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.
Veer'a-ble, a. p. 1464Changeable; shifting. Randolph.Veer'ing-ly, adv. p. 1464In a veering manner.Vē'gȧ, n. p. 1464(Astron.) A brilliant star of the first magnitude, the brightest of those constituting the constellation Lyra.Vēg'e-ta-bīl'i-ty, n. p. 1464State or quality of being vegetable; vegetable nature; the quality of growth without sensation. [Obs.]Vĕġ'e-ta-ble, n. p. 1464An organized body destitute of sense and voluntary motion, deriving its nourishment through pores on its outer surface, or vessels in most instances adhering to some other body, as the earth, and in…Vĕġ'e-ta-ble, a. p. 1465Belonging or relating to plants; as, a vegetable nature; vegetable qualities; vegetable juices. 2. Consisting of, or comprising, plants; as, the vegetable kingdom. 3. Having the nature of plants.…Vĕġ'e-tal, a. p. 1465Pertaining to, or in the nature of, a vegetable; vegetable. “All creatures vegetal, sensible, and rational.” Burton. 2. (Physiol.) Of, or pertaining to, that class of vital phenomena common to plants…Vĕġ'e-tal, n. p. 1465A vegetable. [Rare.]Vĕġ'e-tăl'i-ty, n. p. 1465The state or quality of being vegetal, or vegetable; vegetability. [Rare.]Vĕġ'e-tā'ri-an, n. p. 1465One who holds that vegetables constitute the only proper food for man, and who lives solely upon them. Dunglison.Vĕġ'e-tā'ri-an, a. p. 1465Of, or pertaining to, vegetarianism; as, a vegetarian diet.Vĕġ'e-tā'ri-an-ĭsm, n. p. 1465The theory and practice of living solely on vegetables. Dunglison.Vĕġ'e-tāte, v. i. p. 1465To grow, as plants; to grow and be enlarged by nutriment imbibed by means of roots and leaves; to sprout; to germinate. See dying vegetables life sustain, See life dissolving vegetate again. Pope. 2.…Vĕġ'e-tā'tion, n. p. 1465The act or process of vegetating or growing, as a plant; vegetable growth. 2. The sum of vegetable life; vegetables or plants in general. Vegetation of salts (Chem.), a crystalline concretion formed…Vĕġ'e-tā'tĭve, a. p. 1465Growing, or having the power of growing, as plants. 2. Having the power to produce growth in plants; as, the vegetative properties of soil. 3. (Zoöl.) Partaking of simple growth and enlargement of…Vĕġ'e-tā'tĭve-ness, n. p. 1465The quality of being vegetative.Ve-ġēte', a. p. 1465Lively; active; sprightly; vigorous. [Obs.] Even her body was made airy and vegete. Bp. Taylor.Vĕġ'e-tĭve, a. p. 1465Having the nature of plants; vegetable; as, vegetive life. [Rare.] Tusser.Vĕġ'e-tĭve, n. p. 1465A vegetable. [Obs. and rare.] The blest infusions That dwell in vegetives, in metals, stones. Shak.Vĕġ'e-to-ăn'i-mal, a. p. 1465Partaking of the nature both of vegetable and animal matter;—a term sometimes applied to vegetable albumen and gluten, from their resemblance, in appearance and properties, to similar animal products.Vĕġ'e-toŭs, a. p. 1465Vigorous; lively; vegete. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Vē'he-mençe, n. p. 1465The quality of being vehement; impetuous force; impetuosity; violence; as, the vehemence of wind or noise;—applied also to any kind of forcible action; as, to speak with vehemence. I do not, with…Vē'he-men-çy, n. p. 1465Vehemence. [Rare.]Vē'he-ment, a. p. 1465Acting with great force; furious; impetuous; forcible; mighty; as, a vehement wind; a vehement torrent; a vehement fire or heat. 2. Very ardent; very eager or urgent; very fervent; as, a vehement…Vē'he-ment-ly, adv. p. 1465In a vehement manner; with great force and violence; urgently; forcibly.Vē'hi-cle, n. p. 1465That in which any thing is or may be carried, as a coach, wagon, cart, carriage, or the like; a conveyance. 