Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Văc′il-lā′ting-ly, adv. p. 1458In a vacillating manner; unsteadily.Vāc'il-lā'tion, n. p. 1458The act of vacillating; a wavering; a moving one way and the other; a reeling or staggering. 2. Fluctuation of mind; unsteadiness; change from one object to another; inconstancy. “His vacillations…Văc'ū-āte, v. t. p. 1458To make void or empty. [Obs.]Văc'ū-ā'tion, n. p. 1458The act of emptying; evacuation. [Rare.]Văc'ū-ist, n. p. 1458One who holds to the doctrine of a vacuum in nature; — opposed to a plenist. Boyle.Va-cū'i-ty, n. p. 1458The quality or condition of being vacuous; a state of being unfilled; emptiness. Hunger is such a state of vacuity as to require a fresh supply. Arbuthnot. 2. Want of reality; inanity; nihility.…Vă-cū'na p. 1458(Rom. Myth.) The goddess of rural leisure, to whom the husbandmen sacrificed at the close of the harvest. She was especially honored by the Sabines.Văc'ū-o-lā'ted, a. p. 1458Full of vacuoles, or small air-cavities. Dana.Văc'ū-o-lā'tion, n. p. 1458The multiplication of vacuoles or air-cells, which takes place in the course of germ development. Dana.Văc'ū-ōle, n. p. 1458(Nat. Hist.) A small air-cell or globular space in the interior of organic cells, either containing air or a pellucid liquid. Dana.Văc'ū-ōŭs, a. p. 1458Empty; unfilled; void. Boundless the deep, because I AM who fill Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. Milton.Vā'cŭ-ōŭs-ness, n. p. 1458The state or quality of being vacuous; emptiness; vacuity. Mountagu.Văc'ū-ŭm, n. p. 1458Space empty or devoid of all matter or body; as, the Peripatetics assert that nature abhors a vacuum. The question was formerly much controverted whether there is, or can be, an absolute vacuum in…Vāde, v. i. p. 1458To go; to pass; to vanish. They into dust shall vade. Spenser. 2. Hence, to fade. Nares.Vā'de-mē'cum, n. p. 1458A book or other thing that a person carries with him as a constant companion; a manual.Văd'i-mo-ny, n. p. 1458(Law.) A bond or pledge for appearance before a judge on a certain day. [Obs.]Vā'di-ŭm, n. p. 1458(Law.) Pledge; security; bail. See MORTGAGE.Vāe, n. p. 1458An inlet of the sea;— so called in the Orkney Islands. [Written also voe.]Vā'frōŭs, a. p. 1458Crafty; cunning; sly. [Obs.] More.Vāg'a-bōnd, a. p. 1458Floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro. “Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream.” Shak. To heaven their prayers Flew up, nor missed the way by envious winds Blown vagabond…Vāg'a-bōnd, n. p. 1458One who wanders from town to town or place to place, having no certain dwelling, or not abiding in it, and usually without the means of honest livelihood; a vagrant. Reduced, like Hannibal, to seek…Vāg'a-bōnd, v. i. p. 1459To play the vagabond; to wander; to stroll. [Obs.]Văg'a-bŏnd'age, n. p. 1459The condition of a vagabond; a state or habit of wandering about in idleness.Văg'a-bŏnd'ism or Văg'a-bŏnd'ry, n. p. 1459The same as VAGABONDAGE.Vāg'a-bōnd'ize, v. i. p. 1459To play the vagabond; to wander about in idleness.Vā'gal, a. p. 1459(Anat.) Pertaining to the pneumogastric nerves.Vā'gan-cy, n. p. 1459Vagrancy. [Obs.]Va-gān'tēs, n. pl. p. 1459(Zoöl.) A tribe of spiders, comprehending those which watch their prey concealed in a web, but which also frequently run with agility, and chase and seize their prey.Va-gā'ri-ōus, a. p. 1459Given to, or characterized by, vagaries; capricious; whimsical; crotchety. [Obs.]Va-gā'ry, n. p. 1459A wandering or strolling. [Obs.] 2. Hence, a wandering of the thoughts; a wild freak; a whim; a whimsical purpose. They changed their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell. Milton.Vā'gi-ent, a. p. 1459Crying like a child. [Obs.]Vă-gī'nē, n. p. 1459(Anat.) (a.) The canal which leads from the external orifice to the uterus or womb. (b.) Any part which serves as a sheath or envelope to another. 