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.
Vĭ'ciōus-ness, n. p. 1474The state or quality of being vicious; addictedness to vice; corruptness of moral principles or practice; defectiveness; faultiness; wickedness. What makes a governor justly despised, is viciousness…Vĭ-cĭs'ĭ-tūde, n. p. 1474Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. God made two great lights . . . To illuminate the earth and rule the day In their vicissitude, and…Vī-cĭs'sĭ-tū'dĭ-na-ry, a. p. 1474Subject to vicissitudes; changing in succession. [Rare.] Donne.Vī-cĭs'si-tū'di-noūs, a. p. 1474Full of changes. 2. Marked by, or subject to, a regular series or succession of changes.Vĭ-çis'sy-dŭck, n. p. 1474(Ornith.) A West Indian water fowl, smaller than the European duck, and affording excellent food. Simmonds.Vī-cōn’ti-el, a. p. 1474(Eng. Law.) Of, or pertaining to, the sheriff. Vicontiel rents, certain rents for which the sheriff pays a rent to the king.—Vicontiel writs, such writs as are triable in the county or sheriff court.Vī-coun’ti-els, n. pl. p. 1474(O. Eng. Law.) Things belonging to the sheriff; especially, farms for which the sheriff pays rent to the king.Vi'count, n. p. 1474The same as VISCOUNT, q. v. [Obs.]Vic'tim, n. p. 1474A living being sacrificed to some deity, or in the performance of a religious rite; a creature immolated, or made an offering of. The victim ox and snowy sheep prepare. Addison. 2. A person or thing…Vĭc'tim-āte, v. t. p. 1474To make a victim of; to sacrifice. [Obs.] Bullokar.Vic'tim-ize, v. t. p. 1474To make a victim of; to sacrifice or destroy. [Colloq.]Vĭc'tor, n. p. 1474The winner in a contest; one who gets the better of another in any struggle; especially, one who conquers in war; a vanquisher; one who defeats an enemy in battle;—often followed by at, rarely by of.…Vĭc'tor, a. p. 1474Gaining the victory; victorious. “The victor Greeks.” Pope.Vic'tor-ess, n. p. 1474A female who vanquishes; a victress. [Obs.] Spenser.Vie-tō'ri-a, n. p. 1474(Bot.) A genus of aquatic plants named in honor of Queen Victoria. The V. regia is a native of Guiana and Brazil; its large, spreading leaves are from three to five feet in diameter, and have a rim…Vic'tor-ine', n. p. 1474A lady's fur tippet. Simmonds. 2. A fruit allied to the peach. H. Miller.Vie-tō'ri-oūs, a. p. 1474Belonging or relating to victory, or a victor; having conquered in battle or contest; having overcome an enemy; conquering; winning; triumphant; as, a victorious general; victorious troops; a…Vic-tō'ri-oūs-ly, adv. p. 1474In a victorious manner; with conquest; triumphantly.Vic-tō'ri-ōus-ness, n. p. 1474The state of being victorious; triumph.Vic'to-ry, n. p. 1474The defeat of an enemy in battle, or of an antagonist in contest; a gaining of the superiority in war, struggle, or combat; conquest; triumph. God on our side, doubt not of victory. Shak. Victory may…Vĭe'tress, n. p. 1474A female victor.Vic'trice p. 1474Shak.Vict'ual, n. p. 1474Food; — not now used except in the plural. See VICTUALS. He was not able to keep that place three days for lack of victual. Knolles.Vīct’ual, v. t. p. 1474To supply with provisions for subsistence; to provide with food; to store with sustenance; as, to victual an army; to victual a garrison. I must go victual Orleans. Shak. The town is well victualed.…Vict’ual-age, n. p. 1474Victuals; food; provisions; viands. [Rare.] (C. Brontë.Vict’ualer, n. p. 1474One who furnishes victuals or provisions. 2. A corn-factor. [Scot.] 3. One who keeps a house of entertainment; a tavern-keeper. Shak. 4. A ship employed to carry provisions for other ships, or for…Vict'ual-ing-house, n. p. 1474A house where provision is made for strangers to eat. [Written also victualling-house.]Vict'uals, n. pl. p. 1474Food for human beings, prepared for eating; that which supports human life; provisions; meat; sustenance. You had musty victuals, and he hath holp to eat it. Shak. This word is never applied to that…Vicugna or Vicuna, n. p. 1474(Zoöl.) A ruminant mammal (Lama [or Auchnia] vicugna), of the family Bovidae, and tribe Camelina, a native of South America. It is closely allied to the guanaco and paco, in size, both of which it…Vĭ'-dàme', n. p. 1475(Fr. Feudal Law.) One of a class of officers who originally represented