Veal, n. [OE. veel, OF. veel, F. veau, L. vitellus, dim. of vitulus a calf; akin to E. wether. See Wether, and cf. Vellum, Vituline.] The flesh of a calf when killed and used for food.
Vection
Vec´tion, n. [L. vectio, from vehere, vectum, to carry.] Vectitation. [Obs.]
Vector
Vec´tor, n. [L., a bearer, carrier. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry.]
1. Same as Radius vector.
2. (Math.) A directed quantity, as a straight line, a force, or a velocity. Vectors are said to be equal when their directions are the same their magnitudes equal. Cf. Scalar. In a triangle, either side is the vector sum of the other two sides taken in proper order; the process finding the vector sum of two or more vectors is vector addition (see under Addition).
Vecture
Vec´ture, n. [L. vectura, from vehere, vectum, to carry. Cf. Vettura, Voiture.] The act of carrying; conveyance; carriage. [Obs.] Bacon.
Veda
Ve´da ( 277), n. [Skr. vda, properly, knowledge, from vid to know. See Wit.] The ancient sacred literature of the Hindus; also one of the four collections, called Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, constituting the most ancient portions of that literature. The language of the Vedas is usually called Vedic Sanskrit, as distinguished from the later and more settled form called classical Sanskrit.
Vedantist
Ve•dan´tist, n. One versed in the doctrines of the Vedantas.
Vedette
Ve•dette´, n. [F. vedette, It. vedetta, for veletta (influenced by vedere to see, L. videre), from It. veglia watch, L. vigilia. See Vigil.] A sentinel, usually on horseback, stationed on the outpost of an army, to watch an enemy and give notice of danger; a vidette.
Veer, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Veered p. pr. & vb. n. Veering.] [F. virer (cf. Sp. virar, birar), LL. virare; perhaps fr. L. vibrare to brandish, vibrate (cf. Vibrate); or cf. L. viriae armlets, bracelets, viriola a little bracelet (cf. Ferrule). Cf. Environ.] To change direction; to turn; to shift; as wind veers to the west or north. "His veering gait." Wordsworth.
"And as he leads, the following navy veers." Dryden.
"an ordinary community which is hostile or friendly as passion or as interest may veer about." Burke. To veer and haul (Naut.), to vary the course or direction; — said of the wind, which veers aft and hauls forward. The wind is also said to veer when it shifts with the sun.
Vegetability
Veg•e•ta•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being vegetable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Vegetable
Veg•e•ta•ble, a. [F. vegetable growing, capable of growing, formerly also as a noun, a vegetable, from L. vegetabilis enlivening, from vegetare to enliven, invigorate, quicken, vegetus enlivened, vigorous, active, vegere to quicken, arouse, to be lively, akin to vigere to be lively, to thrive, vigil watchful, awake, and probably to E. wake, v. See Vigil, Wake, v. ]
1. Of or pertaining to plants; having the nature of, or produced by, plants; as a vegetable nature; vegetable growths, juices, etc.
"Blooming ambrosial fruit
Of vegetable gold." Milton.
2. Consisting of, or comprising, plants; as the vegetable kingdom. Vegetable alkali (Chem.), an alkaloid. — Vegetable brimstone. (Bot.) See Vegetable sulphur, below. — Vegetable butter (Bot.), a name of several kinds of concrete vegetable oil; as that produced by the Indian butter tree, the African shea tree, and the Pentadesma butyracea, a tree of the order Guttiferae, also African. Still another kind is pressed from the seeds of cocoa ( Theobroma). — Vegetable flannel, a textile material, manufactured in Germany from pine-needle wool, a down or fiber obtained from the leaves of the Pinus sylvestris. — Vegetable ivory. See Ivory nut, under Ivory. — Vegetable jelly. See Pectin. — Vegetable kingdom. (Nat. Hist.) See the last Phrase, below. — Vegetable leather. (a) (Bot.) A shrubby West Indian spurge ( Euphorbia punicea), with leathery foliage and crimson bracts. (b) See Vegetable leather, under Leather. — Vegetable marrow (Bot.), an egg-shaped gourd, commonly eight to ten inches long. It is noted for the very tender quality of its flesh, and is a favorite culinary vegetable in England. It has been said to be of Persian origin, but is now thought to have been derived from a form of the American pumpkin. — Vegetable oyster (Bot.), the oyster plant. See under Oyster. — Vegetable parchment, papyrine. — Vegetable sheep (Bot.), a white woolly plant ( Raoulia eximia) of New Zealand, which grows in the form of large fleecy cushions on the mountains. — Vegetable silk, a cottonlike, fibrous material obtained from the coating of the seeds of a Brazilian tree ( Chorisia speciosa). It us used for various purposes, as for stuffing, and the like, but is incapable of being spun on account of a want of cohesion among the fibers. — Vegetable sponge. See 1st Loof. — Vegetable sulphur, the fine highly inflammable spores of the club moss ( Lycopodium clavatum); witch. — Vegetable tallow, a substance resembling tallow, obtained from various plants; as Chinese vegetable tallow, obtained from the seeds of the tallow tree. Indian vegetable tallow is a name sometimes given to piney tallow. — Vegetable wax, a waxy excretion on the leaves or fruits of certain plants, as the bayberry. Vegetable kingdom (Nat. Hist.), that primary division of living things which includes all plants. The classes of the vegetable kingdom have been grouped differently by various botanists. The following is one of the best of the many arrangements of the principal subdivisions. I. Phaenogamia (called also Phanerogamia). Plants having distinct flowers and true seeds. { 1. Dicotyledons (called also Exogens). — Seeds with two or more cotyledons. Stems with the pith, woody fiber, and bark concentrically arranged. Divided into two subclasses: Angiosperms, having the woody fiber interspersed with dotted or annular ducts, and the seed contained in a true ovary; Gymnosperms, having few or no ducts in the woody fiber, and the seeds naked. 2. Monocotyledons (called also Endogens). — Seeds with single cotyledon. Stems with slender bundles of woody fiber not concentrically arranged, and with no true bark.} II. Cryptogamia. Plants without true flowers, and reproduced by minute spores of various kinds, or by simple cell division. { 1. Acrogens. — Plants usually with distinct stems and leaves, existing in two alternate conditions, one of which is nonsexual and sporophoric, the other sexual and oöphoric. Divided into Vascular Acrogens, or Pteridophyta, having the sporophoric plant conspicuous and consisting partly of vascular tissue, as in Ferns, Lycopods, and Equiseta, and Cellular Acrogens, or Bryophyta, having the sexual plant most conspicuous, but destitute of vascular tissue, as in Mosses and Scale Mosses. 2. Thallogens. — Plants without distinct stem and leaves, consisting of a simple or branched mass of cellular tissue, or educed to a single cell. Reproduction effected variously. Divided into Algae, which contain chlorophyll or its equivalent, and which live upon air and water, and Fungi, which contain no chlorophyll, and live on organic matter. (Lichens are now believed to be fungi parasitic on included algae.} Many botanists divide the Phaenogamia primarily into Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, and the latter into Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. Others consider Pteridophyta and Bryophyta to be separate classes. Thallogens are variously divided by different writers, and the places for diatoms, slime molds, and stoneworts are altogether uncertain. For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary.
Vegetable
Veg´e•ta•ble, n.
1. (Biol.) A plant. See Plant.
2. A plant used or cultivated for food for man or domestic animals, as the cabbage, turnip, potato, bean, dandelion, etc.; also the edible part of such a plant, as prepared for market or the table. Vegetables and fruits are sometimes loosely distinguished by the usual need of cooking the former for the use of man, while the latter may be eaten raw; but the distinction often fails, as in the case of quinces, barberries, and other fruits, and lettuce, celery, and other vegetables. Tomatoes if cooked are vegetables, if eaten raw are fruits.
Vegetal
Veg´e•tal, a. [F. vegetal. See Vegetable.]
1. Of or pertaining to vegetables, or the vegetable kingdom; of the nature of a vegetable; vegetable.
"All creatures vegetal, sensible, and rational." Burton.
2. (Biol.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, that class of vital phenomena, such as digestion, absorption, assimilation, secretion, excretion, circulation, generation, etc., which are common to plants and animals, in distinction from sensation and volition, which are peculiar to animals.
Vegetality
Veg•e•tal´i•ty, n.
1. The quality or state of being vegetal, or vegetable. [R.]
2. (Biol.) The quality or state of being vegetal, or exhibiting those physiological phenomena which are common to plants and animals. See Vegetal, a. , 2.
Vegetarian
Veg•e•ta´ri•an, a. Of or pertaining to vegetarianism; as a vegetarian diet.
Vegetarianism
Veg•e•ta´ri•an•ism, n. The theory or practice of living upon vegetables and fruits.
Vegetate
Veg´e•tate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Vegetated p. pr. & vb. n. Vegetating.] [L. vegetatus, p. p. of vegetare to enliven. See Vegetable.]
1. To grow, as plants, by nutriment imbibed by means of roots and leaves; to start into growth; to sprout; to germinate.
"See dying vegetables life sustain,
See life dissolving vegetate again." Pope.
2. Fig.: To lead a live too low for an animate creature; to do nothing but eat and grow. Cowper.
"Persons who … would have vegetated stupidly in the places where fortune had fixed them." Jeffrey.
3. (Med.) To grow exuberantly; to produce fleshy or warty outgrowths; as a vegetating papule.
Vegetation
Veg•e•ta´tion, n. [Cf. F. vegetation, L. vegetatio an enlivening. See Vegetable.]
1. The act or process of vegetating, or growing as a plant does; vegetable growth.
2. The sum of vegetable life; vegetables or plants in general; as luxuriant vegetation.
3. (Med.) An exuberant morbid outgrowth upon any part, especially upon the valves of the heart. Vegetation of salts (Old Chem.), a crystalline growth of an arborescent form.
Vegete
Ve•gete´, a. [L. vegetus. See Vegetable.] Lively; active; sprightly; vigorous. [Obs.]
"Even her body was made airy and vegete." Jer. Taylor.
Vegetive
Veg´e•tive, a. [See Vegetate, and Vegetative.] Having the nature of a plant; vegetable; as vegetive life. [R.] Tusser.
Vegetous
Veg´e•tous, a. [L. vegetus. See Vegete.] Vigorous; lively; active; vegete. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Vehemency
Ve´he•men•cy, n. Vehemence. [R.]
"The vehemency of your affection." Shak.
Vehement
Ve´he•ment, a. [L. vehemens, the first part of which is perhaps akin to vehere to carry, and the second mens mind: cf. F. vehement. Cf. Vehicle, and Mental.]
1. Acting with great force; furious; violent; impetuous; forcible; mighty; as vehement wind; a vehement torrent; a vehement fire or heat.
2. Very ardent; very eager or urgent; very fervent; passionate; as a vehement affection or passion. "Vehement instigation." Shak. "Vehement desire." Milton.
Syn. — Furious; violent; raging; impetuous; passionate; ardent; eager; hot; fervid; burning.
Vehicle
Ve´hi•cle, n. [L. vehiculum, fr. vehere to carry; akin to E. way, wain. See Way, n. , and cf. Convex, Inveigh, Veil, Vex.]
1. That in or on which any person or thing is, or may be, carried, as a coach, carriage, wagon, cart, car, sleigh, bicycle, etc.; a means of conveyance; specifically, a means of conveyance upon land.
2. That which is used as the instrument of conveyance or communication; as matter is the vehicle of energy.
"A simple style forms the best vehicle of thought to a popular assembly." Wirt.
3. (Pharm.) A substance in which medicine is taken.
4. (Paint.) Any liquid with which a pigment is applied, including whatever gum, wax, or glutinous or adhesive substance is combined with it. Water is used in fresco and in water-color painting, the colors being consolidated with gum arabic; size is used in distemper painting. In oil painting, the fixed oils of linseed, nut, and poppy, are used; in encaustic, wax is the vehicle. Fairholt.
Vehicle
Ve´hi•cle, n. (Chem.) A liquid used to spread sensitive salts upon glass and paper for use in photography. { Vehm, Vehme }, n. ; pl. Vehme (#). [See Vehmgericht.] A vehmic court.
Vehicled
Ve´hi•cled, a. Conveyed in a vehicle; furnished with a vehicle. M. Green.
Vehiculate
Ve•hic´u•late, v. t. & i. To convey by means of a vehicle; to ride in a vehicle. Carlyle.
Vehmgericht
Vehm´ge•richt, n. ; pl. Vehmgerichte (#). [G. vefm, fehm criminal tribunal + gerichte court, judgment. Cf. Vehmic.] A vehmic court.
Veil (val), n. [OE. veile, OF. veile, F. voile, L. velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship on. See Vehicle, and cf. Reveal.] [Written also vail.]
1. Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view, and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen, usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to hide or protect the face.
"The veil of the temple was rent in twain." Matt. xxvii. 51.
"She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore." Milton.
