Valhalla. [Written also Valkyr, and Walkyr.]
Vallancy
Val•lan´cy, n. [From Valance.] A large wig that shades the face. [Obs.]
Vallation
Val•la´tion, n. [L. vallatio, fr. vallare to surround with a rampart, fr. vallum rampart. See Wall, n. ] A rampart or intrenchment.
Valley
Val´ley, n. ; pl. Valleys (#). [OE. vale, valeie, OF. valee, valede, F. vallee, LL. vallata, L. vallis, valles. See Vale.]
1. The space inclosed between ranges of hills or mountains; the strip of land at the bottom of the depressions intersecting a country, including usually the bed of a stream, with frequently broad alluvial plains on one or both sides of the stream. Also used figuratively.
"The valley of the shadow of death." Ps. xxiii. 4.
"Sweet interchange
Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains." Milton. Deep and narrow valleys with abrupt sides are usually the results of erosion by water, and are called gorges, ravines, cañons, gulches, etc.
2. (Arch.) (a) The place of meeting of two slopes of a roof, which have their plates running in different directions, and form on the plan a reëntrant angle. (b) The depression formed by the meeting of two slopes on a flat roof. Valley board (Arch.), a board for the reception of the lead gutter in the valley of a roof. The valley board and lead gutter are not usual in the United States. — Valley rafter, or Valley piece (Arch.), the rafter which supports the valley. — Valley roof (Arch.), a roof having one or more valleys. See Valley, 2, above.
Vallum
Val´lum, n. ; pl. L. Valla (#), E. Vallums (#). [L. See Wall.] (Rom. Antiq.) A rampart; a wall, as in a fortification.
Valor
Val´or, n. [OE. valour, OF. valor, valur, valour, F. valeur, LL. valor, fr. L. valere to be strong, or worth. See Valiant.] [Written also valour.]
1. Value; worth. [Obs.] "The valor of a penny." Sir T. More.
2. Strength of mind in regard to danger; that quality which enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery; courage; prowess; intrepidity.
"For contemplation he and valor formed." Milton.
"When valor preys on reason,
It eats the sword it fights with." Shak.
"Fear to do base, unworthy things is valor." B. Jonson.
3. A brave man; a man of valor. [R.] Ld. Lytton.
Syn. — Courage; heroism; bravery; gallantry; boldness; fearlessness. See Courage, and Heroism.
Valuableness
Val´u•a•ble•ness, n. The quality of being valuable.
Valuator
Val´u•a•tor, n. One who assesses, or sets a value on, anything; an appraiser. Swift.
Value
Val´ue, n. [OF. value, fr. valoir, p. p. valu, to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]
1. The property or aggregate properties of a thing by which it is rendered useful or desirable, or the degree of such property or sum of properties; worth; excellence; utility; importance.
"Ye are all physicians of no value." Job xiii. 4.
"Ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matt. x. 31.
"Caesar is well acquainted with your virtue,
And therefore sets this value on your life." Addison.
"Before events shall have decided on the value of the measures." Marshall.
2. (Trade & Polit. Econ.) Worth estimated by any standard of purchasing power, especially by the market price, or the amount of money agreed upon as an equivalent to the utility and cost of anything.
"An article may be possessed of the highest degree of utility, or power to minister to our wants and enjoyments, and may be universally made use of, without possessing exchangeable value." M’Culloch.
"Value is the power to command commodities generally." A. L. Chapin (Johnson’s Cys.).
"Value is the generic term which expresses power in exchange." F. A. Walker.
"His design was not to pay him the value of his pictures, because they were above any price." Dryden. In political economy, value is often distinguished as intrinsic and exchangeable. Intrinsic value is the same as utility or adaptation to satisfy the desires or wants of men. Exchangeable value is that in an article or product which disposes individuals to give for it some quantity of labor, or some other article or product obtainable by labor; as pure air has an intrinsic value, but generally not an exchangeable value.
3. Precise signification; import; as the value of a word; the value of a legal instrument Mitford.
4. Esteem; regard. Dryden.
"My relation to the person was so near, and my value for him so great" Bp. Burnet.
5. (Mus.) The relative length or duration of a tone or note, answering to quantity in prosody; thus, a quarter note [] has the value of two eighth notes [].
6. In an artistical composition, the character of any one part in its relation to other parts and to the whole; — often used in the plural; as the values are well given, or well maintained.
7. Valor. [Written also valew.] [Obs.] Spenser. Value received, a phrase usually employed in a bill of exchange or a promissory note, to denote that a consideration has been given for it. Bouvier.
Value
Val´ue, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Valued p. pr. & vb. n. Valuing.]
1. To estimate the value, or worth, of; to rate at a certain price; to appraise; to reckon with respect to number, power, importance, etc.
"The mind doth value every moment." Bacon.
"The queen is valued thirty thousand strong." Shak.
"The king must take it ill,
That he’s so slightly valued in his messenger." Shak.
"Neither of them valued their promises according to rules of honor or integrity." Clarendon.
2. To rate highly; to have in high esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; to appreciate; to prize; as to value one for his works or his virtues.
"Which of the dukes he values most." Shak.
3. To raise to estimation; to cause to have value, either real or apparent; to enhance in value. [Obs.]
"Some value themselves to their country by jealousies of the crown." Sir W. Temple.
4. To be worth; to be equal to in value. [Obs.]
"The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it." Shak.
Syn. — To compute; rate; appraise; esteem; respect; regard; estimate; prize; appreciate.
Valued
Val´ued, a. Highly regarded; esteemed; prized; as a valued contributor; a valued friend. Valued policy. See under Policy.
Valueless
Val´ue•less, a. Being of no value; having no worth.
Valvata
Val•va´ta, n. [NL.; cf. L. valvatus having folding doors. See Valve.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small spiral fresh-water gastropods having an operculum.
Valve, n. [L. valva the leaf, fold, or valve of a door: cf. F. valve.]
