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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Vérst, n.p. 1471A Russian measure of length containing 3501 feet; a verst.
  2. Vĕr'sus, prep.p. 1471Against; as, John Doe versus Richard Roe; — chiefly used in legal language.
  3. Ver-sūte', a.p. 1471Crafty; wily; cunning; artful. [Rare.]
  4. 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…
  5. Vēr'te-ber, n.p. 1471A vertebra. [Obs.] See VERTEBRA.
  6. 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…
  7. 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.
  8. Vĕr'te-bral, n.p. 1471(Zoöl.) An animal of the class which have a back-bone; a vertebrate.
  9. 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…
  10. 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…
  11. Vēr'te-bre, n.p. 1471A vertebra. [Obs.] See VERTEBRA.
  12. 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…
  13. 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…
  14. Vër'ti-cal, n.p. 1471Vertical position; zenith. [Rare.]
  15. Vĕr′ti-căl′i-ty, n.p. 1471The quality or state of being vertical. [Rare.] “The different points of verticality.” Browne.
  16. Vĕr'tie-al-ly, adv.p. 1471In a vertical manner; in the zenith; from above downward; as, to look down upon any thing vertically.
  17. Vĕr'ti-cal-ness, n.p. 1471The state of being vertical, or perpendicularly over the head.
  18. 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.]
  19. 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.…
  20. 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.
  21. Vēr'ti-cĭl'lus, n.p. 1471(Bot.) A whorl; a verticil.
  22. 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.
  23. Vĕr'ti-cle, n.p. 1471An axis; a hinge.
  24. Ver-tĭġ'i-nate, a.p. 1471Turned round; giddy. [Rare.] Coleridge.
  25. 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…
  26. Ver-tĭg'i-noŭs-ly, adv.p. 1471In a vertiginous manner; with a whirling or giddiness.
  27. Ver-tĭg'i-nous-ness, n.p. 1471The state or quality of being vertiginous; a whirling, or sense of whirling; unsteadiness; giddiness.
  28. 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…
  29. Vĕr'ti-līn'e-ar, a.p. 1471Straight; rectilinear. [Rare.]
  30. Vêr'vain, n.p. 1471(Bot.) A plant of the genus Verbena.
  31. Vĕr'vain-măl'lōw, n.p. 1471(Bot.) A species of mallow; the Malva alcea.
  32. Vêrve, n.p. 1471Excitement of imagination such as animates a poet, artist, or musician, in composing or performing; rapture; enthusiasm; animation; spirit; energy.
  33. Vêr'vels, n. pl.p. 1471See VARVELS.
  34. 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…
  35. 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…
  36. Vĕs'i-cal, a.p. 1471(Anat.) Of, or pertaining to the bladder. Dunglison.
  37. Vĕs'i-cant, n.p. 1471(Med.) A blistering application; an epispastic. Bigelow.
  38. 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.
  39. Vĕs/i-cā'tion, n.p. 1471The process of vesicating, or of raising blisters on the skin.
  40. Vĕs'i-ca-to-ry, n.p. 1471A blistering application or plaster; an epispastic.
  41. Vē'si-ca-to-ry, a.p. 1471Having a power to blister.
  42. Vĕs'i-cle, n.p. 1471A bladder-like vessel; a membranous cavity; a cyst; a cell; especially, (a.) (Bot.) A small bladder-like body in the substance of a vegetable, or upon the surface of a leaf. Gray. (b.) (Med.) A small…
  43. Ve-sic'ū-lar, a.p. 1471Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, vesicles. 2. Full of interstices; hollow. 3. Having little bladders or glands on the surface, as the leaf of a plant; bladdery; vesiculate.
  44. Ve-sic'ū-late, a.p. 1471Bladdery; full of bladders; vesicular.
  45. Ve-sĭc'ū-lōse' or Ve-sĭc'ū-lōūs, a.p. 1471Bladdery; vesicular; vesiculate.
  46. Vĕs'pa, n.p. 1471(Entom.) A genus of hymenopterous insects, including the wasps and hornets.
  47. Vĕs'per, n.p. 1471The evening star; Hesper; Venus; hence, the evening.
  48. Vēs'per, a.p. 1472Pertaining to the evening, or to the service of vespers; as, a vesper hymn.
  49. Vēs'pers, n. pl.p. 1472The evening song, or evening service, in the Roman Catholic church. Sicilian vespers. See SICILIAN.
  50. Vēs'per-tĭl'i-o, n.p. 1472(Zoöl.) A genus of animals, including the bat.
  51. Vĕs'per-tīne, a.p. 1472Of, or pertaining to, the evening; happening, or being, in the evening.
  52. Vēs'pi·a·ry, n.p. 1472The nest or habitation of insects of the wasp kind.
  53. Ves-pil'lo, n.p. 1472A grave-digger;—so called because he performed his office in the evening. [Obs.] Like vespilloes, or grave-makers, I am become stupid. Browne.
  54. Vēs'sel, n.p. 1472A utensil proper for holding any thing; a hollow dish of any kind, as a tun, a pipe, a puncheon, a hogshead, a barrel, a firkin, a bottle, a kettle, a cup, a dish, or the like. 2. Any structure made…
  55. Vĕs'sel, v. t.p. 1472To put into a vessel. [Obs.] Bacon.
  56. Vĕs'sel·ful, n.p. 1472As much as a vessel will hold; enough to fill a vessel.
  57. Vĕs'ses, n.p. 1472A kind of worsted cloth. [Eng.]
  58. Vēs'setsp. 1472Halliwell.
  59. Vĕs'sie-nŏn or Vĕs'sig-nŏn, n.p. 1472(Far.) A soft swelling on a horse's leg; a wind-gall.
  60. Vēst, n.p. 1472An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe. Addressed her early steps to Cynthia's fane, In state attended by her maiden train, Who bore the…