Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Ve-lŏç'i-ty, n. p. 1466Quickness of motion; swiftness; speed; celerity; rapidity; as, the velocity of wind; the velocity of a planet or comet in its orbit or course; the velocity of a cannon-ball; the velocity of light. ☞…Vĕl'ūre, n. p. 1466Velvet. [Obs.] Shak.Ve-lū'ti-noŭs, a. p. 1466(Bot.) Feeling like velvet; soft. Gray.Vĕl'ver-ĕt', n. p. 1466A kind of fustian. Simmonds.Vĕl'vet, n. p. 1466A soft material woven wholly from silk, or of silk and cotton mixed, having a loose pile or short shag of thread on the surface. Cotton velvet, an imitation of velvet, made of cotton;—called also…Vĕl'vet, v. i. p. 1466To paint velvet. [Rare.] Peacham.Vĕl'vet, v. t. p. 1466To make like velvet; to cover with velvet. [Rare.]Vĕl'vet, a. p. 1466Made of velvet; or soft and delicate, like velvet. “The cowslip’s velvet head.” Milton.Vĕl'vet-een',, n. p. 1466A kind of cloth made of cotton, in imitation of velvet; cotton velvet.Vĕl'vet-ing, n. p. 1466The fine shag of velvet; a piece of velvet; velvet goods.Vĕl'vet-răn'ner, n. p. 1466(Ornith.) A kind of bird having feathers black and smooth like velvet.Vĕl'vet-seō'ter, n. p. 1466(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Oidemia (O. fusca); a kind of black duck. Yarrell.Vĕl'vet-y, a. p. 1466Made of velvet, or like velvet; soft; smooth; delicate.