2. A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense.
"[I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page." Shak.
3. (Bot.) (a) The calyptra of mosses. (b) A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; — called also velum.
4. (Eccl.) A covering for a person or thing; as a nun’s veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
5. (Zoöl.) Same as Velum, 3. To take the veil (Eccl.), to receive or be covered with, a veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to become a nun.
Veil, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Veiled p. pr. & vb. n. Veiling.] [Cf. OF. veler, F. voiler, L. velarc. See Veil, n. ] [Written also vail.]
1. To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil.
"Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight,
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined." Milton.
2. Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal.
"To keep your great pretenses veiled." Shak.
Veiled, a. Covered by, or as by, a veil; hidden. "Words used to convey a veiled meaning." Earle.
Veiling
Veil´ing, n. A veil; a thin covering; also material for making veils.
Vein, n. [OE. veine, F. veine, L. vena.]
1. (Anat.) One of the vessels which carry blood, either venous or arterial, to the heart. See Artery, 2.
2. (Bot.) One of the similar branches of the framework of a leaf.
3. (Zoöl.) One of the ribs or nervures of the wings of insects. See Venation.
4. (Geol. or Mining) A narrow mass of rock intersecting other rocks, and filling inclined or vertical fissures not corresponding with the stratification; a lode; a dike; — often limited, in the language of miners, to a mineral vein or lode, that is, to a vein which contains useful minerals or ores.
5. A fissure, cleft, or cavity, as in the earth or other substance. "Down to the veins of earth." Milton.
"Let the glass of the prisms be free from veins." Sir I. Newton.
6. A streak or wave of different color, appearing in wood, and in marble and other stones; variegation.
7. A train of association, thoughts, emotions, or the like; a current; a course.
"He can open a vein of true and noble thinking." Swift.
8. Peculiar temper or temperament; tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also manner of speech or action; as a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein. Shak.
"Certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins." Bacon.
"Invoke the Muses, and improve my vein." Waller.
Vein, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Veined p. pr. & vb. n. Veining.] To form or mark with veins; to fill or cover with veins. Tennyson.
Veinstone
Vein´stone, n. (Mining) Valueless material surrounding the ore in a lode; gangue; matrix.
Veiny
Vein´y, a. [From Vein: cf. F. veine.] Full of veins; veinous; veined; as veiny marble.
Velar
Ve´lar, a. [See Velum.]
1. Of or pertaining to a velum; esp. (Anat.) of or pertaining to the soft palate.
2. (Phon.) Having the place of articulation on the soft palate; guttural; as the velar consonants, such as k and hard q.
Velate
Ve´late, a. [L. velatus, p. p. of velare to veil. See Veil.] (Bot.) Having a veil; veiled.
Veldt, n. [D. veld. Cf. Field, n. ] A region or tract of land; esp., the open field; grass country. [South Africa]
Vell, v. i. [Cf. Vell, n. ] To cut the turf from, as for burning. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Vellicate
Vel´li•cate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vellicated p. pr. & vb. n. Vellicating.] [L. vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to twitch, fr. vellere to pluck, pull.] To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively.
"Convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve in its extremity, are not very dangerous." Arbuthnot.
Vellicate
Vel´li•cate, v. i. To move spasmodically; to twitch; as a nerve vellicates.
Vellon
Vel•lon´, n. [Sp.] A word occurring in the phrase real vellon. See the Note under Its Real.
Vellum
Vel´lum, n. [OE. velim, F. velin, fr. L. vitulinus of a calf, fr. vitulus a calf. See Veal.] A fine kind of parchment, usually made from calfskin, and rendered clear and white, — used as for writing upon, and for binding books. Vellum cloth, a fine kind of cotton fabric, made very transparent, and used as a tracing cloth.
Velocipede
Ve•loc´i•pede, n. [L. velox, - ocis, swift + pes, pedis, a foot. See Velocity, and Foot.] A light road carriage propelled by the feet of the rider. Originally it was propelled by striking the tips of the toes on the roadway, but commonly now by the action of the feet on a pedal or pedals connected with the axle of one or more of the wheels, and causing their revolution. They are made in many forms, with two, three, or four wheels. See Bicycle, and Tricycle.
Velocipedist
Ve•loc´i•pe•dist, n. One who rides on a velocipede.
Velocity
Ve•loc´i•ty, n. ; pl. Velocities (#). [L. velocitas, from velox, -ocis, swift, quick; perhaps akin to vlare to fly (see Volatile): cf. F. velocite.]
1. Quickness of motion; swiftness; speed; celerity; rapidity; as the velocity of wind; the velocity of a planet or comet in its orbit or course; the velocity of a cannon ball; the velocity of light. In such phrases, velocity is more generally used than celerity. We apply celerity to animals; as a horse or an ostrich runs with celerity; but bodies moving in the air or in ethereal space move with greater or less velocity, not celerity. This usage is arbitrary, and perhaps not universal.
2. (Mech.) Rate of motion; the relation of motion to time, measured by the number of units of space passed over by a moving body or point in a unit of time, usually the number of feet passed over in a second. See the Note under Speed. Angular velocity. See under Angular. - - Initial velocity, the velocity of a moving body at starting; especially, the velocity of a projectile as it leaves the mouth of a firearm from which it is discharged. — Relative velocity, the velocity with which a body approaches or recedes from another body, whether both are moving or only one. — Uniform velocity, velocity in which the same number of units of space are described in each successive unit of time. — Variable velocity, velocity in which the space described varies from instant, either increasing or decreasing; — in the former case called accelerated velocity, in the latter, retarded velocity; the acceleration or retardation itself being also either uniform or variable. — Virtual velocity. See under Virtual. In variable velocity, the velocity, strictly, at any given instant, is the rate of motion at that instant, and is expressed by the units of space, which, if the velocity at that instant were continued uniform during a unit of time, would be described in the unit of time; thus, the velocity of a falling body at a given instant is the number of feet which, if the motion which the body has at that instant were continued uniformly for one second, it would pass through in the second. The scientific sense of velocity differs from the popular sense in being applied to all rates of motion, however slow, while the latter implies more or less rapidity or quickness of motion.
Syn. — Swiftness; celerity; rapidity; fleetness; speed.
Velours
Ve•lours´, n. [F. See Velure.] One of many textile fabrics having a pile like that of velvet.
Veltfare
Velt´fare, n. [See Fieldfare.] (Zoöl.) The fieldfare. [Prov. Eng.]
Velum
Ve´lum, n. ; pl. Vela (#). [L., an awning, a veil. See Veil.]
1. (Anat.) Curtain or covering; — applied to various membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. See under Palate.
2. (Bot.) (a) See Veil, n. , 3 (b). (b) A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of quillworts Isoetes).
3. (Zoöl.) A veil-like organ or part. Especially: (a) The circular membrane that partially incloses the space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medusae. (b) A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of Protozoa.
Velure
Vel´ure, n. [F. velours, OF. velous, from L. villosus hairy. See Velvet.] Velvet. [Obs.] "A woman’s crupper of velure." Shak.
Velutina
Vel•u•ti´na, n. [NL. See Velvet.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of marine gastropods belonging to Velutina and allied genera.
Velutinous
Ve•lu´ti•nous, a. [It. velluto velvet. See Velvet.] (Bot.) Having the surface covered with a fine and dense silky pubescence; velvety; as a velutinous leaf.
Velveret
Vel•ver•et´, n. A kind of velvet having cotton back.
Velvet
Vel´vet, n. [OE. velouette, veluet, velwet; cf. OF. velluau, LL. velluetum, vellutum, It. velluto, Sp. velludo; all fr. (assumed) LL. villutus shaggy, fr L. villus shaggy hair; akin to vellus a fleece, and E. wool. See Wool, and cf. Villous.]
1. A silk fabric, having a short, close nap of erect threads. Inferior qualities are made with a silk pile on a cotton or linen back.
2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid growth. Cotton velvet, an imitation of velvet, made of cotton. — Velvet cork, the best kind of cork bark, supple, elastic, and not woody or porous. — Velvet crab a European crab ( Portunus puber). When adult the black carapace is covered with a velvety pile. Called also lady crab, and velvet fiddler. — Velvet dock (Bot.), the common mullein. — Velvet duck. (Zoöl.) (a) A large European sea duck, or scoter ( Oidemia fusca). The adult male is glossy, velvety black, with a white speculum on each wing, and a white patch behind each eye. (b) The American whitewinged scoter. See Scoter. — Velvet flower (Bot.), love-lies-bleeding. See under Love. — Velvet grass (Bot.), a tall grass ( Holcus lanatus) with velvety stem and leaves; — called also soft grass. — Velvet runner (Zoöl.), the water rail; — so called from its quiet, stealthy manner of running. [Prov. Eng.] — Velvet scoter. (Zoöl.) Same as Velvet duck, above. — Velvet sponge. (Zoöl.) See under Sponge.
Velvet
Vel´vet, v. i. To pain velvet. [R.] Peacham.
Velvet
Vel´vet, v. t. To make like, or cover with, velvet. [R.]
Velvetbreast
Vel´vet•breast, n. (Zoöl.) The goosander. [Local, U. S.]
Velveteen
Vel•vet•een´, n. [Cf. F. velvetine. See Velvet.] A kind of cloth, usually cotton, made in imitation of velvet; cotton velvet.
Velveting
Vel´vet•ing, n. The fine shag or nap of velvet; a piece of velvet; velvet goods.
Velvety
Vel´vet•y, a. Made of velvet, or like velvet; soft; smooth; delicate.
Vena
Ve´na, n. ; pl. Venae (#). [L. See Vein.] A vein. Vena cava; pl. Venae cavae. [L., literally, hollow vein.] (Anat.) Any one of the great systemic veins connected directly with the heart.— Vena contracta. [L., literally, contracted vein.] (Hydraulics) The contracted portion of a liquid jet at and near the orifice from which it issues. — Vena portae; pl. VenAE portae. [L., literally, vein of the entrance.] (Anat.) The portal vein of the liver. See under Portal.
Venada
Ve•na´da, N. [Cf. Sp. venado a does, stag.] (Zoöl.) The pudu.
Venal
Ve´nal, a. [L. vena a vein.] Of or pertaining to veins; venous; as venal blood. [R.]
Venal
Ve´nal, a. [L. venalis, from venus sale; akin to Gr. price, Skr. vasna: cf. F. venal.] Capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration; made matter of trade or barter; held for sale; salable; mercenary; purchasable; hireling; as venal services. " Paid court to venal beauties." Macaulay.
"The venal cry and prepared vote of a passive senate." Burke.
Syn. — Mercenary; hireling; vendible. — Venal, Mercenary. One is mercenary who is either actually a hireling (as mercenary soldiers, a mercenary judge, etc.), or is governed by a sordid love of gain; hence, we speak of mercenary motives, a mercenary marriage, etc. Venal goes further, and supposes either an actual purchase, or a readiness to be purchased, which places a person or thing wholly in the power of the purchaser; as a venal press. Brissot played ingeniously on the latter word in his celebrated saying, " My pen is venal that it may not be mercenary," meaning that he wrote books, and sold them to the publishers, in order to avoid the necessity of being the hireling of any political party.
"Thus needy wits a vile revenue made,
And verse became a mercenary trade." Dryden.
"This verse be thine, my friend, nor thou refuse
This, from no venal or ungrateful muse." Pope.
Venation
Ve•na´tion, n. [L. venatio, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt. See Venison.] The act or art of hunting, or the state of being hunted. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Venatorial
Ven•a•to´ri•al, a. [L. venatorius.] Or or pertaining to hunting; venatic. [R.]
Vend, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vended; p. pr. & vb. n. Vending.] [F. vendre, L. vendere, from venum dare; venus sale + dare to give. See 2d Venal, Date, time.] To transfer to another person for a pecuniary equivalent; to make an object of trade; to dispose of by sale; to sell; as to vend goods; to vend vegetables. Vend differs from barter. We vend for money; we barter for commodities. Vend is used chiefly of wares, merchandise, or other small articles, not of lands and tenements.
Vendee
Vend•ee´, n. The person to whom a thing is vended, or sold; — the correlative of vendor.
Vender
Vend´er, n. [From Vend: cf. F. vendeur, OF. vendeor. Cf. Vendor.] One who vends; one who transfers the exclusive right of possessing a thing, either his own, or that of another as his agent, for a price or pecuniary equivalent; a seller; a vendor.
Vendetta
Ven•det´ta, n. [It.] A blood feud; private revenge for the murder of a kinsman.
Vendibility
Vend•i•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being vendible, or salable.
Venditate
Ven´di•tate, v. t. [See Venditation.] To cry up. as if for sale; to blazon. [Obs.] Holland.
Venditation
Ven•di•ta´tion, n. [L. venditatio, fr. venditare, venditatum, to offer again and again for sale, v. freq. of vendere. See Vend.] The act of setting forth ostentatiously; a boastful display. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Vendition
Ven•di´tion, n. [L. venditio: cf. F. vendition.] The act of vending, or selling; sale.