the bishops, and who subsequently erected their offices into fiefs, and became feudal nobles. Brande.Vĭ'de, v. p. 1475imper. [Lat., imper. of videre, to see.] See;—used to direct attention to something.Vĭz-dē'li-cet, adv. p. 1475To wit; namely;—often abbreviated to viz.Vi-dĕtte’, n. p. 1475(Mil.) A mounted sentinel; a vedette. See VEDETTE.Vi-dō'ni·ä, n. p. 1475A white wine produced in Teneriffe, of a tart flavor. See TENERIFFE.Vĭd'ū-age, n. p. 1475The state of widows or widowhood; widows taken collectively.Vid'ū-al, a. p. 1475Of, or pertaining to, the state of a widow; widowed. [Rare.] Bp. Taylor.Vid'-ū-ā'tion, n. p. 1475The state of being widowed or bereaved; loss; bereavement. [Rare.]Vī-dū'i-ty, n. p. 1475Widowhood. [Rare.] “Chaste viduity.” Ld. Ellenborough.Vie, v. i. p. 1475To strive for superiority; to contend; to use emulous effort, as in a race, contest, competition, rivalship, or strife. In a trading nation, the younger sons may be placed in a way of life to vie…Vie, v. t. p. 1475To do or produce in emulation with others; to put in competition with; to bandy; to stake; to wager. Nor was he set over us to vie wisdom with his Parliament, but to be guided by them. Milton. And…Vie, n. p. 1475A contest for superiority; emulation; rivalry; strife. [Obs.] We'll all to church together instantly, And then a vie for boys. Beau. & Fl.Vi-ělle', n. p. 1475A stringed instrument played upon with a wheel; a hurdy-gurdy.Viën-nēse', a. p. 1475(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Vienna, or to the people of Vienna.Vi'en-nēse', n. sing. & pl. p. 1475(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Vienna; in the plural, the people of Vienna.View, v. t. p. 1475To look at with attention, or for the purpose of examining; to behold; to examine with the eye; to inspect; to explore. Let me view his visage, being dead. Shak. Nearer to view his prey, and unespied…View, n. p. 1475The act of seeing or beholding; sight; survey; examination by the eye; inspection. I thought thee worth my nearer view. Milton. Objects near our view are thought greater than those of larger size…View'er, n. p. 1475One who views, surveys, or examines. 2. (Law.) A town officer whose duty it is to inspect something; as, a viewer of fences, who inspects them to determine whether they are sufficient in law. 3. The…View'less, a. p. 1475Not to be viewed, beheld, or seen; not perceivable by the eye; invisible; as, viewless winds. Shak. Swift through the valves the visionary fair Repassed, and viewless mixed with common air. Pope.View'ly or View'sōme, a. p. 1475Striking to the view; pleasing to the sight. [North of Eng.] Halliwell.Vīf'dā, n. p. 1475In the Orkney and Shetland Islands, beef and mutton hung and dried, but not salted. [Scot.] [Written also vieda.] Jamieson. W. Scott.Vī-gĕs'i-mal, a. p. 1475Twentieth; divided into, or consisting of, twenties or twenty parts.Vī-ge'si-mā'tion, n. p. 1475The act of putting to death every twentieth man. [Rare.]Vī-gĕs'ĭ-mo-quar'to, a. p. 1475Formed of sheets folded so as to make twenty-four leaves; of, or equal to the size of, one fold of a sheet of printing paper, when doubled so as to make twenty-four leaves; as, a vigesimo-quarto book.Vī-gĕs'i-mo-quar'to, n. p. 1475A book composed of sheets folded so as to make twenty-four leaves; a vigesimo-quarto book. 2. The size of a book thus composed; — usually indicated thus: 24mo., or 24°.Vĭg'il, n. p. 1475Abstinence from sleep, either usual sleep or at the customary time; the act of keeping awake; sleeplessness; watch. Nothing wears out a fine face like the vigils of the card-table and those cutting…Vĭg'i-lance, n. p. 1475The state or quality of being vigilant; forbearance of sleep; wakefulness; watchfulness; circumspection. The flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthly charge; of these the vigilance I dread.…Vī'g'i-lan-cy, n. p. 1475Vigilance. [Obs.] Fuller.Vĭg'i-lant, a. p. 1475Attentive to discover and avoid danger, or to provide for safety; wakeful; watchful; circumspect. Be sober, be vigilant. 1 Pet. v. 8. Take your places, and be vigilant. Shak.Vĭg'i-lant-ly, adv. p. 1475In a vigilant manner; watchfully; circumspectly.Vī'g'in-tiv'i-rate p. 1475A body of officers of government consisting of twenty men. [Rare.] Murphy.