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.
Vo-rā'ciōus-ness, n. p. 1484The quality of being voracious; greediness of appetite; ravenousness; eagerness to devour; rapaciousness.Vo-rāç'i-ty, n. p. 1484The quality of being voracious; greediness of appetite; voraciousness. Creatures by their voracity pernicious have commonly fewer young. Derham.Vo-răg'i-nous, a. p. 1484Full of gulfs. [Rare.]Vōr'au-līte, n. p. 1484(Min.) Lazulite. See LAZULITE.Vōr'tex, n. p. 1484A whirling or circular motion of any fluid, usually of water, forming a kind of cavity in the center of the circle, and in some instances drawing in water or absorbing other things; a whirlpool. 2. A…Vōr'tex-wheel, n. p. 1484A turbine.Vōr'ti-cal, a. p. 1484Pertaining to, or resembling, a vortex in form or motion; whirling; as, a vortical motion.Vôr'ti-cel, n. p. 1484(Zoöl.) One of certain wheel-animalcules, which, by the rapid rotary motion of the organs round the mouth, create a vortex in the water, and thus obtain their food.Vor-tĭg’i-noŭs, a. p. 1484Moving rapidly round a center or axis; vortical. [Rare.] He said, and lifting high his angry tide Vortiginous, against Achilles hurled, Roaring, the foam, the bodies, and the blood. Cowper.Vō'ta-ress, n. p. 1484A female devoted to any service, worship, or state of life; a female votary.Vō'ta-rist, n. p. 1484One devoted or given up to any person or thing, to any service, worship, or pursuit; a votary. “Like a sad votarist in palmer's weed.” Milton.VŌ'ta-ry, a. p. 1484Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised. Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom. Bacon.VŌ'ta-ry, n. p. 1484One devoted, consecrated, or engaged by a vow or promise; hence, especially, one devoted, given, or addicted to some particular service, worship, study, or state of life. “Love's fond votary.” Shaft.…Vōte, n. p. 1484An ardent wish or desire; a vow; a prayer. [Obs. and rare.] I. The end of my Devotions is, that one and the same hour May make us fit for heaven. S. I join with you In my votes that way. Manager. 2.…Vōte, v. i. p. 1484To express or signify the mind, will, or preference, either viva voce, or by ballot, or other authorized means, as in electing men to office, or in passing laws, regulations, and the like, or in…Vōte, v. t. p. 1484To choose by suffrage; to elect; as, the citizens voted their candidate into office with little opposition. 2. To enact, establish, grant, or the like, by a vote; to determine; as, the legislature…Vōt'er, n. p. 1484One who votes; one who has a legal right to vote, or give his suffrage.Vō'tive, a. p. 1484Given by vow; devoted; as, votive offerings. “Additional embellishments of flowers and votive garlands.” Motley. We reached a votive stone, that bears the name Of Aloys Reding. Wordsworth. Votive…Vō'tive-ly, adv. p. 1484In a votive manner; by vow.Vouch, v. t. p. 1484To call upon to witness; to obtest. “Vouch the silent stars and conscious moon.” Dryden. 2. To call; to summon. [Obs. and rare.] 3. To warrant; to maintain by affirmations; to attest; to affirm. They…Vouch, v. i. p. 1484To bear witness; to give testimony or full attestation. He declares he will not believe her, till the elector of Hanover shall vouch for the truth of what she has so solemnly affirmed. Swift.Vouch, n. p. 1484Warrant; attestation. [Obs.] “The very vouch of malice itself.” Shak.Vouch-ee', n. p. 1484(Law.) The person who is vouched, or called into court to support or make good his warranty of title in the process of common recovery. Blackstone.Vouch'er, n. p. 1485One who vouches, or gives witness or full attestation to any thing. Will his vouchers vouch him no more? Shak. The great writers of that age stand up together as vouchers for each other's reputation.…Vouch'er or Vouch'or, n. p. 1485(Law.) The tenant in a writ of right; one who calls in another to establish his warranty of title. In common recoveries, there may be a single voucher or double vouchers. Blackstone.Vouch-sāfe′, v. t. p. 1485To permit to be done without danger. 2. To condescend to grant. