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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Vā'gous, a.p. 1459Wandering; unsettled. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
  2. Vā'gran-cy, n.p. 1459The state of a vagrant; a wandering without a settled home.
  3. 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…
  4. 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…
  5. Vā'grant-ly, adv.p. 1459In a vagrant, wandering, unsettled manner.
  6. Vā'grant-ness, n.p. 1459The state of a vagrant; vagrancy.
  7. 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…
  8. Vāgue, n.p. 1459The act of wandering or strolling; a vagary. [Obs.]
  9. Vāgue, v. i.p. 1459To wander or stroll; to stray. [Obs.] “To vague and range abroad.” Holland.
  10. Vāgue'ly, adv.p. 1459In a vague manner; vagrantly; unfixedly; uncertainly.
  11. 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.
  12. Vāil, n.p. 1459A concealing screen or envelope; a cover; a veil. 2. (Bot.) The calyptra of mosses.
  13. 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…
  14. Vāil, v. t.p. 1459To hide from the sight; to veil; to cover; as, to vail the face.
  15. 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…
  16. 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.
  17. Vāil, n.p. 1459Submission; decline; descent. [Obs.]
  18. Vāil'a-ble, a.p. 1459Available. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  19. Vāil'er, n.p. 1459One who vails, or yields from respect. [Obs.] Overbury.
  20. Vāi'mūre, n.p. 1459An outwall or exterior wall. See VAUNT-MURE. [Obs.] Fairfax.
  21. 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…
  22. 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.
  23. Vāin-glō'ri-oŭs-ly, adv.p. 1459In a vainglorious manner; with empty pride.
  24. 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…
  25. 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.…
  26. 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.
  27. 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.…
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. Vāi'vōde, n.p. 1459A prince of the Dacian provinces; a waywode.
  31. Vā-keel', n.p. 1459A native attorney or agent; an embassador;—so called in the East Indies. Malcom.
  32. Va-lāis'an, a.p. 1459(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Valais, a canton of Switzerland.
  33. Va-lāis'an, n.p. 1459(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Valais.
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. 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.…
  37. Văl/e-dĭc'tion, n.p. 1459A farewell; a bidding farewell.
  38. 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.
  39. Văl'e-dĭc'to-ry, a.p. 1459Bidding farewell; taking leave; suitable, or designed, for an occasion of leave-taking; expressing good will at parting; as, a valedictory oration.
  40. Văl'e-dĭc'to-ry, n.p. 1459An oration or address spoken at commencement in American colleges, by one of the class whose members receive the degree of bachelor of arts, and take their leave of the college and of each other.
  41. Va-lĕn'ci-ȧ, n.p. 1459A kind of goods for waist-coats, having the weft of wool and the warp of silk or cotton. [Written also valentia.]
  42. Va-lĕn'ci-ēnnes', n.p. 1459A rich kind of lace made at Valenciennes, in France. It has a six-sided mesh formed of two threads partly twisted and plaited, the pattern being worked in the net.
  43. Va-lēn'ti-ă, n.p. 1459See VALENCIA.
  44. Văl'en-tine, n.p. 1459A sweetheart chosen on St. Valentine's day. 2. A letter containing professions of love or affection, sent by one young person to another on St. Valentine's day. St. Valentine's day, a day sacred to…
  45. Văl'en-tĭn'i-an, n.p. 1459(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect in the second century who held opinions similar to those of the Gnostics;—so called from the founder, one Valentinus.
  46. Văl'er-ate, n.p. 1459(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of valeric acid with a base. [Written also valerianate.]
  47. Va-lē'ri-an, n.p. 1459(Bot.) A plant of the genus Valeriana, of many species. The root of the officinal valerian (V. officinalis) has a strong smell, and is much used in medicine as an antispasmodic.
  48. Văl'er-ie, a.p. 1459(Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, the root of valerian;—said of a limpid, colorless, oil-like acid obtained from valerian root, and also from cheese in a state of decomposition, and from…
  49. Vāles, n. pl.p. 1459See VAIL.
  50. Văl'et, n.p. 1459A waiting servant; a servant who attends on a gentleman's person. 2. (Man.) A kind of goad or stick armed with a point of iron.
  51. Valet de chambrep. 1460A body servant, or personal attendant.
  52. Vāl'e-tū'di-nā'ri-an, a.p. 1460Of infirm health; seeking to recover health; sickly; weakly; infirm. “My feeble health and valetudinarian stomach.” Coleridge. The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a…
  53. Vāl'e-tū'di-nā'ri-an, n.p. 1460A person of a weak, infirm, or sickly constitution; one who is seeking to recover health. Valetudinarians must live where they can command and scold. Swift.
  54. Vāl'e-tū'di-nā'ri-an-īsm, n.p. 1460The condition of a valetudinarian; a state of feeble health; infirmity.
  55. Vāl'e-tū'di-na-ry, a.p. 1460Infirm; sickly; valetudinarian. It renders the habits of society dangerously valetudinary. Burke.
  56. Văl'e-tū'di-na-ry, n.p. 1460An infirm person; a valetudinarian.
  57. Vāl'e-tū'di-noûs, a.p. 1460The same as VALETUDINARIAN, q. v. [Obs.] Holland.
  58. Väl-häl'la, n.p. 1460(Scandinavian Myth.) The palace of immortality, inhabited by the souls of heroes slain in battle. [Written also valhall and valhalla.] Brande.
  59. Văl'iance or Văl'ian-cy, n.p. 1460The state or quality of being valiant; bravery; valor. [Obs.] — Spenser.
  60. Văl′iant, a.p. 1460Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [Obs.] Walton. 2. Intrepid in danger; heroic; courageous; brave. “A valiant and most expert gentleman.” Shak. Be thou valiant for me, and…