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.
Vish'nu p. 1479(Hindoo Myth.) A Hindoo divinity, one of the higher gods of the later religion, and regarded as the preserver, while Brahma is the creator, and Siva the destroyer, of the creation.Vis'i-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1479The state or quality of being visible or perceivable by the eye; perceptibility; exposure to view.Vis'i-ble, a. p. 1479Perceivable by the eye; to be seen; perceptible; in view; as, a visible star; the least spot is visible on white paper. “Virtue made visible in outward grace.” Young. 2. Noticeable; apparent; open…Vis'i-ble-ness, n. p. 1479The state or quality of being visible; visibility.Vis'i-bly, adv. p. 1479In a visible manner; perceptibly to the eye; noticeably; apparently; clearly.Vis'i-gōth, n. p. 1479(Geog.) One of the Western Goths, or that branch of the Gothic tribes which settled in Dacia, as distinguished from the Ostrogoths, or Eastern Goths, who had their seats in Pontus.Vis'i-gōth'ic, a. p. 1479Of, or pertaining to, the Visigoths.Vĭs'ion, n. p. 1479The act of seeing external objects; actual sight. Faith here is turned into vision there. Hammond. 2. The faculty of seeing; sight; as, vision is far more perfect and acute in some animals than in…Vĭs'ion, v. t. p. 1479To see in vision; to dream. For them no visioned terrors daunt, Their nights no fancied specters haunt. W. Scott.Vi'sion-al, a. p. 1479Pertaining to a vision.Vi'sion-a-ri-ness, n. p. 1479The quality of being visionary.Vis'ion-a-ry, a. p. 1479Affected by phantoms; disposed to receive impressions on the imagination; given to reverie; apt to receive and act upon fancies as if they were real. Or lull to rest the visionary maid. Pope. 2.…Vĭs'ion-a-ry, n. p. 1479One whose imagination is disturbed. 2. One who forms impracticable schemes; one who is confident of success in a project which others perceive to be idle and fanciful.Vĭs'ion-ist, n. p. 1479One who gives himself up to impracticable schemes: a visionary.Vĭs'ion-less, a. p. 1479Destitute of vision.Viz'it, v. t. p. 1479To go or come to see; to attend; as, the physician visits his patient. 2. Hence, specifically, to go or come to see for inspection, examination, correction of abuses, or the like; to come and make an…Vĭs'it, v. i. p. 1479To keep up the interchange of civilities and salutations; to practice going to see others.Vĭz'it, n. p. 1479The act of visiting, or going to see a person or thing; a brief stay of business, friendship, ceremony, curiosity, and the like, made with any one or any thing; as, a visit of civility or respect; a…Vĭs'it-a-ble, a. p. 1479Liable or subject to be visited or inspected; as, all hospitals in England, built since the Reformation, are visitable by the king or lord chancellor.Vis'it-ant, n. p. 1479One who visits; one who goes or comes to see another; one who is a guest in the house of a friend. When the visitant comes again, he is no more a stranger. South.Vĭs'it-ā'tion, n. p. 1479The act of visiting, or the state of being visited; access for inspection or examination. Nothing but peace and gentle visitation. Shak. 2. Object of visit. [Obs.] O flowers! My early visitation and…Vĭs'i-ta-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1480See VISITORIAL.Vi-si-té', n. p. 1480A light cape or short cloak of silk or lace worn by ladies in summer. Simmonds.Vĭs'it-er, n. p. 1480See VISITOR.Vĭs'it-ing, p. a. p. 1480Authorized to visit and inspect; as, a visiting committee.Vĭs'it-or, n. p. 1480One who visits, or who comes or goes to see another, as in civility or friendship. 2. A superior, or person authorized to visit a corporation, or any institution, for the purpose of seeing that the…Vĭs'it-ō'ri-al, a. p. 1480Belonging to a judicial visitor or superintendent. An archdeacon has visitorial power in parishes. Ayliffe. The queen, however, still had over the church a visitorial power of vast and undefined…Vĭ'sive, a. p. 1480Of, or pertaining to, the power of seeing; formed in the act of seeing. [Obs.] I can not satisfy myself how men should be so little surprised about this visive faculty. Berkeley.Vĭsne, n. p. 1480Neighborhood; venue. See VENUE.Vis'no-my, n. p. 1480Face; countenance. [Obs.] “His ugly visnomy.” Spenser.Vĭs'or, n. p. 1480A part of a helmet, perforated for the purpose of seeing through. 