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.
Va-rĭç'i-fōrm, a. p. 1462Resembling the uneven dilatation of a vein. Craig.Vār'i-co-cēle, a. p. 1462(Surg.) A varicose enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord; or, more rarely, a like enlargement of the veins of the scrotum.Vā'rĭ-eōse/ or Vā'rĭ-eōus, a. p. 1462Preternaturally enlarged, or permanently dilated;—applied only to veins.Vā'ried-ly, adv. p. 1462Diversely. [Rare.]Vā'ri-e-gāte, v. t. p. 1462To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; as, to variegate a floor with marble of different colors. The shells are filled with a white spar, which variegates and adds to the…Vā'ri-e-gā'tion, n. p. 1462The act of variegating or diversifying, or state of being diversified, by different colors; diversity of colors.Va-ri'e-ty, n. p. 1462The quality of being various; difference; diversity; intermixture or succession of different things. Variety is nothing else but a continued novelty. South. The variety of colors depends on the…Vā'ri-fōrm, a. p. 1463Having different shapes or forms.Vā'ri-fôrmed, a. p. 1463Formed with different shapes.Vā'ri-fy, v. t. p. 1463To make different; to vary; to variegate. [Rare.] Clarke.Vā'ri-o-lō, n. p. 1463(Med.) The small-pox.Va-ri'o-lar or Va-ri-ŏl'ic, a. p. 1463The same as VARIOLOUS.Vā'ri-o-lite, n. p. 1463(Min.) A kind of rock, containing imbedded whitish spherules, which give the stone a spotted appearance.Vā'ri-o-loid or Văr'i-o-loid, a. p. 1463(Med.) Resembling small-pox; pertaining to the disease called varioloid. Dunglison.Vā'ri-o-loid or Vār'i-o-loid, n. p. 1463(Med.) The small-pox as modified by previous inoculation or vaccination. ☞ It is almost always a milder disease than small-pox, and this circumstance, with its shorter duration, exhibits the salutary…Va-ri'o-loūs, a. p. 1463Of, pertaining to, or designating, the small-pox; having pits or sunken impressions like those of the small-pox.Vā'ri-ō'rum p. 1463Of various persons or things; especially (used as an adjective), containing notes by different persons; as, a variorum edition of a book.Vā'ri-oŭs, a. p. 1463Different; diverse; several; manifold; as, men of various names; various occupations. “A wit as various, gay, grave, sage, or wild.” Byron. So many and so various laws are given. Milton. 2.…Vā'ri-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 1463In various or different ways; with change; with diversity; as, objects variously represented; flowers variously colored.Vār'ĭs-cīte, n. p. 1463(Min.) An apple-green mineral occurring in reniform masses, and consisting chiefly of alumina, phosphoric acid, and water. Dana.Va-risse′, n. p. 1463(Far.) An imperfec-tion on the inside of the hind leg in horses, different from a curb, but at the same height, and frequently injuring the sale of the animal by growing to an unsightly magnitude.…Vā'rīx, n. pl. p. 1463VĀR'I-CĒS. [Lat., from varus, bent, stretched; Fr. & It. varice, Sp. varice, variz, Pr. varica.] (Med.) An uneven and permanent dilatation of a vein. Varices are owing to local retardation of the…Vär'let, n. p. 1463A servant or footman; an attendant; a valet. [Obs.] Tusser. 2. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as, an impudent varlet. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou! Shak.Vär'let-ry, n. p. 1463The rabble; the crowd. Shall they hoist me up, And show me to the shouting varletry Of censuring Rome? Shak.Vär'nish, n. p. 1463A thick, viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise, the volatile part soon evaporating, and the resinous part forming…Vär'nish, v. t. p. 1463To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid, for giving a glossy surface to; as, to varnish a side-board or table. 2. To cover with something that gives a fair external appearance. “Close ambition…Vär'nish-er, n. p. 1463One who varnishes, or whose occupation is to varnish. 