1. A door; especially, one of a pair of folding doors, or one of the leaves of such a door.
"Swift through the valves the visionary fair
Repassed." Pope.
"Heavily closed, … the valves of the barn doors." Longfellow.
2. A lid, plug, or cover, applied to an aperture so that by its movement, as by swinging, lifting and falling, sliding, turning, or the like, it will open or close the aperture to permit or prevent passage, as of a fluid. A valve may act automatically so as to be opened by the effort of a fluid to pass in one direction, and closed by the effort to pass in the other direction, as a clack valve; or it may be opened or closed by hand or by mechanism, as a screw valve, or a slide valve.
3. (Anat.) One or more membranous partitions, flaps, or folds, which permit the passage of the contents of a vessel or cavity in one direction, but stop or retard the flow in the opposite direction; as the ileocolic, mitral, and semilunar valves.
4. (Bot.) (a) One of the pieces into which a capsule naturally separates when it bursts. (b) One of the two similar portions of the shell of a diatom. (c) A small portion of certain anthers, which opens like a trapdoor to allow the pollen to escape, as in the barberry.
5. (Zoöl.) One of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or multivalve shells. Air valve, Ball valve, Check valve, etc. See under Air. Ball, Check, etc. — Double-beat valve, a kind of balance valve usually consisting of a movable, open-ended, turban-shaped shell provided with two faces of nearly equal diameters, one above another, which rest upon two corresponding seats when the valve is closed. — Equilibrium valve. (a) A balance valve. See under Balance. (b) A valve for permitting air, steam, water, etc., to pass into or out of a chamber so as to establish or maintain equal pressure within and without. — Valve chest (Mach.), a chamber in which a valve works; especially (Steam Engine), the steam chest; — called in England valve box, and valve casing. See Steam chest, under Steam. — Valve face (Mach.), that part of the surface of a valve which comes in contact with the valve seat. — Valve gear, or Valve motion (Steam Engine), the system of parts by which motion is given to the valve or valves for the distribution of steam in the cylinder. For an illustration of one form of valve gear, see Link motion. — Valve seat. (Mach.) (a) The fixed surface on which a valve rests or against which it presses. (b) A part or piece on which such a surface is formed. — Valve stem (Mach.), a rod attached to a valve, for moving it. — Valve yoke (Mach.), a strap embracing a slide valve and connecting it to the valve stem.
Valve-shell
Valve´-shell, n. (Zoöl.) Any fresh-water gastropod of the genus Valvata.
Vambrace
Vam´brace, n. [See Vantbrass.] (Anc. Armor) The piece designed to protect the arm from the elbow to the wrist.
Vamp, v. i. To advance; to travel. [Obs.]
Vamp, n. [OE. vampe, vaumpe, vauntpe, F. avantpied the forefoot, vamp; anat before, fore + pied foot, L. pes. See Advance, Van of an army, and Foot.]
1. The part of a boot or shoe above the sole and welt, and in front of the ankle seam; an upper.
2. Any piece added to an old thing to give it a new appearance. See Vamp, v. t.
Vamp, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vamped ( 215); p. pr. & vb. n. Vamping.] To provide, as a shoe, with new upper leather; hence, to piece, as any old thing, with a new part; to repair; to patch; — often followed by up.
"I had never much hopes of your vamped play." Swift.
Vamper
Vamp´er, n. One who vamps; one who pieces an old thing with something new; a cobbler.
Vamper
Vamp´er, v. i. [Cf. Vaunt.] To swagger; to make an ostentatious show. [Prov. eng. & Scot.] Jamieson.
Vamure
Va´mure, n. See Vauntmure. [Obs.]
Van, n. [Cornish.] (Mining) A shovel used in cleansing ore.
Van, v. t. (Mining) To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel. Raymond.
Van, n. [Abbreviated from caravan.]
1. A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others fore the transportation of goods. [Eng.]
2. A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition.
3. A close railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car, 2. [Eng.]
Van, n. [L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow.]
1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain.
2. [OF. vanne, F. vanneau beam feather (cf. It. vanno a wing) fr. L. vannus. See Etymology above.] A wing with which the air is beaten. [Archaic] "[/Angels] on the air plumy vans received him. " Milton.
"He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain;
His vans no longer could his flight sustain." Dryden.
Van, v. t. [Cf. F. vanner to winnow, to fan. See Van a winnowing machine.] To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [Obs.] Bacon.
Vanadate
Van´a•date, n. [Cf. F. vanadate.] (Chem.) A salt of vanadic acid. [Formerly also vanadiate.]
Vanadite
Van´a•dite, n. (Chem.) A salt of vanadious acid, analogous to a nitrite or a phosphite.
Vanadium bronze
Va•na"di•um bronze (Chem.) A yellow pigment consisting of a compound of vanadium.
Van-courier
Van´-cou•ri•er, n. [F. avant- courrier. See Avant, Van of an army, and Courier, and cf. Avant-courier, Vaunt-courier.] One sent in advance; an avant-courier; a precursor.
Vandal
Van´dal, n. [L. Vandalus, Vandalius; of Teutonic origin, and probably originally signifying, a wanderer. Cf. Wander.]
1. (Anc. Hist.) One of a Teutonic race, formerly dwelling on the south shore of the Baltic, the most barbarous and fierce of the northern nations that plundered Rome in the 5th century, notorious for destroying the monuments of art and literature.
2. Hence, one who willfully destroys or defaces any work of art or literature.
"The Vandals of our isle,
Sworn foes to sense and law." Cowper. { Van´dal, Van•dal´ic } a. Of or pertaining to the Vandals; resembling the Vandals in barbarism and destructiveness.
Vane, n. [OE. & E. Prov. E. fane weathercock, banner, AS. fana a banner, flag; akin to D. vaan, G. fahne, OHG. fano cloth, gund fano flag, Icel. fani, Sw. fana, Dan. fane, Goth. fana cloth, L. pannus, and perhaps to Gr. a web, a bobbin, spool. Cf. Fanon, Pane a compartment, panel.]