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Shak. It is not said by the apostle that God vouchsafed to the heathen the means of…Vouch-sāfe', v. i. p. 1485To condescend; to deign; to yield; to descend or stoop. Vouchsafe, illustrious Ormond, to behold What power the charms of beauty had of old. Dryden.Vouch-sāfe'ment, n. p. 1485The act of vouchsafing, or that which is vouchsafed; a gift or grant in condescension. “God’s...greatest communicated vouch-sāfe'ments.”Vōuzsoir, n. p. 1485(Arch.) One of the wedge-like stones forming part of an arch. Gwilt.Vow, n. p. 1485A solemn promise made to God, or to some deity; an act by which one consecrates or devotes himself wholly or in part, for a longer or shorter time, to some act or service; a devotion of one's self.…Vow, v. t. p. 1485To give, consecrate, or dedicate to God by a solemn promise; to devote. When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay it. Eccles. v. 4. That vows a long and weary pilgrimage. Shak. 2. To assert solemnly…Vow, v. i. p. 1485To make a vow, or solemn promise. Henceforth I vow it shall be so. Shak.Vow'el, n. p. 1485(Gram.) A voice-sound; a constituent of the spoken alphabet other than a consonant; also, a letter or character which represents such a sound; an utterance of the human voice made through a more open…Vow'el, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, a vowel; vocal.Vow'eled, a. p. 1485Furnished with vowels. [Written also vowelled.]Vow'el-ish, a. p. 1485Of the nature of a vowel. [Rare.] The power [of w] is always vowelish, even where it leads the vowel in any syllable. B. Jonson.Vow'el-ism, n. p. 1485The use of vowels. [Rare.]Vow'er, n. p. 1485One who makes a vow.Vow'-fĕl'low, n. p. 1485One bound by the same vow. [Rare.]Voy'age, n. p. 1485Originally, a passage on the way; a journey in general; but now chiefly confined to a passing by sea or water from one place, port, or country, to another; especially, a passing or journey by water…Voy'age, v. i. p. 1485To take a voyage or journey; especially, to sail or pass by water. A mind forever Voyaging through strange seas of thought alone. Wordsworth.Voy'age, v. t. p. 1485To travel; to pass over. I with pain Voyaged the unreal, vast, unbounded deep. Milton.Voy'age-a-ble, a. p. 1485Capable of being sailed over; navigable.Voy'a-ger, n. p. 1485One who sails or passes by sea or water.Voyageur, n. p. 1485A traveler;—the Canadian name of a class of men employed by the fur companies, &c., in transporting goods by the rivers and across the land, to and from the remote stations at the north-west.Voy'ol, n. p. 1485(Naut.) (a.) A large rope used in raising an anchor, when the common method by the messenger is found insufficient. (b.) The block through which the messenger passes. [Written also viol and voyal.]…Vōx, n. p. 1485A voice.Vraisemblance, n. p. 1485The appearance of truth.Vug or Vugh, n. p. 1485A cavity in a lode. [Written also vogle.]Vŭl'can p. 1485(Rom. Myth.) The god of fire, who presided over the working of metals; the husband of Venus.Vul-cā’nĭ-an, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, Vulcan, or to works in iron or other metals. “Ingenious allusions to the Vulcanian panoply which Achilles lent to his feeble friend.” Macaulay. 2. (Geol.) The same as PLUTONIAN…Vŭl'can-ist, n. p. 1485A volcanist. See VOLCANIST.Vŭl'can-i-zā'tion, n. p. 1485The art or process of imparting new properties to caoutchouc by causing it to combine with sulphur through the agency of a high temperature, a method discovered by C. Goodyear, of New York. This may…Vŭl'can-īze, v. t. p. 1485To change the properties of, as caoutchouc, or India rubber, by the process of vulcanization.Vŭl'gar, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, the mass or multitude of people; common; general; ordinary; public; hence, in general use; vernacular. “As any the most vulgar thing to sense.” Shak. “Had brought the New…Vŭl'gar, n. p. 1485The common people. “To show us what a miserable, credulous, deluded thing that creature is, called the vulgar.” Milton. These vile vulgars are extremely proud. Chapman. The vulgar imagine the…Vul-gāʹri-an, n. p. 1485A vulgar person; one who has vulgar ideas. [Rare.]Vŭlʹgar-ism, n. p. 1485Grossness of manners; vulgarity. “The vulgarism of ordinary life in any country.” Reynolds. 2. A vulgar phrase or expression. A fastidious taste will find offense in the occasional vulgarisms, or…Vul-gär'ity, n. p. 1485The quality of being vulgar; mean condition of life; the state of the lower classes of society. 2. Grossness or clownishness of manners or language. “The reprobate vulgarity of the frequenters of…Vŭl'gar-ize, v. t. p. 1485To make vulgar. “Exhortation vulgarized by low wit.” Knox.