2. One who disguises or palliates; one who gives a fair external appearance.Vär'nish-ing, n. p. 1463The act of laying on varnish; also, materials for varnish.Vär'nish-tree, n. p. 1463(Bot.) A tree or shrub from the juice or resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the genus Rhus, especially R. verniciflua. The black varnish, called Japan lacquer, is obtained from…Vär'ta-bed, n. p. 1463(Eccl.) One of an order of ecclesiastics in the Armenian church. They differ from the priests by living in seclusion and celibacy. They also preach, while the priests do not. The bishops are all…Va'ru'ṇa p. 1463The god of the waters, the Indian Neptune, and regent of the west division of the earth. He is represented as a white man, four-armed, riding on a sea-animal, with a rope in one hand and a club in…Vär'veled, a. p. 1463Having varvels or rings. [Written also varvelled.] ☞ In heraldry, when the leather thongs which tie on the bells to the legs of hawks are borne flotant with rings at the end, the bearing is termed…Vär'vels, n. pl. p. 1463Rings, usually of silver, about the legs of a hawk, on which the owner's name is engraved. [Written also vervels.]Wär'vi-cite, n. p. 1463(Min.) An ore of manganese.Vā'ry, v. t. p. 1463To change the aspect of; to alter in form, appearance, substance, or position; to make different by a partial change; as, to vary a thing in dimensions; to vary its properties, proportions, or…Vā'ry, v. i. p. 1463To alter, or be altered, in any manner; to suffer a partial change; to become different; to alter; as, colors vary in different lights; opinions or customs vary with the times. That each from other…Vā'ry, n. p. 1463Alteration; change; variation. [Obs.]Văs'cu-lar, a. p. 1463Consisting of vessels, or containing them, as an essential part of a structure. 2. Operating by means of, or made up of, an arrangement of vessels; as, the vascular system in animals, including…Văs'cu-lā'rēs, n. pl. p. 1463(Bot.) Plants which have stamens, pistils, and spiral vessels, and bear proper flowers. Lindley.Vās'cu-lār'i-ty, n. p. 1463The state or quality of being vascular.Văs'cu-lif'er-ous, a. p. 1463(Bot.) Having seed-vessels divided into cells.Vāse, n. p. 1463A vessel, of various forms and materials, for domestic purposes, and anciently for sacrificial uses; especially, a vessel of antique or elegant pattern used for ornamental purposes; as, an alabaster…Vāse'-shāped, a. p. 1463Formed like a vase or flower-pot. Henslow.Văs'i-fōrm, a. p. 1463(Bot.) Having a variety of vascular tissue like that of ducts. Henslow. Vasiform tissue (Bot.), a kind of tissue composed of tubes, the sides of which are covered with small pits or depressions…Văs'sal, n. p. 1463One who holds land of a superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a tenant. 2. A subject; a dependent; a servant; a bondman; a slave. “The vassals of his anger.” Milton. Rear…Văs'sal, a. p. 1464Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile.Văs'sal, v. t. p. 1464To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. [Obs.]Văs'sal-aġe, n. p. 1464The state of being a vassal or feudatory. 2. Political servitude; dependence; subjection; slavery; as, the Greeks were long held in vassalage by the Turks.Văs'sal-ess, n. p. 1464A female vassal. [Rare.] Spenser.Văs'sal-ry, n. p. 1464The body of vassals. [Rare.]Vȧst, a. p. 1464Waste; desert; desolate; lonely. [Obs.] “The empty, vast, and wandering air.” Shak. 2. Being of great extent; very spacious or large; as, the vast ocean; a vast abyss; the vast empire of Russia; the…Vāst, n. p. 1464A waste region; boundless space. “The watery vast.” Pope. Through the vast of heaven it sounded. Milton.Vas-tā'tion, n. p. 1464A laying waste; waste; depopulation; devastation.Vas'tel, n. p. 1464See WASTEL. [Obs.] Fuller.Vas-tid'i-ty, n. p. 1464Vastness; immensity. [Obs. and rare.] “The world's vastidity.” Shak.Vāst'i-tūde, n. p. 1464Vastness; immense extent. [Rare.] Foster. 2. Destruction; vastation. [Obs.]Vāst'ly, adv. p. 1464To a vast extent or degree; very greatly; as, a space vastly extended; men differ vastly in their opinions and manners.Văst'ness, n. p. 1464The state or quality of being vast; great extent; immense bulk; enormous magnitude, amount, or importance; as, the vastness of the ocean or of space; the vastness of an army, or of the sums of money…Vāst'y, a. p. 1464Being of great extent; very spacious; immense; vast. [Rare.] I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Shak.Văt, n. p. 1464A large vessel or cistern; a large cask-like receptacle, especially one used for holding liquors as yet in an immature state, chemical preparations for dyeing, or for tanning leather, and the like.…