1. A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely.
"Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane." Chaucer.
2. Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc.
3. (Zoöl.) The rhachis and web of a feather taken together.
4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling staff. (Surv.) Same as Target, 3.
Vanessa
Van•es´sa, n. [Probably from Swift’s poem of Cadenus and Vanessa. See Vanessa, in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of handsomely colored butterflies belonging to Vanessa and allied genera. Many of these species have the edges of the wings irregularly scalloped.
Vanfess
Van´fess, n. [F. avant- fosse; avant before + fosse ditch. Cf. Fosse.] (Fort.) A ditch on the outside of the counterscarp, usually full of water.
Vang, n. [D. vangen to catch, seize. See Fang.] (Naut.) A rope to steady the peak of a gaff.
Vanglo
Van´glo, n. (Bot.) Benne ( Sesamum orientale); also its seeds; — so called in the West Indies.
Vanguard
Van´guard, n. [For vantguard, avantguard, F. avant-garde; avant before, fore + garde guard. See Avant, Ab-,Ante-, and Guard, and cf. Advance, Vamp, Van of an army, Vaward.] (Mil.) The troops who march in front of an army; the advance guard; the van.
Vanilla
Va•nil´la, n. [NL., fr. Sp. vainilla, dim. of Sp. vaina a sheath, a pod, L. vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants, natives of tropical America.
2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and V. claviculata, remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odor, for the volatile, odoriferous oil extracted from them; also the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc. As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful. Cuban vanilla, a sweet-scented West Indian composite shrub ( Eupatorium Dalea). — Vanilla bean, the long capsule of the vanilla plant. — Vanilla grass. Same as Holy grass, under Holy.
Vanilloes
Va•nil´loes, n. pl. An inferior kind of vanilla, the pods of Vanilla Pompona.
Vanish
Van´ish, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Vanished p. pr. & vb. n. Vanishing.] [OE. vanissen, OF. vanir (in comp.): cf. OF. envanir, esvanir, esvanuïr, F. s’evanouir; fr. L. vanus empty, vain; cf. L. vanescere, evanescere, to vanish. See Vain, and cf. Evanescent,-ish.]
1. To pass from a visible to an invisible state; to go out of sight; to disappear; to fade; as vapor vanishes from the sight by being dissipated; a ship vanishes from the sight of spectators on land.
"The horse vanished … out of sight." Chaucer.
"Go; vanish into air; away!" Shak.
"The champions vanished from their posts with the speed of lightning." Sir W. Scott.
"Gliding from the twilight past to vanish among realities." Hawthorne.
2. To be annihilated or lost; to pass away. "All these delights will vanish." Milton.
Vanishing
Van´ish•ing, a. & n. from Vanish, v. Vanishing fraction (Math.), a fraction which reduces to the form &frac00; for a particular value of the variable which enters it, usually in consequence of the existence of a common factor in both terms of the fraction, which factor becomes 0 for this particular value of the variable. Math. Dict. — Vanishing line (Persp.), the intersection of the parallel of any original plane and picture; one of the lines converging to the vanishing point. — Vanishing point (Persp.), the point to which all parallel lines in the same plane tend in the representation. Gwilt. — Vanishing stress (Phon.), stress of voice upon the closing portion of a syllable. Rush.
Vanity
Van´i•ty, n. ; pl. Vanities (#). [OE. vanite, vanite, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]
1. The quality or state of being vain; want of substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity.
"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." Eccl. i. 2.
"Here I may well show the vanity of that which is reported in the story of Walsingham." Sir J. Davies.
2. An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one’s personal attainments or decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride; ostentation; conceit.
"The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was galled." Macaulay.
3. That which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.
"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher." Eccl. i. 2.
"Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come." Sir P. Sidney.
"[Sin] with vanity had filled the works of men." Milton.
"Think not, when woman’s transient breath is fled,
That all her vanities at once are dead;
Succeeding vanities she still regards." Pope.
4. One of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n. , 5.
"You … take vanity the puppet’s part." Shak.
Syn. — Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness; self- sufficiency. See Egotism, and Pride.
Vanner
Van´ner, n. (Mining) A machine for concentrating ore. See Frue vanner.
Vanning
Van´ning, n. (Mining) A process by which ores are washed on a shovel, or in a vanner.
Vanquish
Van´quish, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vanquished p. pr. & vb. n. Vanquishing.] [OE. venquishen, venquissen, venkisen,F. vaincre, pret. vainquis, OF. veintre, pret. venqui, venquis (cf. an OF. infin. vainquir), fr. L. vincere; akin to AS. wig war, battle, wigant a warrior, wigan to fight, Icel. vig battle, Goth. weihan to fight, contend. Cf. Convince, Evict, Invincible, Victor.]
1. To conquer, overcome, or subdue in battle, as an enemy. Hakluyt.
"They … Vanquished the rebels in all encounters." Clarendon.
2. Hence, to defeat in any contest; to get the better of; to put down; to refute.
"This bold assertion has been fully vanquished in a late reply to the Bishop of Meaux’s treatise." Atterbury.
"For e’en though vanquished, he could argue still." Goldsmith.
Syn. — To conquer; surmount; overcome; confute; silence. See Conquer.
Vanquish
Van´quish, n. (Far.) A disease in sheep, in which they pine away. [Written also vinquish.]
Vanquisher
Van´quish•er, n. One who, or that which, vanquishes. Milton.
Vanquishment
Van´quish•ment, n. The act of vanquishing, or the state of being vanquished. Bp. Hall.
Vant, v. i. See Vaunt. [Obs.]
Vantage
Van´tage (van"taj; 48), n. [Aphetic form of OE. avantage, fr. F. avantage. See Advantage.]
1. superior or more favorable situation or opportunity; gain; profit; advantage. [R.]
"O happy vantage of a kneeling knee!" Shak.
