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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Verge

Vĕr'ge, n.

noun

(14), n. [Fr. verge, Pr. verga, vergu(a), Sp., Pg., & It. verga, Lat. virga, from virere, to be green.]

  1. A rod, or something in the form of a rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; the mace of a dean.
  2. The stick or wand with which persons are admitted tenants, by holding it in the hand, and swearing fealty to the lord. On this account, such tenants are called tenants by the verge. [Eng.]
  3. (Arch.) The shaft of a column; or a small ornamental shaft. Oxf. Gloss.
  4. The spindle of a watch-balance. Simmonds.
  5. (Eng. Law.) The compass or extent of the king’s court, within which is bounded the jurisdiction of the lord steward of the king’s household;—so called from the verge or staff which the marshal bears. Cowell.

Vérge, n.

noun

n. [See VERGE, v. i., and VIRGE.]

Sense 1. The extreme side or edge of any thing which has some extent of length; the brink; edge; border; margin. “On the verge of noon.” W. Scott. “The inclusive verge of golden metal.” Shak.

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.

Sense 2. (Hort.) (a.) The edge or outside of a border. (b.) A slip of grass adjoining to gravel-walks, and dividing them from the borders in the parterre-garden.

Synonyms—Border; edge; rim; brim; margin; brink.

Vĕrge, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. VERGED; p. pr. & vb. n. VERGING.] [Lat. vergere.]

  1. To tend downward; to bend; to slope; as, a hill verges to the north.
  2. To border upon; to tend; to incline; to approach.

Our soul, from original instinct, vergeth toward him as its center. Barrow. I find myself verging to that period of life which is to be labor and sorrow. Swift.