2. That which is used as the instrument of conveyance or communication. A simple style…Vē'hi-cled, a. p. 1465Conveyed in, or furnished with, a vehicle. Green.Ve-hic'ū-lar or Ve-hic'ū-la-ry, a. p. 1465Of, pertaining to, or serving, as a vehicle.Veh'mie, a. p. 1465Of, or pertaining to, a secret society in Germany during the middle ages, which, for a time, held a powerful sway over the people by their terrible executions. Brande.Veil, n. p. 1465Something to intercept the view, and hide an object; especially, a screen, usually of thin gauze or similar material, to hide or protect the face; a cover; a curtain. She, as a veil, down to the…Veil, v. t. p. 1465[Written also vail. 1. To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil. Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight, Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined. Milton. 2. To invest; to cover; to…Veil'less, a. p. 1465Not having, or being covered with, a veil; uncovered; open.Vein, n. p. 1465(Anat.) A vessel in animal bodies, which receives the blood from the capillaries, and returns it to the heart; a blood-vessel. 2. (Bot.) A small rib or branch of the frame-work of leaves, &c.;—called…Vein, v. t. p. 1465To form or mark with veins; to fill or cover with veins.Vein'al, a. p. 1465Of, or relating to, veins; veinous.Veined, a. p. 1465Full of veins; streaked; variegated; as, veined marble. 2. Hence, diverse; various; multiform. [Rare.] In thy prayers reckon up The sum, in gross, of all thy veined follies. Ford. 3. (Bot.) Having…Vein'less, a. p. 1466Having no veins; as, a veinless leaf.Vein'let, n. p. 1466(Bot.) A small vein, branching out from a larger one. Henslow.Vein'ōüs, a. p. 1466Marked with veins, veined; veiny. The excellent old gentleman's nails are long and leaden, and his hands lean and veinous. Dickens.Vein'-stōne, n. p. 1466The rock or mineral material which accompanies or incloses ores in veins; the gangue. Ure.Vein'y, a. p. 1466Full of veins; veined; as, veiny marble.Vē'late, a. p. 1466(Bot.) Having a veil; veiled. Gray.Vēle, n. p. 1466A veil. [Obs. and rare.] Spenser.Ve-lif'er-oûs, a. p. 1466Bearing, or carrying, sails. [Obs.] Evelyn.Vĕl'i-tā'tion, n. p. 1466A dispute or contest; a slight skirmish. [Obs.] After a short velitation we parted. Evelyn.Ve-liv'o-lant, a. p. 1466Flying with sails; passing under full sail. [Rare.]Vĕll, n. p. 1466The salted stomach of a calf, used in making cheese; a rennet-bag. [Prov. Eng.]Vĕll, v. t. p. 1466To cut the turf or sward from, as land. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Vel-lê'i-ty, n. p. 1466The lowest degree of desire; imperfect or incomplete volition. It quite dispirits religion by placing it in languid, abortive velleities, and so cuts up the nerve of all endeavor. South.Vĕl'let, n. p. 1466Velvet. [Obs.] See VELVET.Vĕl'li-cāte, v. t. p. 1466To twitch; to stimulate; to cause to twitch convulsively. Convulsions, arising from some vellicating nerve at its extremity, are not dangerous. Arbuthnot.Vĕl'li-cāte, v. i. p. 1466To move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.Vĕl'li-eā'tion, n. p. 1466The act of twitching, or of causing to twitch. 2. (Med.) A local twitching or convulsive motion of a muscular fiber, especially of the face.Vĕl'li-ca-tive, a. p. 1466Having the power of vellicating, plucking, or twitching; causing vellication.Vellon, n. p. 1466Strictly, a certain copper coin; also, a money of account in many parts of Spain. Simmonds.Vĕl'lum, n. p. 1466A finer kind of parchment or skin, rendered clear and white for writing.Vĕl'lum-pōst, n. p. 1466A superior kind of writing-paper.Vĕl'lum-y, a. p. 1466Resembling vellum.Vĕl'o-çĭm'e-ter, n. p. 1466An apparatus for measuring the speed of machinery. Simmonds.Ve-lŏç'i-pēde, n. p. 1466A light road-carriage for a single person, originally propelled by the action of the rider in striking the tips of his toes on the road-way, but more commonly now by his action on a bar or pedal…