Vendor
Vend´or, n. [See Vender.] A vender; a seller; the correlative of vendee.
Veneer
Ve•neer´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Veneered p. pr. & vb. n. Veneering.] [G. furnieren, fourniren, fr. F. fournir to furnish. See Furnish.] To overlay or plate with a thin layer of wood or other material for outer finish or decoration; as to veneer a piece of furniture with mahogany. Used also figuratively.
"As a rogue in grain Veneered with sanctimonious theory." Tennyson.
Veneer
Ve•neer´, n. [Cf. G. furnier or fournier. See Veneer, v. t.] A thin leaf or layer of a more valuable or beautiful material for overlaying an inferior one, especially such a thin leaf of wood to be glued to a cheaper wood; hence, external show; gloss; false pretense. Veneer moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Chilo; — so called because the mottled colors resemble those of veneering.
Venefical
Ve•nef´ic•al, a. [L. veneficus.] Veneficial. [Obs.] "Venefical instruments." B. Jonson.
Venenate
Ven´e•nate, v. t. [L. veneatus, p. p. venenare to poison, from venenum poison. Cf. Venom.] To poison; to infect with poison. [R.] Harvey.
Venenation
Ven•e•na´tion, n.
1. The act of poisoning.
2. Poison; venom. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Venenose
Ven´e•nose, a. [L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. Cf. Venomous.] Poisonous. [Obs.]
Veneracea
Ven•e•ra´ce•a, n. pl. [NL. See Venus.] (Zoöl.) An extensive tribe of bivalve mollusks of which the genus Venus is the type. The shells are usually oval, or somewhat heartshaped, with a conspicuous lunule. See Venus.
Venerate
Ven´er•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Venerated p. pr. & vb. n. Venerating.] [L. veneratus, p. p. of venerari to venerate; akin to Venus Venus, Skr. van to like, to wish, and E. winsome. See Winsome.] To regard with reverential respect; to honor with mingled respect and awe; to reverence; to revere; as we venerate parents and elders.
"And seemed to venerate the sacred shade." Dryden.
"I do not know a man more to be venerated for uprightness of heart and loftiness of genius." Sir W. Scott.
Syn. — To reverence; revere; adore; respect.
Veneration
Ven•er•a´tion, n. [L. veneratio: cf. F. veneration.] The act of venerating, or the state of being venerated; the highest degree of respect and reverence; respect mingled with awe; a feeling or sentimental excited by the dignity, wisdom, or superiority of a person, by sacredness of character, by consecration to sacred services, or by hallowed associations.
"We find a secret awe and veneration for one who moves about us in regular and illustrious course of virtue." Addison.
Syn. — Awe; reverence; respect. See Reverence.
Venerator
Ven´er•a•tor, n. [L.] One who venerates. Jer. Taylor
Venereal
Ve•ne´re•al, a. [L. venereus, venerius, fr. Venus, Veneris, Venus, the goddess of love. See Venerate.]
1. Of or pertaining to venery, or sexual love; relating to sexual intercourse.
"Into the snare I fell
Of fair, fallacious looks, venereal trains,
Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life." Milton.
2. (Med.) (a) Arising from sexual intercourse; as a venereal disease; venereal virus or poison. (b) Adapted to the cure of venereal diseases; as venereal medicines.
3. Adapted to excite venereal desire; aphrodisiac.
4. Consisting of, or pertaining to, copper, formerly called by chemists Venus. [Obs.] Boyle.
Venereal
Ve•ne´re•al, n. (Med.) The venereal disease; syphilis.
Venery
Ven´er•y, n. [OE. venerie, F. venerie, fr. OF. vener to hunt, L. venari. See Venison.] The art, act, or practice of hunting; the sports of the chase. "Beasts of venery and fishes." Sir T. Browne.
"I love hunting and venery." Chaucer.
Venetian
Ve•ne´tian, a. [Cf. It. Veneziano, L. Venetianus.] Of or pertaining to Venice in Italy. Venetian blind, a blind for windows, doors, etc., made of thin slats, either fixed at a certain angle in the shutter, or movable, and in the latter case so disposed as to overlap each other when close, and to show a series of open spaces for the admission of air and light when in other positions. — Venetian carpet, an inexpensive carpet, used for passages and stairs, having a woolen warp which conceals the weft; the pattern is therefore commonly made up of simple stripes. — Venetian chalk, a white compact or steatite, used for marking on cloth, etc. — Venetian door (Arch.), a door having long, narrow windows or panes of glass on the sides. — Venetian glass, a kind of glass made by the Venetians, for decorative purposes, by the combination of pieces of glass of different colors fused together and wrought into various ornamental patterns. — Venetian red, a brownish red color, prepared from sulphate of iron; — called also scarlet ocher. — Venetian soap. See Castile soap, under Soap. — Venetian sumac (Bot.), a South European tree ( Rhus Cotinus) which yields the yellow dyewood called fustet; — also called smoke tree. — Venetian window (Arch.), a window consisting of a main window with an arched head, having on each side a long and narrow window with a square head.
Venetian
Ve•ne´tian, n. A native or inhabitant of Venice.
Venetian
Ve•ne´tian, n.
1. pl. Galligaskins. [Obs.]
2. A Venetian blind. [Colloq.]
Venew
Ven´ew, n. [F. venue, lit., an arrival, from venir, p. p. venu, venue, to come. See Venue.] A bout, or turn, as at fencing; a thrust; a hit; a veney. [Obs.] Fuller.
Veney
Ven´ey ( 277), n. [Cf. Venew or Visne.] A bout; a thrust; a venew. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
"Three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes." Shak.
Venge, v. t. [F. venger. See Vengeance.] To avenge; to punish; to revenge. [Obs.] See Avenge, and Revenge. Chaucer. "To venge me, as I may." Shak.
Vengeable
Venge´a•ble, a. Revengeful; deserving revenge. [Obs.] Spenser. — Venge´a•bly, adv. [Obs.]
Vengeance
Venge´ance, n. [F. vengeance, fr. venger to avenge, L. vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge, fr. vindex a claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of which is of uncertain origin, and the last part akin to dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Avenge, Revenge, Vindicate.]
1. Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an offense; retribution; — often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge.
"To me belongeth vengeance and recompense." Deut. xxxii. 35.
"To execute fierce vengeance on his foes." Milton.
2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] Shak. What a vengeance, or What the vengeance, what! — emphatically. [Obs.] "But what a vengeance makes thee fly!" Hudibras. "What the vengeance! Could he not speak ’em fair?" Shak. — With a vengeance, with great violence; as to strike with a vengeance. [Colloq.]
Vengement
Venge´ment, n. [OF. vengement.] Avengement; penal retribution; vengeance. [Obs.] Spenser.
Venial
Ve´ni•al, a. [OF. venial, F. veniel, L. venialis, from venia forgiveness, pardon, grace, favor, kindness; akin to venerari to venerate. See Venerate.]
1. Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable; pardonable; as a venial fault or transgression.
"So they do nothing, ’t is a venial slip." Shak.
2. Allowed; permitted. [Obs.] "Permitting him the while venial discourse unblamed." Milton. Venial sin (R. C. Theol.), a sin which weakens, but does not wholly destroy, sanctifying grace, as do mortal, or deadly, sins. — Ve´ni•al•ly, adv. — Ve´ni•al•ness, n. Bp. Hall.
Veniality
Ve•ni•al´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being venial; venialness. Jer. Taylor.
Venison
Ven´i•son ( 277), n. [OE. veneison, veneson, venison, OF. veneison, F. venaison, L. venatio hunting, the chase, game, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt; perhaps akin to OHG. weidinn, weidenen, to pasture, to hunt, G. weide pasturage. Cf. Gain to acquire, Venation.]
1. Beasts of the chase. [Obs.] Fabyan.
2. Formerly, the flesh of any of the edible beasts of the chase, also of game birds; now, the flesh of animals of the deer kind exclusively.
Venom
Ven´om, n. [OE. venim, OF. venim, F. venin, L. veneum. Cf. Venenate.]
1. Matter fatal or injurious to life; poison; particularly, the poisonous, the poisonous matter which certain animals, such as serpents, scorpions, bees, etc., secrete in a state of health, and communicate by thing or stinging.
"Or hurtful worm with cankered venom bites." Milton.
2. Spite; malice; malignity; evil quality. Chaucer. "The venom of such looks." Shak.
Syn. — Venom; virus; bane. See Poison.
Venom
Ven´om, v. t. [OE. venimen, OF. venimer, L. venenare. See Venom, n. ] To infect with venom; to envenom; to poison. [R.] "Venomed vengeance." Shak.
Venomous
Ven´om•ous, a. [OE. venemous, venimous, F. venimeux, L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. See Venom, and cf. Venenose.]
1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous; as the bite of a serpent may be venomous.
2. (Zoöl.) Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion of venom, as certain serpents and insects.
3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as a venomous progeny; a venomous writer. Venomous snake (Zoöl.), any serpent which has poison glands and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or Solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or Proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary maxillary teeth behind them. — Ven´om•ous•ly, adv. — Ven´om•ous•ness, n.
Venose
Ve•nose´, a. [See Venous.] Having numerous or conspicuous veins; veiny; as a venose frond.
Venous
Ven´ous, a. [L. venosus, from vena a vein. See Vein.]
1. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a vein or veins; as the venous circulation of the blood.
2. Contained in the veins, or having the same qualities as if contained in the veins, that is, having a dark bluish color and containing an insufficient amount of oxygen so as no longer to be fit for oxygenating the tissues; — said of the blood, and opposed to arterial.
3. Marked with veins; veined; as a venous leaf. Venous leaf (Bot.), a leaf having vessels branching, or variously divided, over its surface. — Venous hum (Med.), a humming sound, or bruit, heard during auscultation of the veins of the neck in anaemia. — Venous pulse (Physiol.), the pulse, or rhythmic contraction, sometimes seen in a vein, as in the neck, when there is an obstruction to the passage of blood from the auricles to the ventricles, or when there is an abnormal rigidity in the walls of the greater vessels. There is normally no pulse in a vein.
Vent, n. [F. vente, fr. L. vendere, -itum, to sell; perh. confused with E. vent an opening. See Vend.] Sale; opportunity to sell; market. [Obs.] Shelton.
"There is no vent for any commodity but of wool." Sir W. Temple.
Vent, v. t. To sell; to vend. [Obs.]
"Therefore did those nations vent such spice." Sir W. Raleigh.
Vent, n. [Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See Vent sale.] A baiting place; an inn. [Obs.]
Vent, v. i. [Cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see Ventilate); but prob influenced by E. vent an opening.] To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort. [Obs.] Spenser.
Vent, n. [OE. fent, fente, a slit, F. fente a slit, cleft, fissure, from fendre to split, L. findere; but probably confused with F. vent wind, L. ventus. See Fissure, and cf. Vent to snuff.]
1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to escape; as the vent of a cask; the vent of a mold; a volcanic vent.
"Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents." Shak.
"Long’t was doubtful, both so closely pent,
Which first should issue from the narrow vent." Pope.
2. Specifically: — (a) (Zoöl.) The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes. (b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole. (c) (Steam Boilers) Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet.
3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet.
4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance.
"Without the vent of words." Milton.
"Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel." Shak. To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth; as to give vent to anger. — To take vent, to escape; to be made public. [R.] — Vent feather (Zoöl.), one of the anal, or crissal, feathers of a bird. — Vent field (Gun.), a flat raised surface around a vent. — Vent piece. (Gun.) (a) A bush. See 4th Bush, n. , 2. (b) A breech block.
Vent, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vented; p. pr. & vb. n. Venting.]
1. To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet to.
2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth; as to vent passion or complaint.
"The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent." Dryden.
3. To utter; to report; to publish. [Obs.]
"By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies." Milton.
"Thou hast framed and vented very curious orations." Barrow.
4. To scent, as a hound. [Obs.] Turbervile.
5. To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as to vent. a mold.
Ventage
Vent´age, n. A small hole, as the stop in a flute; a vent. Shak.
Ventail
Vent´ail, n. [OF. ventaille, F. ventail. See Ventilate, and cf. Aventail.] That part of a helmet which is intended for the admission of air, — sometimes in the visor. Spenser.
"Her ventail up so high that he descried
Her goodly visage and her beauty’s pride." Fairfax.
Venter
Vent´er, n. One who vents; one who utters, reports, or publishes. [R.] Barrow.
Ventilate
Ven´ti•late, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ventilated p. pr. & vb. n. Ventilating.] [L. ventilatus, p. p. of ventilare to toss, brandish in the air, to fan, to winnow, from ventus wind; akin to E. wind. See Wind rushing air.]
1. To open and expose to the free passage of air; to supply with fresh air, and remove impure air from; to air; as to ventilate a room; to ventilate a cellar; to ventilate a mine.