2. (Lawn Tennis) The first point after deuce. When the server wins this point, it is called vantage in; when the receiver, or striker out, wins, it is called vantage out. To have at vantage, to have the advantage of; to be in a more favorable condition than. "He had them at vantage, being tired and harassed with a long march." Bacon. — Vantage ground, superiority of state or place; the place or condition which gives one an advantage over another. "The vantage ground of truth. Bacon.
"It is these things that give him his actual standing, and it is from this vantage ground that he looks around him." I. Taylor.
Vantage
Van´tage, v. t. To profit; to aid. [Obs.] Spenser. { Vant´brace, Vant´brass } n. [F. avant fore + bras arm: cf. F. brassard armor for the arm, brace, forearm. Cf. Vambrace.] (Anc. Armor) Armor for the arm; vambrace. Milton. { Vant´-cou•ri•er, n. } An avant- courier. See Van-courier. [Obs.] Holland.
Vantage game
Van"tage game. (Lawn Tennis) The first game after the set is deuce. See Set, n. , 9.
Vanward
Van´ward, a. Being on, or towards, the van, or front. "The vanward frontier." De Quincey.
Vap (vap), n. [See Vapid.] That which is vapid, insipid, or lifeless; especially, the lifeless part of liquor or wine. [Obs.]
"In vain it is to wash a goblet, if you mean to put into it nothing but the dead lees and vap of wine." Jer. Taylor.
Vapid
Vap´id, a. [L. vapidus having lost its lire and spirit, vapid; akin to vappa vapid wine, vapor vapor. See Vapor.] Having lost its life and spirit; dead; spiritless; insipid; flat; dull; unanimated; as vapid beer; a vapid speech; a vapid state of the blood.
"A cheap, bloodless reformation, a guiltless liberty, appear flat and vapid to their taste." Burke. — Vap´id•ly (#), adv. — Vap´id•ness, n.
Vapidity
Va•pid´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being vapid; vapidness.
Vapor
Va´por, n. [OE. vapour, OF. vapour, vapor, vapeur, F. vapeur, L. vapor; probably for cvapor, and akin to Gr. smoke, to breathe forth, Lith. kvepti to breathe, smell, Russ. kopote fine soot. Cf. Vapid.] [Written also vapour.]
1. (Physics) Any substance in the gaseous, or aëriform, state, the condition of which is ordinarily that of a liquid or solid. The term vapor is sometimes used in a more extended sense, as identical with gas; and the difference between the two is not so much one of kind as of degree, the latter being applied to all permanently elastic fluids except atmospheric air, the former to those elastic fluids which lose that condition at ordinary temperatures. The atmosphere contains more or less vapor of water, a portion of which, on a reduction of temperature, becomes condensed into liquid water in the form of rain or dew. The vapor of water produced by boiling, especially in its economic relations, is called steam.
"Vapor is any substance in the gaseous condition at the maximum of density consistent with that condition. This is the strict and proper meaning of the word vapor." Nichol.
2. In a loose and popular sense, any visible diffused substance floating in the atmosphere and impairing its transparency, as smoke, fog, etc.
"The vapour which that fro the earth glood [glided]." Chaucer.
"Fire and hail; snow and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word." Ps. cxlviii. 8.
3. Wind; flatulence. [Obs.] Bacon.
4. Something unsubstantial, fleeting, or transitory; unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting.
"For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James iv. 14.
5. pl. An old name for hypochondria, or melancholy; the blues. "A fit of vapors." Pope.
6. (Pharm.) A medicinal agent designed for administration in the form of inhaled vapor. Brit. Pharm.Vapor bath. (a) A bath in vapor; the application of vapor to the body, or part of it, in a close place; also the place itself. (b) (Chem.) A small metallic drying oven, usually of copper, for drying and heating filter papers, precipitates, etc.; — called also air bath. A modified form is provided with a jacket in the outside partition for holding water, or other volatile liquid, by which the temperature may be limited exactly to the required degree. — Vapor burner, a burner for burning a vaporized hydrocarbon. — Vapor density (Chem.), the relative weight of gases and vapors as compared with some specific standard, usually hydrogen, but sometimes air. The vapor density of gases and vaporizable substances as compared with hydrogen, when multiplied by two, or when compared with air and multiplied by 28.8, gives the molecular weight. — Vapor engine, an engine worked by the expansive force of a vapor, esp. a vapor other than steam.
Vapor
Va´por, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Vapored p. pr. & vb. n. Vaporing.] [From Vapor, n. : cf. L. vaporare.] [Written also vapour.]
1. To pass off in fumes, or as a moist, floating substance, whether visible or invisible, to steam; to be exhaled; to evaporate.
2. To emit vapor or fumes. [R.]
"Running waters vapor not so much as standing waters." Bacon.
3. To talk idly; to boast or vaunt; to brag.
"Poets used to vapor much after this manner." Milton.
"We vapor and say, By this time Matthews has beaten them." Walpole.
Vaporability
Vap•o•ra•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being vaporable.
Vaporable
Vap´o•ra•ble, a. Capable of being converted into vapor by the agency of heat; vaporizable.
Vaporate
Vap´o•rate, v. i. [L. vaporare, vaporatum. See Vapor.] To emit vapor; to evaporate. [R.]
Vapored
Va´pored, a.
1. Wet with vapors; moist.
2. Affected with the vapors. See Vapor, n. , 5.
Vaporer
Va´por•er, n. One who vapors; a braggart. Vaporer moth. (Zoöl.) See Orgyia.
Vaporing
Va´por•ing, a. Talking idly; boasting; vaunting. — Va´por•ing•ly, adv.
Vaporizable
Vap´o•ri•za•ble ( 110), a. Capable of being vaporized into vapor.
Vaporize
Vap´o•rize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vaporized p. pr. & vb. n. Vaporizing ] [Cf. F. vaporiser.] To convert into vapor, as by the application of heat, whether naturally or artificially. Vaporizing surface. (Steam Boilers) See Evaporating surface, under Evaporate, v. t.
