V – Varnisher

V

V is the twenty second letter of the English Alphabet, and a labial articulation, formed by the junction of the upper teeth with the lower lip, as in pronouncing av, ev, ov, vain. It is not a close articulation, but one that admits of some sound. It is nearly allied to F, being formed by the same organs; but v is vocal, and F is aspirate, and this constitutes the principal difference between them. v and U were formerly the same letter, derived no doubt from the oriental vau or waw, but they have now as distinct uses as any two letters in the alphabet, and are therefore to be considered as different letters. v has one sound only, as in ver, vote, lavish.

As a numeral, v stand for 5. With a dash over it, in old books, it stands for 5000.

V.R. among the Romans, stood for uti rogas, as you desire; v C. for vir consularis; v G. for verbi gratia; v Latin for videlicet.

In music for instruments, v stands for violin; v V. for violins.

Vacancy

VA'CANCY, noun [Latin vacans, from vaco, to be empty; Heb. to empty.]

1. Empty space; vacuity. [In this sense, vacuity is now generally used.]

2. Chasm; void space between bodies or objects; as a vacancy between two beams or boards in a building; a vacancy between two buildings; a vacancy between words in a writing.

3. The state of being destitute of an incumbent; want of the regular officer to officiate in a place. Hence also it signifies the office, post or benefice which is destitute of an incumbent; as a vacancy in a parish; vacancies in the treasury of war office. There is no vacancy on the bench of the supreme court.

4. Time of leisure; freedom from employment; intermission of business.

Those little vacancies from toils are sweet.

5. Listlessness; emptiness of thought.

6. A place or office not occupied, or destitute of a person to fill it; as a vacancy in a school.

Vacant

VA'CANT, adjective [Latin vacans.]

1. Empty; not filled; void of every substance except air; as a vacant space between houses; vacant room.

2. Empty; exhausted of air; as a vacant receiver.

3. Free; unincumbered; unengaged with business or care.

Philosophy is the interest of those only who are vacant from the affairs of the world.

4. Not filled or occupied with an incumbent or possessor; as a vacant throne; a vacant parish.

5. Being unoccupied with business; as vacant hours; vacant moments.

6. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as a vacant mind.

7. Indicating want of thought.

The duke had a pleasant and vacant face.

8. In law, abandoned; having no heir; as vacant effect or goods.

Vacate

VA'CATE, verb transitive

1. To annul; to made void; to make of no authority or validity; as, to vacate a charter.

The necessity of observing the Jewish sabbath was vacated by the apostolical institution of the Lord's day.

2. To make vacant; to quit possession and leave destitute. It was resolved by parliament that James had vacated the throne of England.

3. To defeat; to put an end to.

He vacates my revenge. [Unusual.]

Vacated

VA'CATED, participle passive Annulled; made void; made vacant.

Vacating

VA'CATING, participle present tense Making void; making vacant.

Vacation

VACA'TION, noun [Latin vacatio.]

1. The act of making void, vacant, or of no validity; as the vacation of a charter.

2. Intermission of judicial proceedings; the space of time between the end of one term and the beginning of the next; non-term.

3. The intermission of the regular studies and exercises of a college or other seminary, when the students have a recess.

4. Intermission of a stated employment.

5. The time when a see or other spiritual dignity is vacant.

During the vacation of a bishopric, the dean and chapter are guardians of the spiritualities.

6. Leisure; freedom from trouble or perplexity. [Now little used.]

Vaccary

VAC'CARY, noun [Latin vacca, a cow.] An old word signifying a cow house, dairy house, or a cow pasture.

Vaccinate

VAC'CINATE, verb transitive [Latin vacca, a cow.] To inoculate with the cow-pox, or a virus originally taken from cows, called vaccine matter.

Vaccinated

VAC'CINATED, participle passive Inoculated with the cow-pox.

Vaccinating

VAC'CINATING, participle present tense Inoculating with the cow-pox.

Vaccination

VACCINA'TION, noun The act, art or practice of inoculating persons with the cow-pox.

Vaccine

VAC'CINE, adjective [Latin vaccinus, from vacca, a cow.]

Pertaining to cows; originating with or derived from cows; as the vaccine disease or cow-pox.

Vacillancy

VAC'ILLANCY, noun [Latin vacillans, from vacillo, to waver, Eng. to waggle, from the root of wag, which see.]

A state of wavering; fluctuation; inconstancy.

Vacillant

VAC'ILLANT, adjective [supra.] Wavering; fluctuating; unsteady.

