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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. Vĭ'o-lent-ly, adv.p. 1477In a violent manner; with force; forcibly; vehemently; as, the wind blows violently. Forfeitures must not be exacted violently. Bp. Taylor.
  2. Vī'o-lē's'cent, a.p. 1477Tending to a violet color; violascent.
  3. Vĭ'o-lĕt, n.p. 1477(Bot.) A plant and flower of the genus Viola, of many species. They are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are of some shade of blue. 2. The color seen in a…
  4. Vī'o-lĕt, a.p. 1477Dark blue, inclining to red; red and blue combined.
  5. Vī'o-lĕt-shĕll, n.p. 1477(Zoöl.) A mollusk of the genus Ianthina, having a shell of a fine violet-blue color.
  6. Vi'o-lĕt-wŏŏd, n.p. 1477A kind of wood obtained in Guiana, and used for turning. It is the product of the Andira violacea. Simmonds.
  7. Vī/o-līn', n.p. 1477(Mus.) An instrument with four strings, played with a bow; a fiddle. ☞ The violin is distinguished for the brilliancy and gayety, as well as the power and variety, of its tones, and in the orchestra…
  8. Vī'o-līne, n.p. 1477(Chem.) A white, poisonous principle of an alkaline nature, obtained from the different parts of the plant Viola odorata.
  9. Vī'o-līn'ist, n.p. 1477A player on a violin.
  10. Vī'ol-ist, n.p. 1477A player on the viol; a violinist.
  11. Vĭ'o-lon-çel'list, n.p. 1477One who plays on the violoncello.
  12. Vĭ'o-lon-cĕl'lo, n.p. 1477(Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a base-viol of four strings, or a base-violin with long, large strings, giving sounds an octave lower than the tenor violin.
  13. Violone, n.p. 1477(Mus.) The largest instrument of the base-viol kind, having strings tuned an octave below those of the violoncello; the contra-basso;—called also double-base. [Written also violono.]
  14. Vī'o-lōŭs, a.p. 1477Violent. [Obs.]
  15. Vī'per, n.p. 1477(Zoöl.) One of a family of poisonous reptiles belonging to the order of the snakes. The species are found mostly in Africa and Asia. There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. Acts…
  16. Vī'per-ine, a.p. 1478Of, or pertaining to, a viper, or to vipers.
  17. Vī'per-ish, a.p. 1478Like a viper; viperous.
  18. Vī'per-ous, a.p. 1478Having the qualities of a viper; malignant; venomous; as, a viperous tongue. “This viperous slander.” Shak.
  19. Vī'per's-bū'gloss, n.p. 1478(Bot.) A plant of the genus Echium, some species of which are cultivated for their beauty.
  20. Vī'per's-grāss, n.p. 1478(Bot.) A plant of the genus Scorzonera, some species of which have edible roots, which are sometimes used as food.
  21. Vī'ra-ğin'i-an, a.p. 1478Having the qualities of a virago.
  22. Vī'ra-gĭn'i-ty, n.p. 1478The qualities or character of a virago.
  23. Vī-rā'go, n.p. 1478A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a female who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a female warrior. To arms! to arms! the fierce virago cries. Pope. 2. Hence, a…
  24. Vire, n.p. 1478A barbed arrow, formerly used with the cross-bow. [Obs.] Gower.
  25. Vir'e-lāy, n.p. 1478An ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain. To which a lady sung a virelay. Dryden. “The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and after…
  26. Vĭ'rent, a.p. 1478Green; verdant; fresh; not faded or withered. [Rare.] Browne.
  27. Vī-rĕs'cent, a.p. 1478Slightly green; beginning to be green; greenish.
  28. Vir'e-ton, n.p. 1478An arrow with a thick, lozenge-shaped head, and having the feathers placed at an angle with the shaft to make it spin in flying. Fairholt.
  29. Vir'ga-lōo', n.p. 1478The same as VERGALIEU.
  30. Vir′gate, a.p. 1478(Bot.) Having the shape of a rod or wand; twig-like; wand-shaped; as, a virgate stem.
  31. Vĭr'gate, n.p. 1478A yardland, or measure of land varying from fifteen to forty acres. [Obs.] Warton.
  32. Vĭr'gā-ted, a.p. 1478Striped; streaked. [Obs.]
  33. Vĭrge, n.p. 1478A wand. [Obs.] See VERGE.
  34. Vĭr'ger, n.p. 1478A verger. [Obs.]
  35. Vir-gĭl'i-an, a.p. 1478Of, or pertaining to, Virgil, the Roman poet. 2. Resembling the style of Virgil. The rich Virgilian rustic measure Of Lari Maxume. Tennyson.