Vaporizer
Vap´o•ri•zer, n. One who, or that which, vaporizes, or converts into vapor.
Vaporousness
Va´por•ous•ness, n. The quality of being vaporous.
Vapory
Va´por•y, a.
1. Full of vapors; vaporous.
2. Hypochondriacal; splenetic; peevish.
Vapulation
Vap•u•la´tion, n. [L. vapulare to be ogged.] The act of beating or whipping. [Obs.]
Vaquero
Va•que´ro, n. [Sp., cowherd, fr. vaca a cow, L. vacca. Cf. Vacher.] One who has charge of cattle, horses, etc.; a herdsman. [Southwestern U. S.]
Vara
Va´ra, n. [Sp. See 1st Vare.] A Spanish measure of length equal to about one yard. The vara now in use equals 33.385 inches. Johnson’s Cyc.
Varanus
Va•ra´nus, n. [NL., fr. Ar. waran, waral; cf. F. varan, from the Arabic.] (Zoöl.) A genus of very large lizards native of Asia and Africa. It includes the monitors. See Monitor, 3.
Varec
Var´ec, n. [F. varech; of Teutonic origin. See Wrack seaweed, wreck.] The calcined ashes of any coarse seaweed used for the manufacture of soda and iodine; also the seaweed itself; fucus; wrack.
Variable
Va´ri•a•ble, n.
1. That which is variable; that which varies, or is subject to change.
2. (Math.) A quantity which may increase or decrease; a quantity which admits of an infinite number of values in the same expression; a variable quantity; as in the equation x2 - y2 = R2, x and y are variables.
3. (Naut.) (a) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force. (b) pl. Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts. Independent variable (Math.), that one of two or more variables, connected with each other in any way whatever, to which changes are supposed to be given at will. Thus, in the equation x2 - y2 = R2, if arbitrary changes are supposed to be given to x, then x is the independent variable, and y is called a function of x. There may be two or more independent variables in an equation or problem. Cf. Dependent variable, under Dependent.
Variableness
Va´ri•a•ble•ness, n. The quality or state of being variable; variability. James i. 17.
Variant
Va´ri•ant, a. [L. varians, p. pr. of variare to change: cf. F. variant. See Vary.]
1. Varying in from, character, or the like; variable; different; diverse.
2. Changeable; changing; fickle. [Obs.]
"He is variant, he abit [abides] nowhere." Chaucer.
Variate
Va´ri•ate, v. t. & i. [L. variatus, p. p. of variare. See Vary.] To alter; to make different; to vary.
Variation
Va•ri•a´tion, n. [OE. variatioun, F. variation, L. variatio. See Vary.]
1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation; mutation; diversity; deviation; as a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language.
"The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation." Locke.
2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change.
3. (Gram.) Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc.
4. (Mus.) Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity.
5. (Alg.) One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together. Annual variation (Astron.), the yearly change in the right ascension or declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star. — Calculus of variations. See under Calculus. — Variation compass. See under Compass. — Variation of the moon (Astron.), an inequality of the moon’s motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures. — Variation of the needle (Geog. & Naut.), the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; — called also declination of the needle.
Syn. — Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.
Varicella
Var•i•cel´la, n. [NL., dim. of LL. variola smallpox.] (Med.) Chicken pox.
Variciform
Va•ric´i•form, a. [ Varix + - form.] (Med.) Resembling a varix.
Varicosis
Var•i•cos´is, n. [NL. See Varix, and -osis.] (Med.) The formation of varices; varicosity.
Varicotomy
Var•i•cot´o•my, n. [See Varix; -tomy.] (Surg.) Excision of a varicosity.
Variegate
Va´ri•e•gate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Variegated p. pr. & vb. n. Variegating.] [L. variegatus, p. p. of variegare to variegate; varius various + agere to move, make. See Various, and Agent.] To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; to dapple; to streak; as to variegate a floor with marble of different colors.
"The shells are filled with a white spar, which variegates and adds to the beauty of the stone." Woodward.
Varier
Va´ri•er, n. [From Vary.] A wanderer; one who strays in search of variety. [Poetic]
"Pious variers from the church." Tennyson.
Variety
Va•ri´e•ty, n. ; pl. Varieties (#). [L. varietas: cf. F. variete. See Various.]
1. The quality or state of being various; intermixture or succession of different things; diversity; multifariousness.
"Variety is nothing else but a continued novelty." South.
"The variety of colors depends upon the composition of light." Sir I. Newton.
"For earth this variety from heaven." Milton.
"There is a variety in the tempers of good men." Atterbury.
2. That which is various. Specifically: — (a) A number or collection of different things; a varied assortment; as a variety of cottons and silks.
"He … wants more time to do that variety of good which his soul thirsts after." Law. (b) Something varying or differing from others of the same general kind; one of a number of things that are akin; a sort; as varieties of wood, land, rocks, etc. (c) (Biol.) An individual, or group of individuals, of a species differing from the rest in some one or more of the characteristics typical of the species, and capable either of perpetuating itself for a period, or of being perpetuated by artificial means; hence, a subdivision, or peculiar form, of a species. Varieties usually differ from species in that any two, however unlike, will generally propagate indefinitely (unless they are in their nature unfertile, as some varieties of rose and other cultivated plants); in being a result of climate, food, or other extrinsic conditions or influences, but generally by a sudden, rather than a gradual, development; and in tending in many cases to lose their distinctive peculiarities when the individuals are left to a state of nature, and especially if restored to the conditions that are natural to typical individuals of the species. Many varieties of domesticated animals and of cultivated plants have been directly produced by man. (d) In inorganic nature, one of those forms in which a species may occur, which differ in minor characteristics of structure, color, purity of composition, etc. These may be viewed as variations from the typical species in its most perfect and purest form, or, as is more commonly the case, all the forms, including the latter, may rank as Varieties. Thus, the sapphire is a blue variety, and the ruby a red variety, of corundum; again, calcite has many Varieties differing in form and structure, as Iceland spar, dogtooth spar, satin spar, and also others characterized by the presence of small quantities of magnesia, iron, manganese, etc. Still again, there are Varieties of granite differing in structure, as graphic granite, porphyritic granite, and other Varieties differing in composition, as albitic granite, hornblendic, or syenitic, granite, etc. Geographical variety (Biol.), a variety of any species which is coincident with a geographical region, and is usually dependent upon, or caused by, peculiarities of climate. — Variety hybrid (Biol.), a cross between two individuals of different varieties of the same species; a mongrel.