2. To provide with a vent, or escape, for air, gas etc.; as to ventilate a mold, or a water-wheel bucket.
3. To change or renew, as the air of a room. Harvey.
4. To winnow; to fan; as to ventilate wheat.
5. To sift and examine; to bring out, and subject to penetrating scrutiny; to expose to examination and discussion; as to ventilate questions of policy. Ayliffe.
6. To give vent; to utter; to make public.
"Macaulay took occasion to ventilate one of those starling, but not very profound, paradoxes." J. C. Shairp.
Ventose
Ven•tose´, n. A ventouse. [Obs.] Holland.
Ventose
Ven•tose´, a. [L. ventosus windy. See Ventilate.] Windy; flatulent. Richardson (Dict.).
Ventose
Ven•tose´, n. [F. ventôse. See Ventose, a. ] The sixth month of the calendar adopted by the first French republic. It began February 19, and ended March 20. See Vendmiaire.
Ventosity
Ven•tos´i•ty, n. [L. ventositas: cf. F. ventosite. See Ventose, n. ] Quality or state of being ventose; windiness; hence, vainglory; pride. Bacon.
Ventral
Ven´tral, a. [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly; perhaps akin to G. wanst: cf. F. ventral.]
1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or ventral side, of an animal or of one of its parts; hemal; abdominal; as the ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root of a spinal nerve; — opposed to dorsal.
2. (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal, etc., which faces toward the center of a flower. (b) Of or pertaining to the lower side or surface of a creeping moss or other low flowerless plant. Opposed to dorsal. Ventral fins (Zoöl.), the posterior pair of fins of a fish. They are often situated beneath the belly, but sometimes beneath the throat. — Ventral segment. (Acoustics) See Loop, n. , 5.
Ventricle
Ven´tri•cle, n. [L. ventriculus the stomach, a ventricle, dim. of venter the belly: cf. F. ventricule. See Ventral.]
1. (Anat.) A cavity, or one of the cavities, of an organ, as of the larynx or the brain; specifically, the posterior chamber, or one of the two posterior chambers, of the heart, which receives the blood from the auricle and forces it out from the heart. See Heart. The principal ventricles of the brain are the fourth in the medulla, the third in the midbrain, the first and second, or lateral, ventricles in the cerebral hemispheres, all of which are connected with each other, and the fifth, or pseudocœle, situated between the hemispheres, in front of, or above, the fornix, and entirely disconnected with the other cavities. See Brain, and Cœlia.
2. The stomach. [Obs.]
"Whether I will or not, while I live, my heart beats, and my ventricle digests what is in it." Sir M. Hale.
3. Fig.: Any cavity, or hollow place, in which any function may be conceived of as operating.
"These [ideas] are begot on the ventricle of memory." Shak. { Ven´tri•cose•, Ven´tri•cous } a. [NL. ventricosus, fr. L. venter belly.] (Nat. Hist.) Swelling out on one side or unequally; bellied; ventricular; as a ventricose corolla. Ventricose shell. (Zoöl.) (a) A spiral shell having the body whorls rounded or swollen in the middle. (b) A bivalve shell in which the valves are strongly convex.
Ventricular
Ven•tric´u•lar, a. [Cf. F. ventriculaire.] Of or pertaining to a ventricle; bellied.
Ventriculite
Ven•tric´u•lite, n. [See Ventriculus.] (Paleon.) Any one of numerous species of siliceous fossil sponges belonging to Ventriculites and allied genera, characteristic of the Cretaceous period. Many of them were shaped like vases, others like mushrooms. They belong to the hexactinellids, and are allied to the Venus’s basket of modern seas.
Ventrilocution
Ven•tri•lo•cu´tion, n. [See Ventriloquous.] Ventriloquism.
Ventriloquism
Ven•tril´o•quism, n. [See Ventriloquous.] The act, art, or practice of speaking in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the person speaking, but from some other source, as from the opposite side of the room, from the cellar, etc.
Ventriloquize
Ven•tril´o•quize, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Ventriloquized p. pr. & vb. n. Ventriloquizing .] To practice ventriloquism; to speak like a ventriloquist.
Ventriloquous
Ven•tril´o•quous, a. [L. ventriloquus a ventriloquist; venter the belly + loqui, p. p. locutus, to speak. See Ventral, and Loquacious.] Of or pertaining to a ventriloquist or ventriloquism.
Ventriloquy
Ven•tril´o•quy, n. [Cf. F. ventriloquie.] Same as Ventriloquism.
Ventrimeson
Ven•tri•mes´on, n. [NL. See Venter, and Meson.] (Anat.) See Meson.
Venture
Ven´ture ( 135), n. [Aphetic form of OE. aventure. See Adventure.]
1. An undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event which can not be foreseen with certainty; a hazard; a risk; a speculation.
"I, in this venture, double gains pursue." Dryden.
2. An event that is not, or can not be, foreseen; an accident; chance; hap; contingency; luck. Bacon.
3. The thing put to hazard; a stake; a risk; especially, something sent to sea in trade.
"My ventures are not in one bottom trusted." Shak. At a venture, at hazard; without seeing the end or mark; without foreseeing the issue; at random.
"A certain man drew a bow at a venture." 1 Kings xxii. 34.
"A bargain at a venture made." Hudibras. The phrase at a venture was originally at aventure, that is, at adventure.
Venture
Ven´ture, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Ventured p. pr. & vb. n. Venturing.]
1. To hazard one’s self; to have the courage or presumption to do, undertake, or say something; to dare. Bunyan.
2. To make a venture; to run a hazard or risk; to take the chances.
"Who freights a ship to venture on the seas." J. Dryden, Jr.To venture at, or To venture on or upon, to dare to engage in; to attempt without any certainty of success; as it is rash to venture upon such a project. "When I venture at the comic style." Waller.
Venturine
Ven´tur•ine, n. [Cf. Aventurine.] (Japanning) Gold powder for covering varnished surfaces.
Venturous
Ven´tur•ous, a. [Aphetic form of OE. aventurous. See Adventurous, Venture, n. ] Daring; bold; hardy; fearless; venturesome; adveturous; as a venturous soldier. Spenser.
"This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm
He plucked, he tasted." Milton. — Ven´tur•ous•ly, adv. — Ven´tur•ous•ness, n.
Venue
Ven´ue, n. [F. venue a coming, arrival, fr. venir to come, L. venire; hence, in English, the place whither the jury are summoned to come. See Come, and cf. Venew, Veney.]
1. (Law) A neighborhood or near place; the place or county in which anything is alleged to have happened; also the place where an action is laid.
"The twelve men who are to try the cause must be of the same venue where the demand is made." Blackstone. In certain cases, the court has power to change the venue, which is to direct the trial to be had in a different county from that where the venue is laid.
2. A bout; a hit; a turn. See Venew. [R.] To lay a venue (Law), to allege a place.
Venus
Ve´nus, n. [L. Venus, - eris, the goddess of love, the planet Venus.]
1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified.
2. (Anat.) One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit lying between that of Mercury and that of the Earth, at a mean distance from the sun of about 67,000,000 miles. Its diameter is 7,700 miles, and its sidereal period 224.7 days. As the morning star, it was called by the ancients Lucifer; as the evening star, Hesperus.
3. (Alchem.) The metal copper; — probably so designated from the ancient use of the metal in making mirrors, a mirror being still the astronomical symbol of the planet Venus. [Archaic]
4. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Venus or family Veneridae. Many of these shells are large, and ornamented with beautiful frills; others are smooth, glossy, and handsomely colored. Some of the larger species, as the round clam, or quahog, are valued for food. Venus’s basin (Bot.), the wild teasel; — so called because the connate leaf bases form a kind of receptacle for water, which was formerly gathered for use in the toilet. Also called Venus’s bath. — Venus’s basket (Zoöl.), an elegant, cornucopia-shaped, hexactinellid sponge ( Euplectella speciosa) native of the East Indies. It consists of glassy, transparent, siliceous fibers interwoven and soldered together so as to form a firm network, and has long, slender, divergent anchoring fibers at the base by means of which it stands erect in the soft mud at the bottom of the sea. Called also Venus’s flower basket, and Venus’s purse. — Venus’s comb. (a) (Bot.) Same as Lady’s comb. (b) (Zoöl.) A species of Murex ( M. tenuispinus). It has a long, tubular canal, with a row of long, slender spines along both of its borders, and rows of similar spines covering the body of the shell. Called also Venus’s shell. — Venus’s fan (Zoöl.), a common reticulated, fanshaped gorgonia ( Gorgonia flabellum) native of Florida and the West Indies. When fresh the color is purple or yellow, or a mixture of the two. — Venus’s flytrap. (Bot.) See Flytrap, 2. — Venus’s girdle (Zoöl.), a long, flat, ribbonlike, very delicate, transparent and iridescent ctenophore ( Cestum Veneris) which swims in the open sea. Its form is due to the enormous development of two spheromeres. See Illust. in Appendix. — Venus’s hair (Bot.), a delicate and graceful fern ( Adiantum Capillus-Veneris) having a slender, black and shining stem and branches. — Venus’s hair stone (Min.), quartz penetrated by acicular crystals of rutile. — Venus’s looking-glass (Bot.), an annual plant of the genus Specularia allied to the bellflower; — also called lady’s looking-glass. — Venus’s navelwort (Bot.), any one of several species of Omphalodes, low boraginaceous herbs with small blue or white flowers. — Venus’s pride (Bot.), an old name for Quaker ladies. See under Quaker. — Venus’s purse. (Zoöl.) Same as Venus’s basket, above. — Venus’s shell. (Zoöl.) (a) Any species of Cypraea; a cowrie. (b) Same as Venus’s comb, above. (c) Same as Venus, 4. — Venus’s slipper. (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Cypripedium. See Lady’s slipper. (b) (Zoöl.) Any heteropod shell of the genus Carinaria. See Carinaria.
Venust
Ve•nust´, a. [L. venustus, from Venus the goddess of love.] Beautiful. [R.] E. Waterhouse.
Veracious
Ve•ra´cious, a. [L. verax, - acis, fr. verus true. See Very.]
1. Observant of truth; habitually speaking truth; truthful; as veracious historian.
"The Spirit is most perfectly and absolutely veracious." Barrow.
2. Characterized by truth; not false; as a veracious account or narrative.
"The young, ardent soul that enters on this world with heroic purpose, with veracious insight, will find it a mad one." Carlyle.
Veranda
Ve•ran´da, n. [A word brought by the English from India; of uncertain origin; cf. Skr. varaa, Pg. varanda, Sp. baranda, Malay baranda.] (Arch.) An open, roofed gallery or portico, adjoining a dwelling house, forming an out-of-door sitting room. See Loggia.
"The house was of adobe, low, with a wide veranda on the three sides of the inner court." Mrs. H. H. Jackson.
Veratrine
Ve•ra´trine ( 277), n. [Cf. F. veratrine. See Veratrum.] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid obtained from the root hellebore ( Veratrum) and from sabadilla seeds as a white crystalline powder, having an acrid, burning taste. It is sometimes used externally, as in ointments, in the local treatment of neuralgia and rheumatism. Called also veratria, and veratrina.
Verb, n. [F. verbe, L. verbum a word, verb. See Word.]
1. A word; a vocable. [Obs.] South.
2. (Gram.) A word which affirms or predicates something of some person or thing; a part of speech expressing being, action, or the suffering of action. A verb is a word whereby the chief action of the mind [the assertion or the denial of a proposition] finds expression. Earle. Active verb, Auxiliary verb, Neuter verb, etc. See Active, Auxiliary, Neuter, etc.
Verbal
Ver´bal, a. [F., fr. L. verbalis. See Verb.]
1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as a verbal contract; verbal testimony.
"Made she no verbal question?" Shak.
"We subjoin an engraving … which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind." Mayhew.
2. Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing with words rather than with the ideas intended to be conveyed; as a verbal critic; a verbal change.
"And loses, though but verbal, his reward." Milton.
"Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial knowledge." Whewell.
3. Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as a verbal translation.
4. Abounding with words; verbose. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Gram.) Of or pertaining to a verb; as a verbal group; derived directly from a verb; as a verbal noun; used in forming verbs; as a verbal prefix. Verbal inspiration. See under Inspiration. — Verbal noun (Gram.), a noun derived directly from a verb or verb stem; a verbal. The term is specifically applied to infinitives, and nouns ending in -ing, esp. to the latter. See Gerund, and -ing, 2. See also Infinitive mood, under Infinitive.
Verbalism
Ver´bal•ism, n. Something expressed verbally; a verbal remark or expression.
Verbalist
Ver´bal•ist, n. A literal adherent to, or a minute critic of, words; a literalist.
Verbalization
Ver•bal•i•za´tion, n. The act of verbalizing, or the state of being verbalized.
Verbalize
Ver´bal•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Verbalized p. pr. & vb. n. Verbalizing ] [Cf. F. verbaliser.] To convert into a verb; to verbify.