  36. Vir'gin, n.p. 1478A female of unspotted purity; she who has preserved her chastity, or who has had no carnal knowledge of man. 2. A woman not a mother. [Rare.] Milton. 3. A person of the male sex who has not known…
  37. Vĭr'gin, a.p. 1478Chaste; pure; undefiled; fresh; new; as, virgin soil; virgin gold. “White, cold, virgin snow.” Shak. A few ounces of mutton, with a little virgin oil. Lander. 2. Becoming a virgin; maidenly; modest…
  38. Vir'gin, v. t. or i.p. 1478To play the virgin; to be or keep chaste. [Obs.] My pure lip Hath virgined it e’er since. Shak.
  39. Vir'gin-al, a.p. 1478Of, or pertaining to, a virgin. [Obs.] “Virginal chastity.” Hammond.
  40. Vir'gin-al, n.p. 1478(Mus.) An instrument somewhat resembling the spinet, but having a rectangular form, like the small piano-forte. It had strings and keys, but only one wire to a note. The instrument was used in the…
  41. Vir'gin-al, v. t.p. 1478To play with the fingers, as if on a virginal; to pat. [Obs. and rare.] Still virginaling Upon his palm. Shak.
  42. Vir-gĭn'i-ty, n.p. 1478The quality of a virgin; undefiled purity or chastity: maidenhood.
  43. Vir'gin's-bow'er, n.p. 1478(Bot.) A climbing plant of the genus Clematis.
  44. Vir'go, n.p. 1478(Astron.) (a.) A sign of the zodiac which the sun enters about the 21st of August. (b.) A constellation of the zodiac, now occupying chiefly the sign Libra, and containing the bright star Spica.
  45. Vir'gou-leūise, n.p. 1478A variety of pear of an excellent quality. [Also vergouleuse.]
  46. Vir'gu-late, a.p. 1478Shaped like a twig or rod.
  47. Vĭr'gŭle, n.p. 1478A comma. [Rare.] In the MSS. of Chaucer, the line is always broken by a cesura in the middle, which is pointed by a virgule. Hallam.
  48. Vir'id, a.p. 1478Green. [Obs.] The virid marjoram Her sparkling beauty did but see. Crompton.
  49. Vĭr/i-dĕs'çence, n.p. 1478The state or quality of being viridescent.
  50. Vir'i-dĕs'çent, a.p. 1478(Bot.) Slightly green; greenish.
  51. Vī-rid'i-ty or Vir'id-ness, n.p. 1478Greenness; verdure; the color of fresh vegetables.
  52. Vī'rile or Vir'ile, a.p. 1478Of, or pertaining to, a man, in the eminent sense of the word (not to man, in the sense of the human race); belonging to the male sex; as, virile age. 2. Masculine; — opposed to puerile or feminine…
  53. Vī-rĭl'i-ty or Vĭ-rĭl'i-ty, n.p. 1478The quality of being virile; the state of an adult male; manhood; manly character. 2. The power of procreation. Browne.
  54. Vī-rĭp'ō-tent, a.p. 1478Fit for a husband; marriageable. [Obs.] “Being not of ripe years, nor viripotent, nor marriable.” Holinshed.
  55. Vir-mĭl'ion, n.p. 1478Vermilion. [Rare.]
  56. Vī-rōle', n.p. 1478(Her.) The hoop, ring, or mouth-piece of a bugle or hunting-horn.
  57. Vī-rōled’, a.p. 1478(Her.) Furnished with a virole or viroles.
  58. Vī-rōse', a.p. 1478Having a nauseous odor; poisonous. [Rare.]
  59. Vir'tu, n.p. 1478A love of the fine arts; a taste for curiosities. 2. Objects of art or antiquity, taken collectively; curiosities, such as are found in museums or private collections. Fairholt.
  60. Vĭrt'ū-al, a.p. 1478Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the material or sensible part; potential. [Rare.] Every kind that lives, Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed. Milton. Neither an…