Syn. — Diversity; difference; kind. — Variety, Diversity. A man has a variety of employments when he does many things which are not a mere repetition of the same act; he has a diversity of employments when the several acts performed are unlike each other, that is, diverse. In most cases, where there is variety there will be more or less of diversity, but not always. One who sells railroad tickets performs a great variety of acts in a day, while there is but little diversity in his employment.
"All sorts are here that all the earth yields! Variety without end." Milton.
"But see in all corporeal nature’s scene,
What changes, what diversities, have been!" Blackmore.
Variform
Va´ri•form, a. [L. varius various + -form.] Having different shapes or forms.
Variformed
Va´ri•formed, a. Formed with different shapes; having various forms; variform.
Variola
Va•ri´o•la, n. [LL., fr. L. varius various. See Various.] (Med.) The smallpox.
Variolation
Va•ri•o•la´tion, n. (Med.) Inoculation with smallpox.
Variole
Va´ri•ole, n. [Cf. F. variole smallpox. See Variola.]
1. A foveola.
2. (Geol.) A spherule of a variolite.
Variolitic
Va•ri•o•lit´ic, a. [From Variola.]
1. Thickly marked with small, round specks; spotted.
2. (Geol.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, variolite.
Varioloid
Va´ri•o•loid, n. [Cf. F. varioloïde. See Varioloid, a. ] (Med.) The smallpox as modified by previous inoculation or vaccination. It is almost always a milder disease than smallpox, and this circumstance, with its shorter duration, exhibits the salutary effects of previous vaccination or inoculation. Dunglison.
Various
Va´ri•ous, a. [L. varius. Cf. Vair.]
1. Different; diverse; several; manifold; as men of various names; various occupations; various colors.
"So many and so various laws are given." Milton.
"A wit as various, gay, grave, sage, or wild." Byron.
2. Changeable; uncertain; inconstant; variable.
"A man so various, that he seemed to be
Not one, but all mankind’s epitome." Dryden.
"The names of mixed modes … are very various." Locke.
3. Variegated; diversified; not monotonous.
"A happy rural seat of various view." Milton.
Varisse
Va•risse´, n. [Cf. F. varice varix. Cf. Varix.] (Far.) An imperfection on the inside of the hind leg in horses, different from a curb, but at the same height, and frequently injuring the sale of the animal by growing to an unsightly size. Craig.
Varisse
Va•risse´, n. [Cf. F. varice varix. Cf. Varix.] (Far.) An imperfection on the inside of the hind leg in horses, different from a curb, but at the same height, and often growing to an unsightly size.
Vark, n. [D. varken a pig.] (Zoöl.) The bush hog, or boshvark.
Varlet
Var´let, n. [OF. varlet, vaslet, vallet, servant, young man, young noble, dim of vassal. See Vassal, and cf. Valet.]
1. A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman. [Obs.] Spenser. Tusser.
2. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as an impudent varlet.
"What a brazen-faced varlet art thou !" Shak.
3. In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack. [Obs.]
Varnish
Var´nish, n. [OE. vernish, F. vernis, LL. vernicium; akin to F. vernir to varnish, fr. (assumed) LL. vitrinire to glaze, from LL. vitrinus glassy, fr. L. vitrum glass. See Vitreous.]
1. A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture. According to the sorts of solvents employed, the ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes. Encyc. Brit
2. That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance.
"The varnish of the holly and ivy." Macaulay.
3. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss.
"And set a double varnish on the fame
The Frenchman gave you." Shak. Varnish tree (Bot.), a tree or shrub from the juice or resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the genus Rhus, especially R. vernicifera of Japan. The black varnish of Burmah is obtained from the Melanorrhœa usitatissima, a tall East Indian tree of the Cashew family. See Copal, and Mastic.
Varnish
Var´nish, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Varnished p. pr. & vb. n. Varnishing.] [Cf. F. vernir, vernisser. See Varnish, n. ]
1. To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as to varnish a table; to varnish a painting.
2. To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as to varnish guilt. "Beauty doth varnish age." Shak.
"Close ambition, varnished o’er with zeal." Milton.
"Cato’s voice was ne’er employed
To clear the guilty and to varnish crimes." Addison.
Varnishing
Var´nish•ing, n. The act of laying on varnish; also materials for varnish.
Varus
Va´rus, n. [NL., fr. L., bent, grown inwards.] (Med.) A deformity in which the foot is turned inward. See Talipes.
Vary
Va´ry, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Varied p. pr. & vb. n. Varying.] [OE. varien, F. varier, L. variare, fr. varius various. See Various, and cf. Variate.]
1. To change the aspect of; to alter in form, appearance, substance, position, or the like; to make different by a partial change; to modify; as to vary the properties, proportions, or nature of a thing; to vary a posture or an attitude; to vary one’s dress or opinions.
"Shall we vary our device at will,
Even as new occasion appears?" Spenser.
2. To change to something else; to transmute; to exchange; to alternate.
"Gods, that never change their state, Vary oft their love and hate." Waller.
"We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies." Dryden.
3. To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
"God hath varied their inclinations." Sir T. Browne.
"God hath here Varied his bounty so with new delights." Milton.
4. (Mus.) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See Variation, 4.
Varying
Va´ry•ing, a. & n. from Vary. Varying hare (Zoöl.), any hare or rabbit which becomes white in winter, especially the common hare of the Northern United States and Canada.
