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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Vĕr'tex, n. p. 1471A turning-point; principal or highest point; top; summit; crown; hence, specifically, (a.) The crown of the head. (b.) The zenith, or point of the heavens directly overhead. 2. (Math.) The point in…Vĕr'ti-cal, a. p. 1471Situated at the vertex, or highest point; directly over head, or in the zenith; perpendicularly above one. “Charity itself, which is the vertical top of all religion.” Bp. Taylor. 2. Perpendicular to…Vër'ti-cal, n. p. 1471Vertical position; zenith. [Rare.]Vĕr′ti-căl′i-ty, n. p. 1471The quality or state of being vertical. [Rare.] “The different points of verticality.” Browne.Vĕr'tie-al-ly, adv. p. 1471In a vertical manner; in the zenith; from above downward; as, to look down upon any thing vertically.Vĕr'ti-cal-ness, n. p. 1471The state of being vertical, or perpendicularly over the head.Vĕr'ti-cĭll, n. p. 1471(Bot.) A little whorl; a mode of inflorescence in which the flowers surround the stem in a kind of ring. [Written also verticel.]Vēr'ti-cil-lās'ter, n. p. 1471(Bot.) One of two close, compact cymes, situated one in each axil of the opposite leaves, and together forming a cluster which surrounds the stem, like a whorl or verticil, as in most labiate plants.…Ver-tĭç'ĭl-late or Ver-tĭç'ĭl-lā'ted, a. p. 1471Ver-tĭç'ĭl-lā'ted, [N. Lat. verticillatus, It. verticillato, Fr. verticillé. See supra.] (Bot.) Arranged in a ring or whorl; arranged around a stem or pedicel, like the rays of a wheel.Vēr'ti-cĭl'lus, n. p. 1471(Bot.) A whorl; a verticil.Ver-tĭç'i-ty, n. p. 1471The power of turning; revolution; rotation. [R.] Locke. I hardly believe he hath from elder times unknown the verticity of the lodestone. Browne.Vĕr'ti-cle, n. p. 1471An axis; a hinge.Ver-tĭġ'i-nate, a. p. 1471Turned round; giddy. [Rare.] Coleridge.Ver-tĭġ'i-noŭs, a. p. 1471Turning round; whirling; rotary; as, a vertiginous motion. “Some vertiginous whirl of fortune.” De Quincey. 2. Affected with vertigo; giddy; dizzy. They [the angels] grew vertiginous, and fell from…Ver-tĭg'i-noŭs-ly, adv. p. 1471In a vertiginous manner; with a whirling or giddiness.Ver-tĭg'i-nous-ness, n. p. 1471The state or quality of being vertiginous; a whirling, or sense of whirling; unsteadiness; giddiness.Vĕr'ti-go, n. p. 1471Dizziness or swimming of the head; an affection of the head, in which objects appear to move in various directions, though stationary, and the person affected finds it difficult to maintain an erect…Vĕr'ti-līn'e-ar, a. p. 1471Straight; rectilinear. [Rare.]Vêr'vain, n. p. 1471(Bot.) A plant of the genus Verbena.Vĕr'vain-măl'lōw, n. p. 1471(Bot.) A species of mallow; the Malva alcea.Vêrve, n. p. 1471Excitement of imagination such as animates a poet, artist, or musician, in composing or performing; rapture; enthusiasm; animation; spirit; energy.Vêr'vels, n. pl. p. 1471See VARVELS.Vĕr'y, a. p. 1471True; real; actual. “Whether thou be my very son Esau or not.” Gen. xxvii. 21. He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Prov. xvii. 9. I looked on the consideration of public service or…Vĕr'y, adv. p. 1471In a high degree; to no small extent; exceedingly; excessively; as, a very great mountain; a very bright sun; a very cold day; a very pernicious war; a very benevolent disposition; the river flows…Vĕs'i-cal, a. p. 1471(Anat.) Of, or pertaining to the bladder. Dunglison.Vĕs'i-cant, n. p. 1471(Med.) A blistering application; an epispastic. Bigelow.Vĕs'ĭ-cāte, v. t. p. 1471To raise little bladders or blisters upon; to inflame and separate the cuticle of; to blister; as, to vesicate the external parts of wounds. [Rare.] Wiseman.Vĕs/i-cā'tion, n. p. 1471The process of vesicating, or of raising blisters on the skin.Vĕs'i-ca-to-ry, n. p. 1471A blistering application or plaster; an epispastic.Vē'si-ca-to-ry, a. p. 1471Having a power to blister.