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.
Vŏl'i-tive, a. p. 1483Having the power to will. They not only perfect the intellectual faculty, but the volitive. Dale. 2. Of, or pertaining to, the will; originating in the will. 3. (Gram.) Used in expressing a wish or…Vŏl'ley, n. p. 1483A flight of shot; the discharge of many small arms at once. Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe. Byron. 2. A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words. Fiery darts…Vŏl'ley, v. t. p. 1483To discharge with a volley.Vŏl'ley, v. i. p. 1483To be thrown out or discharged at once; to be discharged in a volley, or as if in a volley; making a volley or volleys. “Volleying discharges, peal after peal.” De Quincey. Cannon to right of them…Vŏl'leyed, p. a. p. 1483Discharged with a sudden burst, or as if in a volley; as, volleyed thunder.Vōl'ēōw, v. t. p. 1483To baptize;—applied contemptuously by the Reformers. [Obs.] Tyndale.Vŏl'ōw-er, n. p. 1483One who volows, or baptizes. [Obs.]Vōlt, n. p. 1483(Man.) A round or circular tread; a gait of two treads made by a horse going sideways round a center. 2. (Fencing.) A sudden movement or leap to avoid a thrust.Vōl'ta, n. p. 1483(Mus.) A turning; a time; — chiefly used in phrases signifying that the part is to be repeated one, two, or more times.Vōl'tā-e-lēc'tric, a. p. 1483Of, or pertaining to, voltaic electricity, or galvanism.Vŏl'tā-e-lee-trŏm'e-ter, n. p. 1483An instrument for the exact measurement of electric currents.Vol-täg'ra-phy, n. p. 1483The act or art of copying in metals deposited by electrolytic action, a form or pattern which is made the negative electrode in electrotypy.Vol-tā'ic, a. p. 1483Of, pertaining to, originated by, or named in honor of, Volta, who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action, and established this branch of electric science; as…Vŏl'ta-ïzm, n. p. 1483That form of electricity which is developed by the chemical action between metals and different liquids; also, the branch of science which treats of this form of electricity; — called also galvanism…Vol-tăm'e-ter, n. p. 1483An instrument for measuring the voltaic electricity passing through it, by its effect in decomposing water.Vŏl'ta-plăst, n. p. 1483A form of voltaic or galvanic battery, suitable for use in electrotyping. Francis.Vŏl'ta-tȳpe, n. p. 1483The same as ELECTROTYPE, q. v.Vŏl'tā, v. p. 1483imperative. [It., from voltare, to turn, from Lat. volvere, volutum. See VOLT.] (Mus.) Turn, that is, turn over the leaf. Volti subito (Mus.), turn over quickly.Voltigeur, n. p. 1483A tumbler; a leaper, or vaulter. 2. (Mil.) A light infantry soldier, in distinction from a grenadier, the latter being usually a man of the greater stature, the former being the shorter. ☞ Voltigeurs…Vōlt'zite, n. p. 1483(Min.) A rose-red, yellowish, or brownish mineral, occurring in implanted spherical globules, and consisting chiefly of sulphuret of zinc and oxide of zinc; — called also voltzine. Dana.Vo-lū'bi-late or Vōl'ū-bi-le, a. p. 1483Turning, or whirling; voluble; winding. Volubilate stem (Bot.), a stem that climbs by winding or twining round another body.Vŏl/ū-bĭl’ĭ-ty, n. p. 1483The state or quality of being voluble; as, (a.) The capacity of being rolled; aptness to roll; as, the volubility of a bowl. (b.) The act of rolling. “Irregular volubility.” Hooker. (c.) Ready motion…Vŏl'ū-ble, a. p. 1483Easily rolling or turning; rotating; easily set in motion; apt to roll; as, voluble particles of matter. “This less voluble earth.” Milton. 2. Moving with ease and smoothness in uttering words; of…Vŏl'ū-bly, adv. p. 1483In a voluble, rolling, or fluent manner.Vŏl'ūme, n. p. 1483A roll; a scroll; a written document put up for keeping or use, in a roll-like form, after the manner of the ancients. [Obs.] 2. Hence, a book; a tome; a collection of printed sheets bound together…Vŏl'ūmed, a. p. 1483Having the form of a volume or roll; as, volumed mist. 2. Of bulk or volume; massive; great. The distant torrent's rushing sound Tells where the volumed cataract doth roll. Byron.Vŏl/ū-mēt'rie, a. p. 1483(Analytical Chem.) Performed by measured volumes of standard solutions of reagents; as, volumetric analysis.Vŏl'ū-mĕt'rīe-al-ly, adv. p. 1483In a volumetric manner.Vo-lū'mi-noŭs, a. p. 1483Consisting of many coils or complications. But ended foul in many a scaly fold Voluminous and vast. Milton. I must go down into depths and shy recesses of time, over