Vas, n. ; pl. Vasa (#). [L., a vessel. See Vase.] (Anat.) A vessel; a duct. Vas deferens; pl. Vasa deferentia. [L. vas vessel + deferens carrying down.] (Anat.) The excretory duct of a testicle; a spermatic duct.
Vascular
Vas´cu•lar, a. [L. vasculum a small vessel, dim. of vas vessel: cf. F. vasculaire. See Vase, and cf. Vessel.]
1. (Biol.) (a) Consisting of, or containing, vessels as an essential part of a structure; full of vessels; specifically (Bot.), pertaining to, or containing, special ducts, or tubes, for the circulation of sap. (b) Operating by means of, or made up of an arrangement of, vessels; as the vascular system in animals, including the arteries, veins, capillaries, lacteals, etc. (c) Of or pertaining to the vessels of animal and vegetable bodies; as the vascular functions.
2. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the higher division of plants, that is, the phaenogamous plants, all of which are vascular, in distinction from the cryptogams, which to a large extent are cellular only. Vascular plants (Bot.), plants composed in part of vascular tissue, as all flowering plants and the higher cryptogamous plants, or those of the class Pteridophyta. Cf. Cellular plants, Cellular. — Vascular system (Bot.), the body of associated ducts and woody fiber; the fibrovascular part of plants. — Vascular tissue (Bot.), vegetable tissue composed partly of ducts, or sap tubes. — Water vascular system (Zoöl.), a system of vessels in annelids, nemerteans, and many other invertebrates, containing a circulating fluid analogous to blood, but not of the same composition. In annelids the fluid which they contain is usually red, but in some it is green, in others yellow, or whitish.
Vascularity
Vas•cu•lar´i•ty, n. ; pl. Vascularities . (Biol.) The quality or state of being vascular.
Vasculum
Vas´cu•lum, n. ; pl. Vascula (#). [L., a small vessel.]
1. (Bot.) Same as Ascidium, n. , 1.
2. A tin box, commonly cylindrical or flattened, used in collecting plants.
Vase (vas or väz; 277), n. [F. vase; cf. Sp. & It. vaso; fr. L. vas, vasum. Cf. Vascular, Vessel.]
1. A vessel adapted for various domestic purposes, and anciently for sacrificial uses; especially, a vessel of antique or elegant pattern used for ornament; as a porcelain vase; a gold vase; a Grecian vase. See Illust. of Portland vase, under Portland.
"No chargers then were wrought in burnished gold,
Nor silver vases took the forming mold." Pope.
2. (Arch.) (a) A vessel similar to that described in the first definition above, or the representation of one in a solid block of stone, or the like, used for an ornament, as on a terrace or in a garden. See Illust. of Niche. (b) The body, or naked ground, of the Corinthian and Composite capital; — called also tambour, and drum. Until the time of Walker (1791), vase was made to rhyme with base,, case, etc., and it is still commonly so pronounced in the United States. Walker made it to rhyme with phrase, maze, etc. Of modern English practice, Mr. A. J. Ellis (1874) says: "Vase has four pronunciations in English: vaz, which I most commonly say, is going out of use, väz I hear most frequently, vaz very rarely, and vas I only know from Cull’s marking. On the analogy of case, however, it should be the regular sound."
3. (Bot.) The calyx of a plant.
Vaseline
Vas´e•line, n. [Said by the manufacturer to be derived from G. wasser water + Gr. ’e•laion olive oil.] A yellowish translucent substance, almost odorless and tasteless, obtained as a residue in the purification of crude petroleum, and consisting essentially of a mixture of several of the higher members of the paraffin series. It is used as an unguent, and for various purposes in the arts. See the Note under Petrolatum. [Written also vaselin.]
Vase-shaped
Vase´-shaped, a. Formed like a vase, or like a common flowerpot.
Vaso-inhibitory
Vas•o-in•hib´i•to•ry, a. (Physiol.) See Vasodilator.
Vassal
Vas´sal, n. [F., fr. LL. vassallus, vassus; of Celtic origin; cf. W. & Corn. gwas a youth, page, servant, Arm. gwaz a man, a male. Cf. Valet, Varlet, Vavasor.]
1. (Feud. Law) The grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who holds land of superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a feudal tenant. Burrill.
2. A subject; a dependent; a servant; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." Milton. Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal.
Vassal
Vas´sal, a. Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.
"The sun and every vassal star." Keble.
Vassal
Vas´sal, v. t. To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Vast, a. [ Compar. Vaster superl. Vastest.] [L. vastus empty, waste, enormous, immense: cf. F. vaste. See Waste, and cf. Devastate.]
1. Waste; desert; desolate; lonely. [Obs.]
"The empty, vast, and wandering air." Shak.
2. Of great extent; very spacious or large; also huge in bulk; immense; enormous; as the vast ocean; vast mountains; the vast empire of Russia.
"Through the vast and boundless deep." Milton.
3. Very great in numbers, quantity, or amount; as a vast army; a vast sum of money.
4. Very great in importance; as a subject of vast concern.
Syn. — Enormous; huge; immense; mighty.
Vastel
Vas´tel, n. See Wastel. [Obs.] Fuller.
Vastity
Vast´i•ty, n. [L. vastitas.] Vastness. [Obs.]
"The huge vastity of the world." Holland.
Vastly
Vast´ly, adv. To a vast extent or degree; very greatly; immensely. Jer. Taylor.
Vasty
Vas´ty, a. [From Vast.] Vast; immense. [R.]
"I can call spirits from the vasty deep." Shak.
Vasum
Va´sum, n. [L., a vase. See Vase.] (Zoöl.) A genus including several species of large marine gastropods having massive pyriform shells, with conspicuous folds on the columella.
Vat, n. [A dialectic form for fat, OE. fat, AS. faet; akin to D. vat, OS. fat, G. fass, OHG. faz, Icel. & Sw. fat, Dan. fad, Lith. pdas a pot, and probably to G. fassen to seize, to contain, OHG. fazzn, D. vatten. Cf. Fat a vat.]