Vacillate

VAC'ILLATE, verb intransitive [Latin vacillo; Eng. to waggle, a diminutive of wag. See Wag.]

1. To waver; to move one way and the other; to reel or stagger.

2. To fluctuate in mind or opinion; to waver; to be unsteady or inconstant.

Vacillating

VAC'ILLATING, participle present tense

1. Wavering; reeling; fluctuating.

2. adjective Unsteady; inclined to fluctuate.

Vacillation

VACILLA'TION, noun [Latin vacillatio.]

1. A wavering; a moving one way and the other; a reeling or staggering.

2. Fluctuation of mind; unsteadiness; change from one object to another.

Vacuation

VACUA'TION, noun [Latin vacuo.] The act of emptying. [Little used.] [See Evacuation.]

Vacuist

VAC'UIST, noun [from vacuum.] One who holds to the doctrine of a vacuum in nature; opposed to a plenist.

Vacuity

VACU'ITY, noun [Latin vacuitas, from vacuus.]

1. Emptiness; a state of being unfilled.

Hunger is such a state of vacuity as to require a fresh supply.

2. Space unfilled or unoccupied, or occupied with an invisible fluid only.

3. Emptiness; void.

God only can fill every vacuity of the soul.

4. Inanity; emptiness; want of reality.

5. Vacuum, which see.

Vacuous

VAC'UOUS, adjective Empty; unfilled; void.

Vacuousness

VAC'UOUSNESS, noun The state of being empty.

Vacuum

VAC'UUM, noun [Latin] Space empty or devoid of all matter or body. Whether there is such a thing as an absolute vacuum in nature, is a question which has been much controverted. The Peripatetics assert that nature abhors a vacuum

Torricellian vacuum the vacuum produced by filling a tube with mercury, and allowing it to descend till it is counterbalanced by the weight of the atmosphere, as in the barometer invented by Torricelli.

Vade

VADE, verb intransitive [Latin vado.] To vanish; to pass away. [Not in use.]

Vade-Mecum

VADE-ME'CUM, noun [Latin go with me.] A book or other thing that a person carries with him as a constant companion; a manual.

Vagabond

VAG'ABOND, adjective [Latin vagabundus, from vagor, to wander; from the root of wag.]

1. Wandering; moving from place to place without any settled habitation; as a vagabond exile.

2. Wandering; floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro.

Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream.

VAG'ABOND, noun [supra.] A vagrant; one who wanders from town to town or place to place, having no certain dwelling, or not abiding in it. By the laws of England and of the United States, vagabonds are liable to be taken up and punished.

Vagabondry

VAG'ABONDRY, noun A state of wandering in idleness.

Vagary

VAGA'RY, noun [Latin vagus, wandering.] A wandering of the thoughts; a wild freak; a whim; a whimsical purpose.

They chang'd their minds, flew off, and into strange vagaries fell.

Vagient

VA'GIENT, adjective [Latin vagiens.] Crying like a child. [Not in use.]

Vaginal

VAG'INAL, adjective [Latin vagina, a sheath. See Wain.]

Pertaining to a sheath, or resembling a sheath; as a vaginal membrane.

Vaginant

VAG'INANT, adjective [Latin vagina.] In botany, sheathing; as a vaginant leaf, one investing the stem or branch by its base, which has the form of a tube.

Vaginated

VAG'INATED, adjective In botany, sheathed; invested by the tubular base of the leaf; as a stem.

Vaginopennous

VAGINOPEN'NOUS, adjective [Latin vagina and penna.]

Having the wings covered with a hard case or sheath, as insects.

Vagous

VA'GOUS, adjective [Latin vagus.] Wandering; unsettled. [Little used.]

Vagrancy

VA'GRANCY, noun [from vagrant.] A state of wandering without a settled home. vagrancy in idle strollers or vagabonds, is punishable by law.

Vagrant

VA'GRANT, adjective [Latin vagor.]

1. Wandering from place to place without any settled habitation; as a vagrant beggar.

2. Wandering; unsettled; moving without any certain direction.

That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took.

VA'GRANT, noun An idle wanderer; a vagabond; one who strolls from place to place; a sturdy beggar; one who has no settled habitation, or who does not abide in it.

Vagrants and outlaws shall offend thy view.

Vague

VAGUE, adjective vag. [Latin vagus, wandering.]

1. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond; as vague villains. [In this literal sense, not used.]

2. Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite. He appears to have very vague ideas of this subject.

