Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
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.
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.…Văt, v. t. p. 1464To put into a vat. [Rare.]Văt'ful, n. p. 1464As much as a vat will hold; enough to fill a vat.Vāt'i-can, n. p. 1464A magnificent assemblage of buildings, including one of the pope’s palaces, a museum, a library, &c., situated at the foot of one of the seven hills on which Rome is built, and adjoining the Church…Vāt'i-can-ist, n. p. 1464One who strongly adheres to the papal authority; a devoted Roman Catholic.Vāt'i-cīde, n. p. 1464The murder of a prophet. 2. One who murders a prophet.Va-tĭc'i-nal, a. p. 1464Of, pertaining to, or containing, prophecy; foretelling.Va-tĭc'i-nāte, v. i. p. 1464To prophesy; to foretell; to practice prediction. [Rare.] Howell.Va-tic'i-nāte, v. t. p. 1464To foretell; to prophesy.Va-tic′-i-nā′-tion, n. p. 1464Prediction; prophecy. Human nature utters itself with passion; but yet it is not a false utterance; it is a true, though an impetuous, vaticination. I. Taylor.Va-tĭc'/i-nā'/tor, n. p. 1464One who vaticinates; a prophet.Vāt'i-cīne, n. p. 1464A prediction; a vaticination. [Obs.]Vaude'ville, n. p. 1464A kind of song of a lively character, frequently embodying a satire on some person or event, sung to a familiar air in couplets with a refrain; a street song. 2. A theatrical piece, usually a comedy…Vau-dois’, n. sing. & pl. p. 1464(Geog.) An inhabitant, or the inhabitants, of the Swiss canton of Vaud. See WALDENSES.Vault, n. p. 1464A continued arch, or an arched roof or ceiling; a covering and enveloping arch. “That heaven’s vault should crack.” Shak. 2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing…Vault, v. t. p. 1464To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch (or to arch); as, to vault a passage to a court. “The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley.” W. Scott. 2. To leap…Vault, v. i. p. 1464[O. Fr. volter, N. Fr. voltiger, Sp. & Pg. voltear, It. voltare, Lat. volutare, v. intens. from volvere, volutum, to roll, turn about. See supra.) 1. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring. “Vaulting…Vault'age, n. p. 1464Vaulted work; an arched cellar. [Obs.] Shak.Vault'ed, a. p. 1464L. Arched; concave; as, a vaulted roof. 2. Covered with an arch or vault. 3. (Bot.) Arched like the roof of the mouth, as the upper lip of many ringent flowers.Vault'er, n. p. 1464One who vaults; a leaper; a tumbler.Vault'y, a. p. 1464Arched; concave. [Obs.]Väunçe, v. i. p. 1464To advance. [Obs.]Väunt, v. i. p. 1464To boast; to make a vain display of one's own worth, attainments, or decorations; to talk with vain ostentation; to brag. Pride . . . prompts a man to vaunt and overvalue what he is. Gov. of the…Väunt, v. t. p. 1464To boast of; to make a vain display of; to display with ostentation. Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 1 Cor. xiii. 4. My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. Milton. 2. To put…Väunt, n. p. 1464A vain display of what one is, or has, or has done; ostentation from vanity; boast. Him I seduced With other vaunts and other promises. Milton.Vānt, n. p. 1464The first part. [Obs.] Shak.Vāunt'-courier, n. p. 1464An avant-courier; a precursor. [Obs.]Väunt'er, n. p. 1464One who vaunts; a boaster; a braggart; a man given to vain ostentation.Väunt'ful, a. p. 1464Given to vaunting or boasting; vainly ostentatious; boastful. [Rare.]