Verbally
Ver´bal•ly, adv.
1. In a verbal manner; orally.
2. Word for word; verbatim. Dryden.
Verbarian
Ver•ba´ri•an, a. Of or pertaining to words; verbal. [R.] Coleridge.
Verbarium
Ver•ba´ri•um, n. [NL., fr. L. verbum word.] A game in word making. See Logomachy, 2.
Verbena
Ver•be´na, n. [L. See Vervain.] (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants of which several species are extensively cultivated for the great beauty of their flowers; vervain. Verbena, or vervain, was used by the Greeks, the Romans, and the Druids, in their sacred rites. Brewer. Essence of verbena, Oil of verbena, a perfume prepared from the lemon verbena; also a similar perfume properly called grass oil. See Grass oil, under Grass. — Lemon, or Sweet, verbena, a shrubby verbenaceous plant ( Lippia citriodora), with narrow leaves which exhale a pleasant, lemonlike fragrance when crushed.
Verbenate
Ver´be•nate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Verbenated p. pr. & vb. n. Verbenating.] [L. verbenatus crowned with a wreath of sacred boughs. See Verbena.] To strew with verbena, or vervain, as in ancient sacrifices and rites.
Verbiage
Ver´bi•age ( 48), n. [F. verbiage, from OF. verbe a word. See Verb.] The use of many words without necessity, or with little sense; a superabundance of words; verbosity; wordiness.
"Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking." W. Irving.
"This barren verbiage current among men." Tennyson.
Verbigerate
Ver•big´er•ate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. -ated p. pr. & vb. n. -ating ] [L. verbigerate, -atum, to talk.]
1. To talk; chat. [Obs.]
2. (Med.) To repeat a word or sentence, in speaking or writing, without wishing to do so or in spite of efforts to cease. — Ver•big•er•a´tion (#), n.
Verbose
Ver•bose´, a. [L. verbosus, from verbum a word. See Verb.] Abounding in words; using or containing more words than are necessary; tedious by a multiplicity of words; prolix; wordy; as a verbose speaker; a verbose argument.
"Too verbose in their way of speaking." Ayliffe. — Ver•bose´ly, adv. — Ver•bose´ness, n.
Verd, n. [See Vert, Verdant.]
1. (Eng. Forest Law) (a) The privilege of cutting green wood within a forest for fuel. (b) The right of pasturing animals in a forest. Burrill.
2. Greenness; freshness. [Obs.] Nares.
Verdancy
Ver´dan•cy, n. The quality or state of being verdant.
Verdant
Ver´dant, a. [F. verdoyant, p. pr. of verdoyer to be verdant, to grow green, OF. verdoier, verdeier, fr. verd, vert, green, fr. L. viridis green, fr. virere to be green: cf. OF. verdant verdant, L. viridans, p. pr. of viridare to make green. Cf. Farthingale, Verjuice, Vert.]
1. Covered with growing plants or grass; green; fresh; flourishing; as verdant fields; a verdant lawn.
"Let the earth
Put forth the verdant grass." Milton.
2. Unripe in knowledge or judgment; unsophisticated; raw; green; as a verdant youth. [Colloq.]
Verdict
Ver´dict, n. [OE. verdit, OF. verdit, veirdit, LL. verdictum, veredictum; L. vere truly (fr. verus true) + dictum a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to say. See Very, and Dictum.]
1. (Law) The answer of a jury given to the court concerning any matter of fact in any cause, civil or criminal, committed to their examination and determination; the finding or decision of a jury on the matter legally submitted to them in the course of the trial of a cause. The decision of a judge or referee, upon an issue of fact, is not called a verdict, but a finding, or a finding of fact. Abbott.
2. Decision; judgment; opinion pronounced; as to be condemned by the verdict of the public.
"These were enormities condemned by the most natural verdict of common humanity." South.
"Two generations have since confirmed the verdict which was pronounced on that night." Macaulay.
Verdigris
Ver´di•gris, n. [F. vert-de-gris, apparently from verd, vert, green + de of + gris gray, but really a corruption of LL. viride aeris (equivalent to L. aerugo), from L. viridis green + aes, aeris, brass. See Verdant, and 2d Ore.]
1. (Chem.) A green poisonous substance used as a pigment and drug, obtained by the action of acetic acid on copper, and consisting essentially of a complex mixture of several basic copper acetates.
2. The green rust formed on copper. [Colloq.] This rust is a carbonate of copper, and should not be confounded with true verdigris. U. S. Disp.Blue verdigris (Chem.), a verdigris having a blue color, used a pigment, etc. — Distilled verdigris (Old Chem.), an acid copper acetate; — so called because the acetic acid used in making it was obtained from distilled vinegar. — Verdigris green, clear bluish green, the color of verdigris.
Verdine
Ver´dine, n. [F. verd, vert, green.] (Chem.) A commercial name for green aniline dye.
Verdingale
Ver´din•gale, n. See Farthingale. [Spelled also verdingall.] [Obs.]
Verditure
Ver´di•ture ( 135), n. [Cf. Verditer.] The faintest and palest green.
Verdoy
Ver´doy, a. [F. verdoyer to become green. See Verdant.] (Her.) Charged with leaves, fruits, flowers, etc.; — said of a border.
Verdure
Ver´dure, n. [F., fr. L. viridis green. See Verdant.] Green; greenness; freshness of vegetation; as the verdure of the meadows in June.
"A wide expanse of living verdure, cultivated gardens, shady groves, fertile cornfields, flowed round it like a sea." Motley.
Verecund
Ver´e•cund, a. [L. verecundus, fr. vereri to feel awe.] Rashful; modest. [Obs.]
Verecundious
Ver•e•cun´di•ous, a. Verecund. [Obs.] "Verecundious generosity." Sir H. Wotton.
Verecundity
Ver•e•cun´di•ty, n. The quality or state of being verecund; modesty. [Obs.]
Verein
Ver•ein´, n. [G.] A union, association, or society; — used in names of German organizations.
Veretillum
Ver•e•til´lum, n. [L., dim. of veretrum the private parts.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of club-shaped, compound Alcyonaria belonging to Veretillum and allied genera, of the tribe Pennatulacea. The whole colony can move about as if it were a simple animal. { Ver´ga•lien, Ver´ga•loo }, n. [Cf. Virgouleuse.] (Bot.) See Virgalieu.
Verge, n. [F. verge, L. virga; perhaps akin to E. wisp.]
1. A rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; as the verge, carried before a dean.
2. The stick or wand with which persons were formerly admitted tenants, they holding it in the hand, and swearing fealty to the lord. Such tenants were called tenants by the verge. [Eng.]
3. (Eng. Law) The compass of the court of Marshalsea and the Palace court, within which the lord steward and the marshal of the king’s household had special jurisdiction; — so called from the verge, or staff, which the marshal bore.
4. A virgate; a yardland. [Obs.]
5. A border, limit, or boundary of a space; an edge, margin, or brink of something definite in extent.
"Even though we go to the extreme verge of possibility to invent a supposition favorable to it, the theory … implies an absurdity." J. S. Mill.
"But on the horizon’s verge descried,
Hangs, touched with light, one snowy sail." M. Arnold.
6. A circumference; a circle; a ring.
"The inclusive verge
Of golden metal that must round my brow." Shak.
7. (Arch.) (a) The shaft of a column, or a small ornamental shaft. Oxf. Gloss. (b) The edge of the tiling projecting over the gable of a roof. Encyc. Brit.
8. (Horol.) The spindle of a watch balance, especially one with pallets, as in the old vertical escapement. See under Escapement.
9. (Hort.) (a) The edge or outside of a bed or border. (b) A slip of grass adjoining gravel walks, and dividing them from the borders in a parterre.
10. The penis.
11. (Zoöl.) The external male organ of certain mollusks, worms, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.
Syn. — Border; edge; rim; brim; margin; brink.
Verge, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Verged p. pr. & vb. n. Verging ] [L. vergere to bend, turn, incline; cf. Skr. v. to turn.]
1. To border upon; to tend; to incline; to come near; to approach.
2. To tend downward; to bend; to slope; as a hill verges to the north.
"Our soul, from original instinct, vergeth towards him as its center." Barrow.
"I find myself verging to that period of life which is to be labor and sorrow." Swift.
Vergeboard
Verge´board, n. [ Verge + board. Cf. Bargeboard.] (Arch.) The ornament of woodwork upon the gable of a house, used extensively in the 15th century. It was generally suspended from the edge of the projecting roof (see Verge, n. , 4), and in position parallel to the gable wall. Called also bargeboard.
Verger
Ver´ger, n. [F. verger, from verge a rod. See 1st Verge.] One who carries a verge, or emblem of office. Specifically: — (a) An attendant upon a dignitary, as on a bishop, a dean, a justice, etc. [Eng.] Strype. (b) The official who takes care of the interior of a church building.
Vergette
Ver•get•te´, a. [Cf. F. vergete.] Divided by pallets, or pales; paly. W. Berry.
Verifiable
Ver´i•fi•a•ble, a. Capable of being verified; confirmable. Bp. Hall.
Verificative
Ver´i•fi•ca•tive, a. Serving to verify; verifying; authenticating; confirming.
Verify
Ver´i•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Verified p. pr. & vb. n. Verifying.] [F. verifier, LL. verificare, from L. verus true + -ficare to make. See Very, and - fy.]
1. To prove to be true or correct; to establish the truth of; to confirm; to substantiate.
"This is verified by a number of examples." Bacon.
"So shalt thou best fulfill, best verify.
The prophets old, who sung thy endless reign." Milton.
2. To confirm or establish the authenticity of by examination or competent evidence; to authenticate; as to verify a written statement; to verify an account, a pleading, or the like.
"To verify our title with their lives." Shak.
3. To maintain; to affirm; to support. [Obs.] Shak.
Veriloquent
Ve•ril´o•quent, a. [L. verus true + loquens speaking.] Speaking truth; truthful. [Obs.]
Verily
Ver´i•ly, adv. [From Very.] In very truth; beyond doubt or question; in fact; certainly. Bacon.
"Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Ps. xxxvii. 3.
Verisimilar
Ver•i•sim´i•lar, a. [L. verisimilis; verus true + similis like, similar. See Very, and Similar.] Having the appearance of truth; probable; likely. "How verisimilar it looks." Carlyle.
Verisimilitude
Ver•i•si•mil´i•tude, n. [L. verisimilitudo: cf. OF. verisimilitude. See Verisimilar.] The quality or state of being verisimilar; the appearance of truth; probability; likelihood.
"Verisimilitude and opinion are an easy purchase; but true knowledge is dear and difficult." Glanvill.
"All that gives verisimilitude to a narrative." Sir. W. Scott.
Veritable
Ver´i•ta•ble, a. [F. veritable. See Verity.] Agreeable to truth or to fact; actual; real; true; genuine. "The veritable Deity." Sir W. Hamilton. — Ver´i•ta•bly, adv.
Veritas
Ver´i•tas, n. [Cf. F. veritas. See Verity.] The Bureau Veritas. See under Bureau.
Verity
Ver´i•ty, n. ; pl. Verities (#). [F. verite, L. veritas, fr. verus true. See Very.]
1. The quality or state of being true, or real; consonance of a statement, proposition, or other thing, with fact; truth; reality. "The verity of certain words." Shak.
"It is a proposition of eternal verity, that none can govern while he is despised." South.
2. That which is true; a true assertion or tenet; a truth; a reality.
"Mark what I say, which you shall find
By every syllable a faithful verity." Shak.
Verjuice
Ver´juice, n. [OE. vergeous, F. verjus, that is, the juice of green fruits; verd, vert, green + jus juice. See Verdant, and Juice.]
1. The sour juice of crab apples, of green or unripe grapes, apples, etc.; also an acid liquor made from such juice.
2. Tartness; sourness, as of disposition.
Vermeil
Ver´meil, n. [F., vermilion, fr. LL. vermiculus, fr. L. vermiculus a little worm, the coccus Indicus, from vermis a worm. See Worm, and cf. Vermicule.]
1. Vermilion; also the color of vermilion, a bright, beautiful red. [Poetic & R.]
"In her cheeks the vermeil red did show
Like roses in a bed of lilies shed." Spenser.
2. Silver gilt or gilt bronze.
3. A liquid composition applied to a gilded surface to give luster to the gold. Knight.
Vermeologist
Ver•me•ol´o•gist, n. One who treats of vermes, or worms; a helminthologist.
Vermicelli
Ver•mi•cel´li, n. [It., pl. of vermicello, literally, a little worm, dim. of verme a worm, L. vermis. See Worm, and cf. Vermicule, Vermeil.] The flour of a hard and small-grained wheat made into dough, and forced through small cylinders or pipes till it takes a slender, wormlike form, whence the Italian name. When the paste is made in larger tubes, it is called macaroni.