3. Proceeding from no known authority; flying; uncertain; as a vague report.

Vail

VAIL, noun [Latin velum, from velo, to cover, to spread over. It is correctly written vail for e, in Latin, is our adjective ]

1. Any kind of cloth which is used for intercepting the view and hiding something; as the vail of the temple among the Israelites.

2. A piece of thin cloth or silk stuff, used by females to hide their faces. In some eastern countries, certain classes of females never appear abroad without vails.

3. A cover; that which conceals; as the vail of oblivion.

4. In botany, the membranous covering of the germen in the Musci and Hepaticae; the calypter.

5. Vails, money given to servants. [Not used in America.]

VAIL, verb transitive [Latin velo.] To cover; to hide from the sight; as, to vail the face.

VAIL, verb transitive

1. To let fall.

They stiffly refused to vail their bonnets.

[I believe wholly obsolete.]

2. To let fall; to lower; as, to vail the topsail. obsolete

3. To let fall; to sink. obsolete

VAIL, verb intransitive To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding.

Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity. obsolete

Vailed

VA'ILED, participle passive Covered; concealed.

Vailer

VA'ILER, noun One who yields from respect. obsolete

Vailing

VA'ILING, participle present tense Covering; hiding from the sight.

Vain

VAIN, adjective [Latin vanus; Eng. wan, wane, want.]

1. Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1 Peter 1:18.

To your vain answer will you have recourse.

Every man walketh in a vain show. Psalms 39:6.

Why do the people imagine a vain thing? Psalms 2:1.

2. Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain

VAIN is the force of man.

3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited.

The minstrels play'd on every side, vain of their art -

4. Empty; unreal; as a vain chimers.

5. Showy; ostentatious.

Load some vain church with old theatric state.

6. Light; inconstant; worthless. Proverbs 12:11.

7. Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain

8. False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1:26.

9. Not effectual; having no efficacy

Bring no more vain oblations. Isaiah 1:13.

In vain to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual.

In vain they do worship me. Matthew 15:9.

To take the name of God in vain to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.

Vainglorious

VAINGLO'RIOUS, adjective [vain and glorious.]

1. Vain to excess of one's own achievements; elated beyond due measure; boastful.

Vainglorious man.

2. Boastful; proceeding from vanity.

Arrogant and vainglorious expression.

Vaingloriously

VAINGLO'RIOUSLY, adverb With empty pride.

Vainglory

VAINGLO'RY, noun [vain and glory.] Exclusive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind.

He hath nothing of vainglory

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory Philippians 2:3.

Vainly

VA'INLY, adverb

1. Without effect; to no purpose; ineffectually; in vain.

In weak complaints you vainly waste your breath.

2. Boastingly; with vaunting; proudly; arrogantly.

Humility teaches us not to think vainly nor vauntingly of ourselves.

3. Idly; foolishly.

Nor vainly hope to be invulnerable.

Vainness

VA'INNESS, noun

1. The state of being vain; inefficacy; ineffectualness; as the vainness of efforts.

2. Empty pride; vanity.

Vair

VAIR, noun In heraldry, a kind of fur or doubling, consisting of divers little picees, argent and azure, resembling a bell-glass.

Vairy

VA'IRY, adjective In heraldry, charged with vair; variegated with argent and azure colors, when the term is vairy proper; and with other colors, when it is vair or vairy composed.

Vaivode

VA'IVODE, noun A prince of the Dacian provinces; sometimes written waiwode, for this is the pronunciation.

Valance

VAL'ANCE, noun

The fringes of drapery hanging round the tester and head of a bed.

VAL'ANCE, verb transitive To decorate with hanging fringes.

Vale

VALE, noun [Latin vallis; Eng. to fall.]

1. A tract of low ground or of land between hills; a valley. [Vale is used in poetry, and valley in prose and common discourse.]

In those fair vales, by nature form'd to please.

2. A little trough or canal; as a pump vale to carry off the water from a ship's pump.

3. Vales, money given to servants. [avails.] [Not used in America.]

Valediction

VALEDIC'TION, noun [Latin valedico; vale, farewell, and dico, to say.] A farewell; a bidding farewell.

Valedictory

VALEDIC'TORY, adjective Bidding farewell; as a valedictory oration.

VALEDIC'TORY, noun An oration or address spoken at commencement, in American colleges, by a member of the class which receive the degree of bachelor of arts, and take their leave of college and of each other.