1. A large vessel, cistern, or tub, especially one used for holding in an immature state, chemical preparations for dyeing, or for tanning, or for tanning leather, or the like.
"Let him produce his vase and tubs, in opposition to heaps of arms and standards." Addison.
2. A measure for liquids, and also a dry measure; especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectoliter of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 standard gallons in the United States. The old Dutch grain vat averaged 0.762 Winchester bushel. The old London coal vat contained 9 bushels. The solid-measurement vat of Amsterdam contains 40 cubic feet; the wine vat, 241.57 imperial gallons, and the vat for olive oil, 225.45 imperial gallons.
3. (Metal.) (a) A wooden tub for washing ores and mineral substances in. (b) A square, hollow place on the back of a calcining furnace, where tin ore is laid to dry.
4. (R. C. Ch.) A vessel for holding holy water.
Vat, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vatted p. pr. & vb. n. Vatting.] To put or transfer into a vat.
Vatful
Vat´ful, n. ; pl. Vatfuls . As much as a vat will hold; enough to fill a vat.
Vatical
Vat´ic•al, a. [L. vates a prophet.] Of or pertaining to a prophet; prophetical. Bp. Hall.
Vaticanist
Vat´i•can•ist, n. One who strongly adheres to the papal authority; an ultramontanist.
Vaticinal
Va•tic´i•nal, a. [See Vaticinate.] Of or pertaining to prophecy; prophetic. T. Warton.
Vaticinator
Va•tic´i•na•tor, n. [L.] One who vaticinates; a prophet.
Vaticine
Vat´i•cine, n. [L. vaticinium.] A prediction; a vaticination. [Obs.] Holinshed.
Vault (valt; see Note, below), n. [OE. voute, OF. voute, volte, F. voûte, LL. volta, for voluta, volutio, fr. L. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn about. See Voluble, and cf. Vault a leap, Volt a turn, Volute.]
1. (Arch.) An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
"The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault." Gray.
2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, use for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar. "Charnel vaults." Milton.
"The silent vaults of death." Sandys.
"To banish rats that haunt our vault." Swift.
3. The canopy of heaven; the sky.
"That heaven’s vault should crack." Shak.
4. [F. volte, It. volta, originally, a turn, and the same word as volta an arch. See the Etymology above.] A leap or bound. Specifically: — (a) (Man.) The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet. (b) A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard, or the like. The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in pronunciation. Barrel, Cradle, Cylindrical, or Wagon, vault (Arch.), a kind of vault having two parallel abutments, and the same section or profile at all points. It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see Rampant vault, under Rampant), or curved in plan, as around the apse of a church. — Coved vault. (Arch.) See under 1st Cove, v. t. — Groined vault (Arch.), a vault having groins, that is, one in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault. — Rampant vault. (Arch.) See under Rampant. — Ribbed vault (Arch.), a vault differing from others in having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character. — Vault light, a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement or ceiling to admit light to a vault below.
Vault, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaulting.] [OE. vouten, OF. volter, vouter, F. voûter. See Vault an arch.]
1. To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court.
"The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley." Sir W. Scott.
2. [See Vault, v. i.] To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as to vault a fence.
"I will vault credit, and affect high pleasures." Webster (1623).
Vault, v. i. [Cf. OF. volter, F. voltiger, It. voltre turn. See Vault, n. , 4.]
1. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
"Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself." Shak.
"Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree." Dryden.
"Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth." Addison.
2. To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.
Vaultage
Vault´age, n. Vaulted work; also a vaulted place; an arched cellar. [Obs.] Shak.
Vaulter
Vault´er, n. One who vaults; a leaper; a tumbler. B. Jonson.
Vaulty
Vault´y, a. Arched; concave. [Obs.] "The vaulty heaven." Shak.
Vaunce, v. i. [See Advance.] To advance. [Obs.] Spenser.
Vaunt, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Vaunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaunting.] [F. vanter, LL. vanitare, fr. L. vanus vain. See Vain.] To boast; to make a vain display of one’s own worth, attainments, decorations, or the like; to talk ostentatiously; to brag.
"Pride, which prompts a man to vaunt and overvalue what he is, does incline him to disvalue what he has." Gov. of Tongue.
Vaunt, n. [F. avant before, fore. See Avant, Vanguard.] The first part. [Obs.] Shak.
Vaunt, v. t. [See Avant, Advance.] To put forward; to display. [Obs.] "Vaunted spear." Spenser.
"And what so else his person most may vaunt." Spenser.
Vaunt-courier
Vaunt´-cou•ri•er, n. See Van- courier. [Obs.] Shak.
Vauntful
Vaunt´ful, a. Given to vaunting or boasting; vainly ostentatious; boastful; vainglorious.
Vauntmure
Vaunt´mure, n. [F. avant-mur. See Vanguard, and Mure.] (Fort.) A false wall; a work raised in front of the main wall. [Written also vaimure, and vamure.] Camden.
Vauty
Vaut´y, a. Vaulted. "The haughty vauty welkin." [Obs.] Taylor (1611).
Vavasor
Vav´a•sor, n. [OE. vavasour, OF. vavassor, vavassour, F. vavasseur, LL. vavassor, probably contr. from vassus vassorum vassal of the vassals. See Vassal.] (Feud. Law) The vassal or tenant of a baron; one who held under a baron, and who also had tenants under him; one in dignity next to a baron; a title of dignity next to a baron. Burrill. "A worthy vavasour." Chaucer. [Also written vavasour, vavassor, valvasor, etc.]
"Vavasours subdivide again to vassals, exchanging land and cattle, human or otherwise, against fealty." Motley.
Vaward
Va´ward, n. [For vanward, equivalent to vanguard. See Vanguard, Ward guard.] The fore part; van. [Obs.]
"Since we have the vaward of the day." Shak.