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.
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.Ver-sĭc'ū-lar, a. p. 1471Of, or pertaining to, verses; designating distinct divisions of a writing.Vĕr′si·fi·cā′tion, n. p. 1471The act, art, or practice, of versifying; construction of poetry; metrical composition.Vĕr'si-fi-cā'tor, n. p. 1471A versifier. [Rare.]Vĕr'si-fī'er, n. p. 1471One who versifies, or makes verses; as, not every versifier is a poet. 2. One who converts into verse; or one who expresses in verse the ideas of another written in prose; as, Dr. Watts was a…Vēr'si-fy, v. i. p. 1471To make verses. I'll versify in spite, and do my best. Dryden.Vĕr'si-fy, v. t. p. 1471To relate or describe in verse. I'll versify the truth. Daniel. 2. To turn into verse; as, to versify the Psalms.Vĕr'sion, n. p. 1471A change of form, direction, or the like; transformation; conversion; turning. [Obs.] “The version of air into water.” Bacon. 2. The act of translating; the rendering of thoughts or ideas, expressed…Vĕr'sion·ist, n. p. 1471One who makes or favors a version. [Rare.]Vérst, n. p. 1471A Russian measure of length containing 3501 feet; a verst.Vĕr'sus, prep. p. 1471Against; as, John Doe versus Richard Roe; — chiefly used in legal language.Ver-sūte', a. p. 1471Crafty; wily; cunning; artful. [Rare.]Vērt, n. p. 1471(Eng. Forest Law.) Every thing that grows and bears a green leaf within the forest; as, to preserve vert and venison is the duty of the verderer. 2. (Her.) A green color, represented in a drawing or…Vēr'te-ber, n. p. 1471A vertebra. [Obs.] See VERTEBRA.Vĕr'te-brā or VĒR'TE-BRÆ, n. p. 1471(Anat.) A joint or segment of the back-bone or spinal column in a fish, reptile, bird, or quadruped, and in man. Vertebræ in Man. a, atlas, or vertebra supporting the head; b, neural arch; c, spinous…Vĕr'te-bral, a. p. 1471Of, or pertaining to, the joints of the spine or back-bone. 2. Having a back-bone or spinal joints; as, vertebral animals.Vĕr'te-bral, n. p. 1471(Zoöl.) An animal of the class which have a back-bone; a vertebrate.Vĕr'te-brāte, n. p. 1471An animal having an internal jointed skeleton, the back-bone in which is called the vertebral or spinal column; an animal of the sub-kingdom of vertebrates, as a mammal, bird, reptile, or fish. See…Vĕr'te-brāte or Vĕr'te-brā'ted, a. p. 1471(Anat.) Having a back-bone, or vertebral column, containing the spinal marrow, as man, quadrupeds, birds, amphibia, and fishes. Cuvier. 2. (Bot.) Contracted at intervals, so as to resemble the spine…Vēr'te-bre, n. p. 1471A vertebra. [Obs.] See VERTEBRA.