2. A head-piece or mask used to disfigure and disguise. “I have visors for you all.” Shak. My weaker government since makes you pull…Vĭs'ored, a. p. 1480Wearing a visor; masked; disguised. “Visored falsehood and base forgery.” Milton.Vis'tă, n. p. 1480A view, especially a distant view, through or between intervening objects, as trees; a view or prospect through an avenue, or the like; hence, the trees or other things that form the avenue. “The…Vĭs'to, n. p. 1480A vista. [Rare.] “Through the long visto of a thousand years.” Young.Vĭs′u-al, a. p. 1480Belonging or relating to sight; used in sight; serving as the instrument of seeing; as, the visual nerve. The air. Nowhere so clear, sharpened his visual ray. Milton. Visual angle (Opt.), the angle…Vĭs'ū-al-ize, v. t. p. 1480To make visual. [Rare.]Vi-tāille', n. p. 1480Provision; food; victuals. [Obs.]Vi'tal, a. p. 1480Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital powers. 2. Contributing to life; necessary to life; as, vital air; vital blood. 3. Containing life; living. “And…Vi'tal-ism, n. p. 1480(Med.) The theory that all the living functions are the result of a special force differing from the forces of chemistry, physics, and the like. In an extreme form, it is animism, or Stahlism.Vĭ-tāl'i-ty, n. p. 1480The state or quality of being vital; the principle of animation, or of life; animation; as, the vitality of vegetable seeds, or of eggs.Vi′tal-i-zā′tion, n. p. 1480The act or process of vitalizing, or infusing the vital principle.Vi'tal-ize, v. t. p. 1480To make vital, or alive; to give life to; to furnish with the vital principle; as, vitalized blood.Vi'tal-ly, adv. p. 1480In a vital manner; so as to give life. The organic structure of human bodies—by which they are fitted to live and move, and to be vitally informed by the soul—is the workmanship of a most wise and…Vī'tals, n. pl. p. 1480Parts of animal bodies essential to life, such as the viscera dependent upon the great sympathetic nerve; the seat of life. 2. Hence, the part essential to life, or to a sound state; as, corruption…Vit'el-la-ry, n. p. 1480The place where the yolk of an egg swims in the white. [R.] Browne.Vĭt'ĕl-līne, n. p. 1480The albuminous substance characteristic of the yolk of birds' eggs.Vĭt'el-līne, a. p. 1480Of, or belonging to, the yolk of eggs. Carpenter.Vi-tĕl'lus, n. p. 1480(Physiol.) The yolk of an egg. 2. (Bot.) Any portion attached to the embryo, not distinctly referable to radicle, cotyledon, or plumule. Henslow.Vi'ti-āte, v. t. p. 1480To make vicious, faulty, or imperfect; to render defective; to injure the substance or qualities of; to impair; to spoil. A will vitiated and grown out of love with the truth disposes the…Vĭ-ti-ā'tion, n. p. 1480The act of vitiating, or the state of being vitiated; a depravation; corruption; invalidation; as, the vitiation of the blood; the vitiation of a contract.Vĭt'i-lĭt'i-gāte, v. i. p. 1480To contend in law litigiously or cavillously. [Obs.]Vĭt'i-lĭt'i-gā'tĭon, n. p. 1480Cavillous litigation. [Obs.]Vi-ti-ōs'i-ty, n. p. 1480The quality of being vicious; corrupt state; depravation. “The perverseness and vitiosity of man's will.” South.Vī'tiōus or Vī'tiōus-ly or Vī'tiōus-ness, a. p. 1480Vī'tiōus-ly, adv., Vī'tiōus-ness, n. See VICIOUS, VICIOUSLY, VICIOUSNESS.Vĭ'tis, n. p. 1480(Bot.) A genus of climbing plants, including the vines which produce grapes.Vit're-o-e-lēe'trie, a. p. 1480Containing or exhibiting positive electricity, or that which is excited by rubbing glass. Ure.Vĭt're-ous, a. p. 1480Of, pertaining to, or derived from glass; as, vitreous electricity. 2. Consisting of glass; as, a vitreous substance. 3. Resembling glass; as, the vitreous humor of the eye, so called from its…Vitreous electricity p. 1480the kind of electricity excited by rubbing glass with certain substances, as silk, &c., as distinguished from that developed by the friction of resinous substances, called resinous electricity. The…Vit're-ous-ness, n. p. 1480The state or quality of being vitreous; resemblance to glass.Vi-très'cence, n. p. 1480The state or quality of being vitreous; glassiness, or the quality of being capable of conversion into glass; susceptibility of being formed into glass. Kirwan.