2. (Bot.) The leaf-stalk of those plants in which it…Vāg'-i-nal, a. p. 1459Of, or pertaining to, a vagina or sheath, or resembling a sheath; as, a vaginal membrane. 2. (Anat.) Of, or pertaining to, the vagina.Vāg'i-nant, a. p. 1459Serving to invest or sheathe. Vaginant leaf (Bot.), a leaf investing the stem or branch by its base, which has the form of a tube.Vāg'i-nāte or Vāg'i-nā'ted, a. p. 1459Invested with, or as if with, a sheath. 2. (Bot.) Invested by the tubular base of a leaf, as a stem. Martyn.Vāg'/i-no-pĕn'/noŭs, a. p. 1459(Entom.) Having the wings covered with a hard case or sheath, as some insects; sheath-winged.Vă-gĭn'ī-lĭē, n. p. 1459(Bot.) (a.) A little sheath, as that about the sporangium of some mosses. Gray. (b.) One of the tubular florets in composite flowers. Henslow.Vāg'is-sāte, v. i. p. 1459To caper or frolic. [Obs. and rare.]Vā'gous, a. p. 1459Wandering; unsettled. [Obs.] Ayliffe.Vā'gran-cy, n. p. 1459The state of a vagrant; a wandering without a settled home.Vā'grant, a. p. 1459Moving without certain direction; wandering; unsettled. “That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took.” Prior. While leading this vagrant and miserable life, Johnson fell in love. Macaulay. 2. Wandering…Vā'grant, n. p. 1459One who strolls from place to place; an idle wanderer; a sturdy beggar; one who has no settled habitation, or who does not abide in it; a vagabond. [See Note under VAGABOND.] Vagrants and outlaws…Vā'grant-ly, adv. p. 1459In a vagrant, wandering, unsettled manner.Vā'grant-ness, n. p. 1459The state of a vagrant; vagrancy.Vāgue, a. p. 1459Wandering; vagrant; vagabond. [Obs.] Gray encouraged his men to set upon these vague villains. Hayward. She danced along with vague, regardless eyes. Keats. 2. Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined…Vāgue, n. p. 1459The act of wandering or strolling; a vagary. [Obs.]Vāgue, v. i. p. 1459To wander or stroll; to stray. [Obs.] “To vague and range abroad.” Holland.Vāgue'ly, adv. p. 1459In a vague manner; vagrantly; unfixedly; uncertainly.Vāgue'ness, n. p. 1459The quality or condition of being vague; vagrancy; uncertainty; ambiguousness. His [Hallam's] speculations have none of that vagueness which is the common fault of political philosophy. Macaulay.Vāil, n. p. 1459A concealing screen or envelope; a cover; a veil. 2. (Bot.) The calyptra of mosses.Vāil, n. p. 1459Money given to servants. [Written also vales.] [Obs.] Dryden. 2. Hence, an unexpected gain or acquisition; a windfall. [Obs.] 3. Avails; proceeds. [Obs.] My house is as ’twere the cave where the…Vāil, v. t. p. 1459To hide from the sight; to veil; to cover; as, to vail the face.Vāil, v. t. p. 1459To let fall; to allow or cause to sink. [Obs.] Vail your regard Upon a wronged, I'd fain have said, a maid. Shak. 2. To lower in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like. “And Greek…Vāil, v. i. p. 1459To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding. [Obs.] Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity. South.Vāil, n. p. 1459Submission; decline; descent. [Obs.]Vāil'a-ble, a. p. 1459Available. [Obs.] Chaucer.Vāil'er, n. p. 1459One who vails, or yields from respect. [Obs.] Overbury.Vāi'mūre, n. p. 1459An outwall or exterior wall. See VAUNT-MURE. [Obs.] Fairfax.Vāin, a. p. 1459Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying; trivial. “Thy vain excuse.” Shak. “Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.” Milton. Every man walketh in a vain…Vāin-glō'ri-oŭs, a. p. 1459Feeling or indicating vainglory; vain to excess of one's own achievements; elated beyond due measure; boastful; vaunting. “Arrogant and vain-glorious expression.” Hale.