Vermicious
Ver•mi´cious, a. [L. vermis a worm.] Of or pertaining to worms; wormy.
Vermicular
Ver•mic´u•lar, a. [L. vermiculus a little worm, dim. of vermis a worm: cf. F. vermiculaire. See Vermicelli.] Of or pertaining to a worm or worms; resembling a worm; shaped like a worm; especially, resembling the motion or track of a worm; as the vermicular, or peristaltic, motion of the intestines. See Peristaltic. "A twisted form vermicular." Cowper.
Vermiculate
Ver•mic´u•late, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vermiculated p. pr. & vb. n. Vermiculating.] [L. vermiculatus inlaid so as to resemble the tracks of worms, p. p. of vermiculari to be full of worms, vermiculus a little worm. See Vermicular.] To form or work, as by inlaying, with irregular lines or impressions resembling the tracks of worms, or appearing as if formed by the motion of worms.
Vermicule
Ver´mi•cule, n. [L. vermiculus, dim. of vermis a worm. See Vermicular.] A small worm or insect larva; also a wormlike body. [R.] Derham.
Vermiculite
Ver•mic´u•lite, n. [L. vermiculus, dim. of vermis worm.] (Min.) A group of minerals having, a micaceous structure. They are hydrous silicates, derived generally from the alteration of some kind of mica. So called because the scales, when heated, open out into wormlike forms. { Ver•mic´u•lose•, Ver•mic´u•lous } a. [L. vermiculosus. See Vermicule.] Containing, or full of, worms; resembling worms.
Vermiform
Ver´mi•form, a. [L. vermis a worm + -form.] Resembling a worm in form or motions; vermicular; as the vermiform process of the cerebellum. Vermiform appendix (Anat.), a slender blind process of the caecum in man and some other animals; — called also vermiform appendage, and vermiform process. Small solid bodies, such as grape seeds or cherry stones, sometimes lodge in it, causing serious, or even fatal, inflammation. See Illust. under Digestion.
Vermiformia
Ver•mi•for´mi•a, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of worms including Phoronis. See Phoronis.
Vermifugal
Ver•mif´u•gal, a. [L. vermis a worm + fugare to drive away, fr. fugere to flee. See Worm, and Fugitive.] (Med.) Tending to prevent, destroy, or expel, worms or vermin; anthelmintic.
Vermifuge
Ver´mi•fuge, n. [Cf. F. vermifuge. See Vermifugal.] (Med.) A medicine or substance that expels worms from animal bodies; an anthelmintic.
Vermil
Ver´mil, n. See Vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.
Vermilion
Ver•mil´ion, n. [F. vermillon. See Vermeil.]
1. (Chem.) A bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulphide, obtained either from the mineral cinnabar or artificially. It has a fine red color, and is much used in coloring sealing wax, in printing, etc. The kermes insect has long been used for dyeing red or scarlet. It was formerly known as the worm dye, vermiculus, or vermiculum, and the cloth was called vermiculatia. Hence came the French vermeil for any red dye, and hence the modern name vermilion, although the substance it denotes is very different from the kermes, being a compound of mercury and sulphur. R. Hunt.
2. Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and brilliant red; as cheeks of vermilion.
Vermin
Ver´min, n. sing. & pl.; used chiefly as plural. [OE. vermine, F. vermine, from L. vermis a worm; cf. LL. vermen a worm, L. verminosus full of worms. See Vermicular, Worm.]
1. An animal, in general. [Obs.]
"Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and vermin, and worms, and fowls." Acts x. 12. (Geneva Bible).
"This crocodile is a mischievous fourfooted beast, a dangerous vermin, used to both elements." Holland.
2. A noxious or mischievous animal; especially, noxious little animals or insects, collectively, as squirrels, rats, mice, flies, lice, bugs, etc. "Cruel hounds or some foul vermin." Chaucer.
"Great injuries these vermin, mice and rats, do in the field." Mortimer.
"They disdain such vermin when the mighty boar of the forest … is before them." Burke.
3. Hence, in contempt, noxious human beings.
"You are my prisoners, base vermin." Hudibras.
Verminate
Ver´mi•nate, v. i. [L. verminare to have worms, fr. vermis a worm.] To breed vermin.
Verminly
Ver´min•ly, a. & adv. Resembling vermin; in the manner of vermin. [Obs.] Gauden.
Vernacle
Ver´na•cle, n. See Veronica, 1. [Obs.]
Vernacularly
Ver•nac´u•lar•ly, adv. In a vernacular manner; in the vernacular. Earle.
Vernaculous
Ver•nac´u•lous, a. [L. vernaculus. See Vernacular.]
1. Vernacular. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. [L. vernaculi, pl., buffoons, jesters.] Scoffing; scurrilous. [A Latinism. Obs.] "Subject to the petulancy of every vernaculous orator." B. Jonson.
Vernage
Ver´nage, n. [It. vernaccia.] A kind of sweet wine from Italy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Vernate
Ver´nate, v. i. [See Vernant.] To become young again. [Obs.]
Vernicle
Ver´ni•cle, n. A Veronica. See Veronica, 1. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
"A vernicle had he sowed upon his cap." Chaucer.
Vernicose
Ver´ni•cose, a. [See Varnish.] (Bot.) Having a brilliantly polished surface, as some leaves.
Vernile
Ver´nile, a. [L. vernilis servile. See Vernacular.] Suiting a salve; servile; obsequious. [R.]
"The example … of vernile scurrility." De Quincey.
Vernility
Ver•nil´i•ty, n. [L. vernilitas.] Fawning or obsequious behavior; servility. [R.] Bailey.
Veronica
Ve•ron´i•ca, n. [LL.; — so called from Veronica, a woman who, according to an old legend, as Christ was carrying the cross, wiped his face with a cloth, which received an impression of his countenance; Veronica is fr. MGr., fr. Macedonian, for Gr., literally, carrying off victory, victorious.]
1. A portrait or representation of the face of our Savior on the alleged handkerchief of Saint Veronica, preserved at Rome; hence, a representation of this portrait, or any similar representation of the face of the Savior. Formerly called also Vernacle, and Vernicle.
2. (Bot.) A genus scrophulariaceous plants; the speedwell. See Speedwell. Several herbaceous species are common in both Europe and America, most of which have small blue flowers. A few shrubby species from New Zealand are sometimes found in cultivation.
Verrayment
Ver´ray•ment, adv. [OF. veraiement. See Very.] Verily; truly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Verrel
Ver´rel, n. See Ferrule. [Obs.]
Verruca
Ver•ru´ca, n. ; pl. Verrucae (#). [L. Cf. Verrugas.]
1. (Med.) A wart.
2. (Zoöl.) A wartlike elevation or roughness.
Verruciform
Ver•ru´ci•form, a. [L. verruca wart + -form.] Shaped like a wart or warts.
Verrugas
Ver•ru´gas, n. [Sp., warts. Cf. Verruca.] (Med.) An endemic disease occurring in the Andes in Peru, characterized by warty tumors which ulcerate and bleed. It is probably due to a special bacillus, and is often fatal. { Ver´y’s, or Ver´y, night signals } [After Lieut. Samuel W. Very, who invented the system in 1877.] (Naut.) A system of signaling in which balls of red and green fire are fired from a pistol, the arrangement in groups denoting numbers having a code significance.
Vers, n. sing. & pl. A verse or verses. See Verse. [Obs.] "Ten vers or twelve." Chaucer.
Vers de societe
Vers• de so•cie•te" [F.] See Society verses, under Society.
Versability
Ver•sa•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being versable. [R.] Sterne
Versable
Ver´sa•ble, a. [L. versabilis: cf. F. versable. See Versatile.] Capable of being turned. [R.]
Versant
Ver´sant, a. [L. versans, p. pr. versare to turn abound frequently, to turn over in the mind, to meditate. See Versatile.] Familiar; conversant. [R.]
"Men not versant with courts of justice." Sydney Smith.
Versatile
Ver´sa•tile, a. [L. versatilis, fr. versare to turn around, v. freq. of vertere: cf. F. versatile. See Verse.]
1. Capable of being turned round. Harte.
2. Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady; inconstant; as versatile disposition.
3. Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects; many-sided; as versatile genius; a versatile politician.
"Conspicuous among the youths of high promise … was the quick and versatile [Charles] Montagu." Macaulay.
4. (Nat. Hist.) Capable of turning; freely movable; as a versatile anther, which is fixed at one point to the filament, and hence is very easily turned around; a versatile toe of a bird. — Ver´sa•tile•ly, adv. — — Ver´sa•tile•ness, n.
Verse, n. [OE. vers, AS. fers, L. versus a line in writing, and, in poetry, a verse, from vertere, versum, to turn, to turn round; akin to E. worth to become: cf. F. vers. See Worth to become, and cf. Advertise, Averse, Controversy, Convert, Divers, Invert, Obverse, Prose, Suzerain, Vortex.]
1. A line consisting of a certain number of metrical feet (see Foot, n. , 9) disposed according to metrical rules. Verses are of various kinds, as hexameter, pentameter, tetrameter, etc., according to the number of feet in each. A verse of twelve syllables is called an Alexandrine. Two or more verses form a stanza or strophe.
2. Metrical arrangement and language; that which is composed in metrical form; versification; poetry.
"Such prompt eloquence
Flowed from their lips in prose or numerous verse." Milton.
"Virtue was taught in verse." Prior.
"Verse embalms virtue." Donne.
3. A short division of any composition. Specifically: — (a) A stanza; a stave; as a hymn of four verses. Although this use of verse is common, it is objectionable, because not always distinguishable from the stricter use in the sense of a line. (b) (Script.) One of the short divisions of the chapters in the Old and New Testaments. The author of the division of the Old Testament into verses is not ascertained. The New Testament was divided into verses by Robert Stephens [or Estienne], a French printer. This arrangement appeared for the first time in an edition printed at Geneva, in 1551. (c) (Mus.) A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.
4. A piece of poetry. "This verse be thine." Pope. Blank verse, poetry in which the lines do not end in rhymes. — Heroic verse. See under Heroic.
Verse, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Versed p. pr. & vb. n. Versing.] To tell in verse, or poetry. [Obs.]
"Playing on pipes of corn and versing love." Shak.
Versed, a. [Cf. F. verse, L. versatus, p. p. of versari to turn about frequently, to turn over, to be engaged in a thing, passive of versare. See Versant, a. ] Acquainted or familiar, as the result of experience, study, practice, etc.; skilled; practiced.
"Deep versed in books and shallow in himself." Milton.
"Opinions … derived from studying the Scriptures, wherein he was versed beyond any person of his age." Southey.
"These men were versed in the details of business." Macaulay.
Versed, a. [L. versus turned, p. p. vertere. See 1st Versed.] (Math.) Turned. Versed sine. See under Sine, and Illust. of Functions.
Versicle
Ver´si•cle, n. [L. versiculus, dim. of versus. See Verse.] A little verse; especially, a short verse or text said or sung in public worship by the priest or minister, and followed by a response from the people.
"The psalms were in number fifteen, … being digested into versicles." Strype. { Ver´si•col•or, Ver´si•col•ored } a. [L. versicolor; versare to change + color color.] Having various colors; changeable in color. "Versicolor, sweet-smelling flowers." Burton.
Versicular
Ver•sic´u•lar, a. [See Versicle.] Of or pertaining to verses; designating distinct divisions of a writing.
Versificator
Ver´si•fi•ca•tor, n. [L.] A versifier. [R.] "The best versificator next Virgil." Dryden.
Versify
Ver´si•fy, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Versified p. pr. & vb. n. Versifying ] [OE. versifien, F. versifier, L. versificare; versus a verse + -ficare to make. See Verse, and -fy.] To make verses.
"I’ll versify in spite, and do my best." Dryden.
Version
Ver´sion, n. [F., from L. vertere, versum, to turn, to change, to translate. See Verse.]
1. A change of form, direction, or the like; transformation; conversion; turning.
"The version of air into water." Bacon.
2. (Med.) A condition of the uterus in which its axis is deflected from its normal position without being bent upon itself. See Anteversion, and Retroversion.
3. The act of translating, or rendering, from one language into another language.
4. A translation; that which is rendered from another language; as the Common, or Authorized, Version of the Scriptures (see under Authorized); the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament.
5. An account or description from a particular point of view, especially as contrasted with another account; as he gave another version of the affair.
Versionist
Ver´sion•ist, n. One who makes or favors a version; a translator. [R.]
Versor
Ver´sor, n. [NL., fr. L. vertere, versus, to turn. See Version.] (Geom.) The turning factor of a quaternion. The change of one vector into another is considered in quaternions as made up of two operations; 1st, the rotation of the first vector so that it shall be parallel to the second; 2d, the change of length so that the first vector shall be equal to the second. That which expresses in amount and kind the first operation is a versor, and is denoted geometrically by a line at right angles to the plane in which the rotation takes place, the length of this line being proportioned to the amount of rotation. That which expresses the second operation is a tensor. The product of the versor and tensor expresses the total operation, and is called a quaternion. See Quaternion. Quadrantal versor. See under Quadrantal.
