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.
Vĕr'mi-cūle, n. p. 1470A little worm or grub; also, a worm-like body. [Rare.] Derham.Ver-mic'ū-līte, n. p. 1470(Min.) A mineral having a granular, scaly structure, and resembling steatite in appearance, consisting chiefly of silica, alumina, and magnesia;—so called because the scales, when heated, open out…Ver-mic'ū-lōse' or Ver-mic'ū-lous, a. p. 1470Containing worms; full of worms or grubs. 2. Resembling worms.Vĕr'mi-fōrm, a. p. 1470Having the form or shape of a worm; as, the vermiform process of the cerebellum.Ver-mif'ū-gal, a. p. 1470(Med.) Tending to prevent or destroy vermin, or to expel worms.Vĕr'mi-fūge, n. p. 1470(Med.) A medicine or substance that expels worms from animal bodies; an anthelmintic.Vēr'mil, n. p. 1470Vermilion; vermeil. [Obs.] Spenser.Ver-mil'ion, n. p. 1470A substance consisting of sulphuret or sulphide of mercury, especially when in the form of a fine powder. It is of a bright, beautiful red color, and is much used as a pigment, and to color wafers…Ver-mil'ion, v. t. p. 1470To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to dye red; to cover with a delicate red.Vĕr'mi-ly, n. p. 1470Vermeil; vermilion. [Obs.] Spenser.Vēr'min, n. sing. & pl. p. 1470used chiefly as plural. [Fr. vermine, Pr. vermena, It. vermine, L. Lat. vermen, a worm, from Lat. vermis, a worm.] 1. An animal in general. [Obs.] “Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of…Vēr′mi-nāte, v. i. p. 1470To breed vermin.Vĕr/mi-nā'tion, n. p. 1470Generation or breeding of vermin. Derham. 2. A griping of the bowels.Vĕr'min-ly, a. p. 1470Like vermin; of the nature of vermin. [Obs.]Vĕr'min-ly, adv. p. 1470In the manner of vermin; like vermin. [Obs.]Vĕr'min-oûs, a. p. 1470Tending to breed vermin; full of, or infested by, vermin. The verminous disposition of the body. Harvey. 2. Caused by, or arising from the presence of, vermin; as, verminous disease.Vēr'min-oûs-ly, adv. p. 1470In a verminous manner; so as to breed vermin; as if infested by vermin.Ver-mip’a-roûs, a. p. 1470Producing worms. Bronson.Ver-mív'o-roûs, a. p. 1470Devouring worms; feeding on worms; as, vermivorous birds.Ver-mŏnt'er, n. p. 1470(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Vermont.Věr'mont·ēse, n. sing. & pl. p. 1470(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Vermont; in the plural, the people of Vermont; — used in colloquial or humorous language.Ver-nă'cŭ-lar, a. p. 1470Belonging to the country of one's birth; one's own by birth or nature; native; as, English is our vernacular language. He became the favorite . . . of his instructor, whose regard he appears to have…Ver-năc'ē-lar, n. p. 1470The vernacular language; one's mother tongue.Ver-nā'cu-lar-ism, n. p. 1470A vernacular idiom.Ver-nāc'ē-lār-ly, adv. p. 1470In a vernacular manner; in the vernacular.Ver-năc'ū-lōus, a. p. 1470Vernacular; indigenous; native. 2. Scoffing; insolent; scurrilous. [A Latinism.] These men [are] subject to the petulancy of every vernaculous orator. — B. Jonson.Vĕr'nage, n. p. 1470A kind of sweet wine from Italy. [Obs.] — Chaucer.Vĕr'nal, a. p. 1470Belonging to the spring; appearing in spring; as, vernal bloom. “And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.” — Milton. Vernal flowers are preparatives to autumnal fruits. Rambler. 