which dusky draperies are…Vo-lū'mi-noŭs-ly, adv. p. 1483In a voluminous manner; in many volumes; very copiously.Vo-lū'mi-noŭs-ness, n. p. 1483The state or quality of being voluminous or bulky.Vŏl'ū-mĭst, n. p. 1483One who writes a volume; an author. [Obs.] Milton.Vŏl'un-ta-rĭ-ly, adv. p. 1483In a voluntary manner; in the exercise of volition; spontaneously; of one's own will; without being moved, influenced, or impelled, by others. To be agents voluntarily in our own destruction is…Vŏl'un-ta-ri-ness, n. p. 1483The state or quality of being voluntary, or endowed with the power of choosing; spontaneousness.Vŏl'un-ta-ry, a. p. 1483Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice. That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy. N. W. Taylor. 2. Unconstrained by the…Vŏl'un-ta-ry, n. p. 1484One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer. [Rare.] 2. (Mus.) A piece played by a musician, often extemporarily, according to his fancy;—now generally used to indicate the…Vŏl'un-ta-ry-ism, n. p. 1484The principle of supporting religion, &c., by voluntary association and effort, in opposition to doing so by the aid or patronage of the state. Chalmers.Vŏl'un-teer', n. p. 1484One who enters into any service of his own free will. 2. (Mil.) One who enters into service voluntarily, but when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers. 3. (Law.) A…Vŏl'un-teer', a. p. 1484Entering into service of free will; composed of volunteers; as, volunteer companies.}Vŏl'un-teer', v. t. p. 1484To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one's services.Vŏl'un-teer', v. i. p. 1484To enter into any service of one's free will, without solicitation or compulsion; as, he volunteered in that undertaking.Vo-lŭpt'ū-a-ry, n. p. 1484A voluptuous person; a sensualist; one who makes his own bodily enjoyments his chief object or care; one addicted to luxury, or the gratification of the appetite, and to other sensual pleasures. He…Vo-lŭpt'ū-a-ry, a. p. 1484Addicted to, or affording, pleasure; voluptuous.Vo-lŭpt'ū-ōŭs, a. p. 1484Full of delight or pleasure; ministering to sensual gratification; exciting sensual desire; luxurious; sensual. Music arose with its voluptuous swell. Byron. 2. Given to the enjoyments of luxury and…Vo-lŭpt'ū-ōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1484In a voluptuous manner; with free indulgence of sensual pleasures; luxuriously; as, to live voluptuously. I had rather eleven died nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.…Vo-lūpt'ū-ōŭs-ness, n. p. 1484The state or quality of being voluptuous; addictedness to pleasure or sensual gratification; luxuriousness. “Where no voluptuousness, yet all delight.” Dōme.Vo-lūp'ty, n. p. 1484Voluptuousness. [Obs.] “That in any wise volupty or concupiscence have no preeminence in the soul of man.” Sir T. Elyot.Vŏl'ū-tā'tion, n. p. 1484A rolling of a body, as on the earth; a wallowing. [Rare.] Browne.Vo-lūte′, n. p. 1484(Arch.) A kind of spiral scroll, used in the Ionic and Composite capitals, of which it is a principal ornament. Corinthian. Ionic. Volutes of Ionian and Corinthian Capitals. ☞ The number of volutes…Vo-lût'ed, a. p. 1484Having a volute or spiral scroll.Vo-lū'tion, n. p. 1484A spiral turn or wreath.Vŏl'vŏx, n. p. 1484(Zoöl.) A genus of globular infusorial animalcules, found in stagnant waters.Vō'mer, n. p. 1484(Anat.) A slender, thin bone separating the nostrils from each other, consisting of two united plates. Owen.Vō'mer-ine, a. p. 1484Of, or pertaining to, the vomer.Vōm'i-ca, n. p. 1484(Med.) (a.) An abscess in the lungs. (b.) An abscess in other parenchymatous organs.Vŏm'ic-nŭt, n. p. 1484(Bot.) The seed of the Strychnos nux-vomica, a medium-sized tree growing in various parts of India;—commonly called nux vomica. The fruit is of the size of a small orange, and of the same color…Vŏm'it, v. i. p. 1484To eject the contents of the stomach by the mouth; to puke; to spew.Vŏm'it, v. t. p. 1484To throw up; to eject from the stomach through the mouth; to disgorge; to puke; to cascade;—often followed by up or out. The fish ... vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Jonah ii. 10. 2. Hence, to…Vŏm'it, n. p. 1484The matter ejected from the stomach. “Like vomit from his yawning entrails poured.” Sandys. 2. (Med.) That which excites the stomach to discharge its contents; an emetic. He gives your Hollander a…Vo-mi'tion, n. p. 1484The act or power of vomiting.