Versus
Ver´sus, prep. [L., toward, turned in the direction of, from vertere, versum, to turn. See Verse.] Against; as John Doe versus Richard Roe; — chiefly used in legal language, and abbreviated to v. or vs.
Vert, n. [F., green, from L. viridis. See Verdant, and cf. Verd.]
1. (Eng. Forest Law) (a) Everything that grows, and bears a green leaf, within the forest; as to preserve vert and venison is the duty of the verderer. (b) The right or privilege of cutting growing wood.
2. (Her.) The color green, represented in a drawing or engraving by parallel lines sloping downward toward the right.
Vertebra
Ver´te•bra, n. ; pl. Vertebrae (#). [L. vertebra, fr. vertere to turn, change. See Verse.]
1. (Anat.) One of the serial segments of the spinal column. In many fishes the vertebrae are simple cartilaginous disks or short cylinders, but in the higher vertebrates they are composed of many parts, and the vertebrae in different portions of the same column vary very greatly. A well-developed vertebra usually consists of a more or less cylindrical and solid body, or centrum, which is surmounted dorsally by an arch, leaving an opening which forms a part of the canal containing the spinal cord. From this dorsal, or neural, arch spring various processes, or apophyses, which have received special names: a dorsal, or neural, spine, spinous process, or neurapophysis, on the middle of the arch; two anterior and two posterior articular processes, or zygapophyses; and one or two transverse processes on each side. In those vertebrae which bear well-developed ribs, a tubercle near the end of the rib articulates at a tubercular facet on the transverse process ( diapophysis), while the end, or head, of the rib articulates at a more ventral capitular facet which is sometimes developed into a second, or ventral, transverse process ( parapophysis). In vertebrates with well-developed hind limbs, the spinal column is divided into five regions in each of which the vertebrae are specially designated: those vertebrae in front of, or anterior to, the first vertebra which bears ribs connected with the sternum are cervical; all those which bear ribs and are back of the cervicals are dorsal; the one or more directly supporting the pelvis are sacral and form the sacrum; those between the sacral and dorsal are lumbar; and all those back of the sacral are caudal, or coccygeal. In man there are seven cervical vertebrae, twelve dorsal, five lumbar, five sacral, and usually four, but sometimes five and rarely three, coccygeal.
2. (Zoöl.) One of the central ossicles in each joint of the arms of an ophiuran.
Vertex
Ver´tex, n. ; pl. Vertexes (#), L. Vertices (#). [L. vertex, -icis, a whirl, top of the head, top, summit, from vertere to turn. See Verse, and cf. Vortex.] A turning point; the principal or highest point; top; summit; crown; apex. Specifically: — (a) (Anat.) The top, or crown, of the head. (b) (Anat.) The zenith, or the point of the heavens directly overhead. (c) (Math.) The point in any figure opposite to, and farthest from, the base; the terminating point of some particular line or lines in a figure or a curve; the top, or the point opposite the base. The principal vertex of a conic section is, in the parabola, the vertex of the axis of the curve: in the ellipse, either extremity of either axis, but usually the left-hand vertex of the transverse axis; in the hyperbola, either vertex, but usually the right- hand vertex of the transverse axis. Vertex of a curve (Math.), the point in which the axis of the curve intersects it. — Vertex of an angle (Math.), the point in which the sides of the angle meet. — Vertex of a solid, or of a surface of revolution (Math.), the point in which the axis pierces the surface.
Vertical
Ver´ti•cal, a. [Cf. F. vertical. See Vertex.]
1. Of or pertaining to the vertex; situated at the vertex, or highest point; directly overhead, or in the zenith; perpendicularly above one.
"Charity … is the vertical top of all religion." Jer. Taylor.
2. Perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb; as a vertical line. Vertical angle (Astron. & Geod.), an angle measured on a vertical circle, called an angle of elevation, or altitude, when reckoned from the horizon upward, and of depression when downward below the horizon. — Vertical anthers (Bot.), such anthers as stand erect at the top of the filaments. — Vertical circle (Astron.), an azimuth circle. See under Azimuth. — Vertical drill, an drill. See under Upright. — Vertical fire (Mil.), the fire, as of mortars, at high angles of elevation. — Vertical leaves (Bot.), leaves which present their edges to the earth and the sky, and their faces to the horizon, as in the Australian species of Eucalyptus. — Vertical limb, a graduated arc attached to an instrument, as a theodolite, for measuring vertical angles. — Vertical line. (a) (Dialing) A line perpendicular to the horizon. (b) (Conic Sections) A right line drawn on the vertical plane, and passing through the vertex of the cone. (c) (Surv.) The direction of a plumb line; a line normal to the surface of still water. (d) (Geom., Drawing, etc.) A line parallel to the sides of a page or sheet, in distinction from a horizontal line parallel to the top or bottom. — Vertical plane. (a) (Conic Sections) A plane passing through the vertex of a cone, and through its axis. (b) (Projections) Any plane which passes through a vertical line. (c) (Persp.) The plane passing through the point of sight, and perpendicular to the ground plane, and also to the picture. — Vertical sash, a sash sliding up and down. Cf. French sash, under 3d Sash. — Vertical steam engine, a steam engine having the crank shaft vertically above or below a vertical cylinder.
Vertical
Ver´ti•cal, n.
1. Vertical position; zenith. [R.]
2. (Math.) A vertical line, plane, or circle. Prime vertical, Prime vertical dial. See under Prime, a.
Verticalness
Ver´ti•cal•ness, n. Quality or state of being vertical.
Verticil
Ver´ti•cil, n. [L. verticillus, dim. of vertex a whirl: cf. F. verticille. See Vertex.] (Bot.) A circle either of leaves or flowers about a stem at the same node; a whorl. [Written also verticel.]
Verticillaster
Ver•ti•cil•las´ter, a. [NL., fr. L. verticillus a whirl + aster a star.] (Bot.) A whorl of flowers apparently of one cluster, but composed of two opposite axillary cymes, as in mint. See Illust. of Whorl. { Ver•tic´il•late ( 277), Ver•tic´il•la•ted } a. [See Verticil.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Arranged in a transverse whorl or whorls like the rays of a wheel; as verticillate leaves of a plant; a verticillate shell.
Verticillus
Ver•ti•cil´lus, n. [L., a whirl.] (Bot.) A whorl; a verticil.
Verticity
Ver•tic´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. verticite. See Vertex.] The quality or power of turning; revolution; rotation. [R.] Locke.
"I hardly believe he hath from elder times unknown the verticity of the loadstone." Sir T. Browne.
Verticle
Ver´ti•cle, n. [L. verticula a joint.] An axis; hinge; a turning point. E. Waterhouse.
Vertiginate
Ver•tig´i•nate, a. Turned round; giddy. [R.] Coleridge.
Vertiginous
Ver•tig´i•nous, a. [L. vertiginosus, fr. vertigo a whirling around, giddiness: cf. F. vertigineux. See Vertig.]
1. Turning round; whirling; rotary; revolving; as vertiginous motion.
"Some vertiginous whirl of fortune." De Quincey.
2. Affected with vertigo; giddy; dizzy.
"They [the angels] grew vertiginous, and fell from the battlements of heaven." Jer. Taylor. — Ver•tig´i•nous•ly, adv. — Ver•tig´i•nous•ness, n.
Vertigo
Ver´ti•go ( 277), n. ; pl. E. Vertigoes (#), L. Vertigines (#). [L., fr. vertere to turn. See Verse.]
1. (Med.) Dizziness or swimming of the head; an affection of the head in which objects, though stationary, appear to move in various directions, and the person affected finds it difficult to maintain an erect posture; giddiness. Quian.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small land snails belonging to the genus Vertigo, having an elongated or conical spiral shell and usually teeth in the aperture.
Vertilinear
Ver•ti•lin´e•ar, a. [ Vertical + linear.] Straight; rectilinear. [R.]
Vertu
Ver´tu, n.
1. Virtue; power. See Virtue. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. See Virtu.
Vervain
Ver´vain, n. [OE. verveine, F. verveine, fr. L. verbena, pl. verbenae sacred boughs of laurel, olive, or myrtle, a class of plants; cf. verbenaca vervain. Cf. Verbena.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Verbena. Vervain mallow (Bot.), a species of mallow ( Malva Alcea) with rose-colored flowers.
Very
Ver´y, a. [ Compar. Verier superl. Veriest.] [OE. verai, verray, OF. verai, vrai, F. vrai, (assumed) LL. veracus, for L. verax true, veracious, fr. verus true; akin to OHG. & OS. war, G. wahr, D. waar; perhaps originally, that is or exists, and akin to E. was. Cf. Aver, v. t., Veracious, Verdict, Verity.] True; real; actual; veritable.
"Whether thou be my very son Esau or not." Gen. xxvii. 21.
"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." Prov. xvii. 9.
"The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness." Milton.
"I looked on the consideration of public service or public ornament to be real and very justice." Burke. Very is sometimes used to make the word with which it is connected emphatic, and may then be paraphrased by same, self- same, itself, and the like. "The very hand, the very words." Shak. "The very rats instinctively have quit it." Shak. "Yea, there where very desolation dwells." Milton. Very is used occasionally in the comparative degree, and more frequently in the superlative. "Was not my lord the verier wag of the two?" Shak. "The veriest hermit in the nation." Pope. "He had spoken the very truth, and transformed it into the veriest falsehood." Hawthorne. Very Reverend. See the Note under Reverend.
Vese, n. [Cf. Frese, n. ] Onset; rush; violent draught or wind. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Vesical
Ves´i•cal, a. [L. vesica bladder.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the bladder. Dunglison.
Vesicant
Ves´i•cant, n. [L. vesica blister: cf. F. vesicant.] (Med.) A vesicatory.
Vesicate
Ves´i•cate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vesicated p. pr. & vb. n. Vesicating.] [See Vesicant.] (Med.) To raise little bladders or blisters upon; to inflame and separate the cuticle of; to blister. Wiseman.
Vesicouterine
Ves•i•co•u´ter•ine, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the bladder and the uterus.
Vesicovaginal
Ves•i•co•vag´i•nal, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the bladder and the vagina.
Vesicula
Ve•sic´u•la, n. ; pl. Vesiculae . [L., dim. of vesica.] (Anat. & Med.) A vesicle.
Vesicularia
Ve•sic•u•la´ri•a, n. [NL. See Vesicle.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of marine Bryozoa belonging to Vesicularia and allied genera. They have delicate tubular cells attached in clusters to slender flexible stems.
Vesiculata
Ve•sic•u•la´ta, n. pl. [NL. See Vesicle.] (Zoöl.) The campanularian medusae.
Vesiculate
Ve•sic´u•late, a. Bladdery; full of, or covered with, bladders; vesicular.
Vesiculate
Ve•sic´u•late, v. t. To form vesicles in, as lava.
Vesiculitis
Ve•sic•u•li´tis, n. [NL.; vesicula + -itis.] Inflammation of a vesicle.
Vespa
Ves´pa, n. [L., wasp.] (Zoöl.) A genus of Hymenoptera including the common wasps and hornets.
Vesper
Ves´per, n. [L., the evening, the evening star, the west; akin to Gr.,, and perhaps to E. west. Cf. Hesperian, Vespers.] The evening star; Hesper; Venus, when seen after sunset; hence, the evening. Shak.
Vesper
Ves´per, a. Of or pertaining to the evening, or to the service of vespers; as a vesper hymn; vesper bells. Vesper sparrow, the grass finch. See under Grass.
Vespers
Ves´pers, n. pl. [OF. vespres, F. vêpres, LL. vesperae, fr. L. vespera evening. See Vesper, n. ] (R. C. Ch.) (a) One of the little hours of the Breviary. (b) The evening song or service. Sicilian vespers. See under Sicilian, a.
Vespertilionine
Ves•per•til•i•o´nine, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Vespertiliones.
Vespertine
Ves´per•tine, a. [L. vespertinus. See Vesper.]
1. Of or pertaining to the evening; happening or being in the evening. Gray.
2. (Bot.) Blossoming in the evening.
Vespiary
Ves´pi•a•ry, n. [L. vespa a wasp.] A nest, or habitation, of insects of the wasp kind.
Vessel
Ves´sel, n. [OF. vessel, veissel, vaissel, vaissiel, F. vascellum, dim. of vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel. Cf. Vascular, Vase.]
1. A hollow or concave utensil for holding anything; a hollow receptacle of any kind, as a hogshead, a barrel, a firkin, a bottle, a kettle, a cup, a bowl, etc.
"[They drank] out of these noble vessels." Chaucer.
2. A general name for any hollow structure made to float upon the water for purposes of navigation; especially, one that is larger than a common rowboat; as a war vessel; a passenger vessel.
"[He] began to build a vessel of huge bulk." Milton.