2. Hence…Vēr'nant, a. p. 1470Flourishing, as in spring; vernal. [Obs.] “Vernant flowers.” Milton.Vĕr'nāte, v. i. p. 1470To become young again. [Obs.]Ver-nā'tion, n. p. 1470(Bot.) The disposition of the leaves within the bud; prefoliation.Vĕr'ni-cōse', a. p. 1470(Bot.) Appearing as if varnished, as some leaves. — Gray.Vēr'nier, n. p. 1470A short scale made to slide along the divisions of a graduated instrument, as the limb of a sextant, or the scale of a barometer, for indicating parts of divisions. It is so graduated that a certain…Vēr'nīle, a. p. 1470Suiting a slave; servile. “The example hourly ringing in their ears of vernile scurrility.” De Quincey.Ver-nil'i-ty, n. p. 1470Fawning or obsequious behavior, like that of a slave; servility. [Obs.] — Bailey.Vēr'o-nēse', a. p. 1470(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Verona in Italy.Vĕr'/o-nēse', n. sing. & pl. p. 1470(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Verona; in the plural, the people of Verona.Ve-rōn'i-cā, n. p. 1470A portrait or representation of the face of our Savior on handkerchiefs. 2. (Bot.) A genus of plants; speedwell.Vĕr'rel, n. p. 1470The ring at the end of a cane, ramrod, and the like; a ferrule. See FERRULE.Ver-rŭ'çi-form, a. p. 1470Having the shape of a wart.Vĕr'ru-cōse or Vĕr'ru-cous, a. p. 1470Having little knobs or warts on the surface; warty; as, a verrucous capsule.Ver-rŭ'cu-lōse', a. p. 1470Having minute, wart-like prominences.Vēr'sa-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1470The state or quality of being versable; capability of being turned round. [Obs.]Vĕr'sa-ble, a. p. 1470Capable of being turned. [Obs.]Vêr'sa-ble-ness, n. p. 1470The state or quality of being versatile; versability.Vĕr'sal, a. p. 1470Universal. [Obs. or low.]Vêr'sant, a. p. 1470Familiar, conversant. [Rare.] Men not versant with courts of justice will not believe it. Sydney Smith.Vĕr'sa-tile, a. p. 1470Capable of being turned round. [Rare.] Harte. 2. Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady; as, a man of versatile disposition. Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . .…Vêr'sa-tile-ly, adv. p. 1470In a versatile manner.Vĕr'sa-tile-ness, n. p. 1470The state or quality of being versatile; versatility.Vĕr'sa-tĭl'i-ty, n. p. 1470The state or quality of being versatile; aptness to change; readiness to be turned; variableness. 2. The faculty of easily turning one's mind to new tasks or subjects; as, the versatility of genius.Vĕrse, n. p. 1470A line consisting of a certain number of long and short syllables, disposed according to metrical rules. ☞ Verses are of various kinds, as hexameter, pentameter, and tetrameter, &c., according to the…Vĕrse, v. t. p. 1470To tell in verse; to relate poetically. [Obs.] “Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love.” Shak.Vêrse, v. i. p. 1470To make verses; to versify. [Obs.] It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet. Sidney.Vĕrsed, p. a. p. 1470Acquainted or familiar, as the result of experience, study, practice, and the like; skilled; practiced. “Deep versed in books.” Milton. Those opinions which he derived from studying the Scriptures…Vĕrse'man or Vĕrse'mōn'ger, n. p. 1470A writer of verses; a manufacturer of poetry; a poetaster; — used humorously or in contempt. Prior.Vĕrs'er, n. p. 1470A maker of verses; a versifier; a verse-man, or versemonger. B. Jonson.Vĕrs'et, n. p. 1470A verse. [Obs. and rare.]Vĕr'si-cle, n. p. 1470A little verse. The psalms were in number fifteen . . . being digested into versicles. Stryne.Vĕr'si-cōl'or or Vĕr'si-cōl'ored, a. p. 1470Having various colors; changeable in color.