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.
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.Vāin-glō'ri-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 1459In a vainglorious manner; with empty pride.Vāin-glō'ry, n. p. 1459Excessive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind. He hath nothing of vainglory. Bacon. The man's undone forever; for if Hector break not his neck i' th' combat…Vāin'ly, adv. p. 1459In a vain manner; without effect; to no purpose; ineffectually; in vain. In weak complaints you vainly waste your breath. Dryden. 2. With vanity; boastingly; with vaunting; proudly; arrogantly.…Vāin'ness, n. p. 1459The state or quality of being vain; inefficacy; ineffectualness; as, the vainness of efforts. 2. Empty pride; vanity. “Being free from vainness.” Shak.Vāir, n. p. 1459The skin of the squirrel, much used in the fourteenth century as fur for garments, and frequently mentioned by writers of that period in describing the costly dresses of kings, nobles, and prelates.…Vāir or Vāir'y, a. p. 1459(Her.) Charged with vair; variegated with argent and azure colors, when the term is vairy proper; and with other colors, when it is vairy composed. Todd.Vāis'ya, n. p. 1459The third caste among the Hindoos, constituting the bulk of the Aryan population, after deducting from it the priestly and warrior castes, or the Brahmins and Kshatruyas.Vāi'vōde, n. p. 1459A prince of the Dacian provinces; a waywode.Vā-keel', n. p. 1459A native attorney or agent; an embassador;—so called in the East Indies. Malcom.Va-lāis'an, a. p. 1459(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Valais, a canton of Switzerland.Va-lāis'an, n. p. 1459(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Valais.Văl'ance, n. p. 1459Hanging drapery for a bed, a couch, a window, and the like; especially, that which hangs around a bedstead, from the bed to the floor. “A valance of Venice gold in needle-work.” Shak.Vāl'ance, v. t. p. 1459To furnish with a valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery. “His old fringed chair valanced around with party-colored worsted bobs.” Sterne.Vāle, n. p. 1459A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. Vale is more commonly used in poetry, and valley in prose and common discourse. “In those fair vales, by nature formed to please.” Harte. 2.…Văl/e-dĭc'tion, n. p. 1459A farewell; a bidding farewell.Văl'e-dic-tō'ri-an, n. p. 1459One who pronounces a valedictory address; especially, in American colleges, the student who pronounces the valedictory oration at the annual commencement.