3. Fig.: A person regarded as receiving or containing something; esp. (Script.), one into whom something is conceived as poured, or in whom something is stored for use; as vessels of wrath or mercy.
"He is a chosen vessel unto me." Acts ix. 15.
"[The serpent] fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom
To enter." Milton.
4. (Anat.) Any tube or canal in which the blood or other fluids are contained, secreted, or circulated, as the arteries, veins, lymphatics, etc.
5. (Bot.) A continuous tube formed from superposed large cylindrical or prismatic cells (tracheae), which have lost their intervening partitions, and are usually marked with dots, pits, rings, or spirals by internal deposition of secondary membranes; a duct. Acoustic vessels. See under Acoustic. — Weaker vessel, a woman; — now applied humorously. "Giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel." 1 Peter iii. 7. "You are the weaker vessel." Shak.
Vest, n. [L. vestis a garment, vesture; akin to Goth. wasti, and E. wear: cf. F. veste. See Wear to carry on the person, and cf. Divest, Invest, Travesty.]
1. An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe.
"In state attended by her maiden train,
Who bore the vests that holy rites require." Dryden.
2. Any outer covering; array; garb.
"Not seldom clothed in radiant vest
Deceitfully goes forth the morn." Wordsworth.
3. Specifically, a waistcoat, or sleeveless body garment, for men, worn under the coat.
Syn. — Garment; vesture; dress; robe; vestment; waistcoat. — Vest, Waistcoat. In England, the original word waistcoat is generally used for the body garment worn over the shirt and immediately under the coat. In the United States this garment is commonly called a vest, and the waistcoat is often improperly given to an under-garment.
Vest, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vested; p. pr. & vb. n. Vesting.] [Cf. L. vestire, vestitum, OF. vestir, F. vêtir. See Vest, n. ]
1. To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely.
"Came vested all in white, pure as her mind." Milton.
"With ether vested, and a purple sky." Dryden.
2. To clothe with authority, power, or the like; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; — followed by with before the thing conferred; as to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death.
"Had I been vested with the monarch’s power." Prior.
3. To place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; to commit to another; — with in before the possessor; as the power of life and death is vested in the king, or in the courts.
"Empire and dominion was [were] vested in him." Locke.
4. To invest; to put; as to vest money in goods, land, or houses. [R.]
5. (Law) To clothe with possession; as to vest a person with an estate; also to give a person an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of; as an estate is vested in possession. Bouvier.
Vestal
Ves´tal, a. [L. Vestalis belonging to Vesta, vestal. See Vesta.] Of or pertaining to Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth; hence, pure; chaste.
Vestal
Ves´tal, n. [L. Vestalis (sc. virgo): cf. F. vestale. See Vestal, a. ]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) A virgin consecrated to Vesta, and to the service of watching the sacred fire, which was to be perpetually kept burning upon her altar. The Vestals were originally four, but afterward six, in number. Their term of service lasted thirty years, the period of admission being from the sixth to the tenth year of the candidate’s age.
2. A virgin; a woman pure and chaste; also a nun.
"How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!" Pope.
Vestales
Ves•ta´les, n. pl. [NL. See Vestal.] (Zoöl.) A group of butterflies including those known as virgins, or gossamer-winged butterflies.
Vestiarian
Ves•ti•a´ri•an, a. [See Vestiary.] Of or pertaining to a vestiary or vestments.
Vestiary
Ves´ti•a•ry, n. [L. vestiarium. See Vestry.] A wardrobe; a robing room; a vestry. Fuller.
Vestiary
Ves´ti•a•ry, a. Pertaining to clothes, or vestments.
Vestibular
Ves•tib´u•lar, a. Of or pertaining to a vestibule; like a vestibule.
Vestibule
Ves´ti•bule, n. [L. vestibulum, of uncertain origin: cf. F. vestibule.] The porch or entrance into a house; a hall or antechamber next the entrance; a lobby; a porch; a hall. Vestibule of the ear. (Anat.) See under Ear. — Vestibule of the vulva (Anat.), a triangular space between the nymphae, in which the orifice of the urethra is situated. — Vestibule train (Railroads), a train of passenger cars having the space between the end doors of adjacent cars inclosed, so as to admit of leaving the doors open to provide for intercommunication between all the cars.
Syn. — Hall; passage. — Vestibule, Hall, Passage. A vestibule is a small apartment within the doors of a building. A hall is the first large apartment beyond the vestibule, and, in the United States, is often long and narrow, serving as a passage to the several apartments. In England, the hall is generally square or oblong, and a long, narrow space of entrance is called a passage, not a hall, as in America. Vestibule is often used in a figurative sense to denote a place of entrance. "The citizens of Rome placed the images of their ancestors in the vestibules of their houses." Bolingbroke
Vestibule
Ves´ti•bule, v. t. To furnish with a vestibule or vestibules. Brander Matthews.
Vestibuled train. (Railroad) Same as Vestibule train, under Vestibule.
Vestigate
Ves´ti•gate, v. t. [L. vestigatus, p. p. of vestigare. See Vestige.] To investigate. [Obs.]
Vestige
Ves´tige, n. [F., from L. vestigium footprint, trace, sign; the last part ( -stigium) is probably akin to E. sty, v. i. Cf. Investigate.] The mark of the foot left on the earth; a track or footstep; a trace; a sign; hence, a faint mark or visible sign left by something which is lost, or has perished, or is no longer present; remains; as the vestiges of ancient magnificence in Palmyra; vestiges of former population.
"What vestiges of liberty or property have they left?" Burke.
"Ridicule has followed the vestiges of Truth, but never usurped her place." Landor.
Syn. — Trace; mark; sign; token. — Vestige, Trace. These words agree in marking some indications of the past, but differ to some extent in their use and application. Vestige is used chiefly in a figurative sense, for the remains something long passed away; as the vestiges of ancient times; vestiges of the creation. A trace is literally something drawn out in a line, and may be used in this its primary sense, or figuratively, to denote a sign or evidence left by something that has passed by, or ceased to exist. Vestige usually supposes some definite object of the past to be left behind; while a trace may be a mere indication that something has been present or is present; as traces of former population; a trace of poison in a given substance.
Vestigial
Ves•tig´i•al, a. Of or pertaining to a vestige or remnant; like a vestige.
Vestiture
Ves´ti•ture ( 135), n. [See Vesture.] In vestiture. [R.]
Vestment
Vest´ment, n. [OE. vestement, vestiment, OF. vestement, vestiment, F. vêtement, fr. L. vestimentum, fr. vestire to clothe, fr. vestis a garment, clothing. See Vest.] A covering or garment; some part of clothing or dress; specifically (Eccl.), any priestly garment. "Royal vestiment." Chaucer. "Priests in holy vestments." Shak.
" The sculptor could not give vestments suitable to the quality of the persons represented." Dryden.
Vestry
Ves´try, n. ; pl. Vestries (#). [OE. vestrye, F. vestiaire, L. vestiarium, fr. vestiarius belonging to clothes, fr. vestis a garment. See Vest, n. , and cf. Vestiary.]
1. A room appendant to a church, in which sacerdotal vestments and sacred utensils are sometimes kept, and where meetings for worship or parish business are held; a sacristy; — formerly called revestiary.
"He said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshipers of Baal." 2 Kings x. 22.
2. (Ch. of Eng.) A parochial assembly; an assembly of persons who manage parochial affairs; — so called because usually held in a vestry.
3. (Prot. Epis. Ch.) A body, composed of wardens and vestrymen, chosen annually by a parish to manage its temporal concerns. Metropolitan vestry, in the city of London, and certain specified parishes and places in England, a body composed of householders who pay poor rates. Its duties include the repair of churches, care of highways, the appointment of certain officers, etc. — Select vestry, a select number of persons chosen in large and populous English parishes to represent and manage the concerns of the parish for one year. Mozley & W. — Vestry board (Ch. of Eng.), a vestry. See def. 2, above. — Vestry clerk, an officer chosen by the vestry, who keeps a record of its proceedings; also in England, one who keeps the parish accounts and books. — Vestry meeting, the meeting of a vestry or vestry board; also a meeting of a parish held in a vestry or other place.
Vestryman
Ves´try•man, n. ; pl. Vestrymen . A member of a vestry; especially (Prot. Epis. Ch.), a member other than a warden. See Vestry.
Vesture
Ves´ture ( 135), n. [OF. vesture, vesteure, F. vêture, LL. vestitura, from L. vestire to clothe, dress. See Vest, v. t., and cf. Vestiture.]
1. A garment or garments; a robe; clothing; dress; apparel; vestment; covering; envelope. Piers Plowman.
"Approach, and kiss her sacred vesture’s hem." Milton.
"Rocks, precipices, and gulfs, appareled with a vesture of plants." Bentley.
"There polished chests embroidered vestures graced." Pope.
2. (O. Eng. Law) (a) The corn, grass, underwood, stubble, etc., with which land was covered; as the vesture of an acre. (b) Seizin; possession.
Vesuvian
Ve•su´vi•an, n. [G. vesuvian. See Vesuvian, a. ] (Min.) Vesuvianite.
Vesuvian
Ve•su´vi•an, n. A kind of match or fusee for lighting cigars, etc.
Veteran
Vet´er•an, a. [L. veteranus, from vetus, veteris, old; akin to Gr. year, Skr. vatsara. See Wether.] Long exercised in anything, especially in military life and the duties of a soldier; long practiced or experienced; as a veteran officer or soldier; veteran skill.
"The insinuating eloquence and delicate flattery of veteran diplomatists and courtiers." Macaulay.
Veteranize
Vet´er•an•ize, v. i. To reënlist for service as a soldier. [U. S.] Gen. W. T. Sherman.
Veterinarian
Vet•er•i•na´ri•an, n. [L. veterinarius. See Veterinary.] One skilled in the diseases of cattle or domestic animals; a veterinary surgeon.
Veterinary
Vet´er•i•na•ry, a. [L. veterinarius of or belonging to beasts of burden an draught, fr. veterinus, probably originally, of or pertaining to yearlings: cf. F. veterinaire. See Veteran, Wether.] Of or pertaining to the art of healing or treating the diseases of domestic animals, as oxen, horses, sheep, etc.; as a veterinary writer or school.
Veto
Ve´to, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vetoed p. pr. & vb. n. Vetoing.] To prohibit; to negative; also to refuse assent to, as a legislative bill, and thus prevent its enactment; as to veto an appropriation bill.
Vetoist
Ve´to•ist, n. One who uses, or sustains the use of, the veto.
Vettura
Vet•tu´ra, n. ; pl. Vetture (#). [It. vettura, fr. L. vectura conveyance. Cf. Vecture.] An Italian four-wheeled carriage, esp. one let for hire; a hackney coach.
Vetust
Ve•tust´, a. [L. vetustus old, ancient.] Venerable from antiquity; ancient; old. [Obs.]
Vex, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vexed p. pr. & vb. n. Vexing.] [F. vexer, L. vexare, vexatum, to vex, originally, to shake, toss, in carrying, v. intens. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry. See Vehicle.]
1. To tos back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.
"White curl the waves, and the vexed ocean roars." Pope.
2. To make angry or annoyed by little provocations; to irritate; to plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict; to trouble; to tease. "I will not vex your souls." Shak.
"Then thousand torments vex my heart." Prior.
3. To twist; to weave. [R.]
"Some English wool, vexed in a Belgian loom." Dryden.
Syn. — See Tease.
Vexation
Vex•a´tion, n. [L. vexatio: cf. F. vexation.]
1. The act of vexing, or the state of being vexed; agitation; disquiet; trouble; irritation.
"Passions too violent … afford us nothing but vexation and pain." Sir W. Temple.
"Those who saw him after a defeat looked in vain for any trace of vexation." Macaulay.
2. The cause of trouble or disquiet; affliction.
"Your children were vexation to your youth." Shak.
3. A harassing by process of law; a vexing or troubling, as by a malicious suit. Bacon.
Syn. — Chagrin; agitation; mortification; uneasiness; trouble; grief; sorrow; distress. See Chagrin.
Vexatious
Vex•a´tious, a. [See Vexation.]
1. Causing vexation; agitating; afflictive; annoying; as a vexatious controversy; a vexatious neighbor. "Continual vexatious wars." South.
2. Full or vexation, trouble, or disquiet; disturbed.
"He leads a vexatious life." Sir K. Digby.Vexatious suit (Law), a suit commenced for the purpose of giving trouble, or without cause. — Vex•a´tious•ly, adv. — Vex•a´tious•ness, n.
Vexillary
Vex´il•la•ry, n. [L. vexillarius: cf. F. vexillaire.] A standard bearer. Tennyson.
Vexillation
Vex•il•la´tion, n. [L. vexillatio.] (Rom. Antiq.) A company of troops under one vexillum.
Vexingly
Vex´ing•ly, adv. In a vexing manner; so as to vex, tease, or irritate. Tatler.