Valentine

VAL'ENTINE, noun

1. A sweetheart or choice made on Valentine's day.

2. A letter sent by one young person to another on Valentine's day.

Valerian

VALE'RIAN, noun A plant of the genus Valleriana, of many species.

Valet

VAL'ET, noun

1. A waiting servant; a servant who attends on a gentleman's person.

2. In the manege, a kind of goad or stick armed with a point of iron.

Valetudinarian

VALETUDINA'RIAN,

VALETU'DINARY, adjective [Latin valetudinarius, from valetudo, from valeo, to be well.]

Sickly; weak; infirm; seeking to recover health.

VALETUDINA'RIAN,

VALETU'DINARY, noun A person of a weak, infirm or sickly constitution; one who is seeking to recover health.

Valetudinarians must live where they can command and scold.

Valetudinary

VALETU'DINARY, a. [L. valetudinarius, from valetudo, from valeo, to be well.] Sickly; weak; infirm; seeking to recover health.

Valiance

VAL'IANCE, noun val'yance. Bravery; valor. [Not in use.]

Valiant

VALIANT, adjective val'yant. [Latin valeo, to be strong.]

1. Primarily, strong; vigorous in body; as a valiant fencer.

2. Brave; courageous; intrepid in danger; heroic; as a valiant soldier.

Be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles.

1 Samuel 18:17.

3. Performed with valor; bravely conducted; heroic; as a valiant action or achievement; a valiant combat.

Valiantly

VAL'IANTLY, adverb

1. Stoutly; vigorously; with personal strength.

2. Courageously; bravely; heroically.

Valiantness

VAL'IANTNESS, noun

1. Stoutness; strength.

2. Most generally, valor; bravery; intrepidity in danger.

Achimetes, having won the top of the walls, by the valiantness of the defendants was forced to retire.

Valid

VAL'ID, adjective [Latin validus, from valeo, to be strong. The primary sense of the root is to strain or stretch.]

1. Having sufficient strength or force; founded in truth; sound; just; good; that can be supported; not weak or defective; as a valid reason; a valid argument; a valid objection.

2. Having legal strength or force; efficacious; executed with the proper formalities; that cannot be rightfully overthrown or set aside; supportable by law or right; as a valid deed; a valid covenant; a valid instrument of any kind; a valid claim or title; a valid marriage.

3. Strong; powerful; in a literal sense; as valid arms. [Not in use.]

Validity

VALID'ITY, noun

1. Strength or force to convince; justness; soundness; as the validity of an argument or proof; the validity of an objection.

2. Legal strength or force; that quality of a thing which renders it supportable in law or equity; as the validity of a will; the validity of a grant; the validity of a claim or of a title. Certain forms and solemnities are usually requisite to give validity to contracts and conveyances of rights.

3. Value. [Not in use.]

Validly

VAL'IDLY, adverb In a valid manner; in such a manner or degree as to make firm or to convince.

Validness

VAL'IDNESS, noun Validity, which see.

Valise

VALISE, noun A horseman's case or portmanteau.

Vallancy

VALLAN'CY, noun [from valance.] A large wig that shades the face.

Vallation

VALLA'TION, noun [Latin vallatus, from vallum, a wall.] A rampart or entrenchment.

Valley

VAL'LEY, noun plural valleys. [Latin vallis. See Vale.]

1. A hollow or low tract of land between hills or mountains.

2. A low extended plain, usually alluvial, penetrated or washed by a river. The valley of the Connecticut is remarkable for its fertility and beauty.

Ye mountains, sink; ye valleys, rise; prepare the Lord his way.

3. In building, a gutter over the sleepers in the roof of a building.

Vallum

VAL'LUM, noun [Latin] A trench or wall.

Valor

VAL'OR, noun [Latin valor valeo, to be strong, to be worth.]

Strength of mind in regard to danger; that quality which enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery; courage; intrepidity; prowess.

When valor preys on reason, it eats the sword it fights with.

For contemplation he and valor form'd.

Ad valorem, in commerce, according to the value; as an ad valorem duty.

Valorous

VAL'OROUS, adjective Brave; courageous; stout; intrepid; as a valorous knight.

Valorously

VAL'OROUSLY, adverb In a brave manner; heroically.

Valuable

VAL'UABLE, adjective

1. Having value or worth; having some good qualities which are useful and esteemed; precious; as a valuable horse; valuable land; a valuable house.

2. Worthy estimable; deserving esteem; as a valuable friend; a valuable companion.

Valuation

VALUA'TION, noun [from value.]

1. The act of estimating the value or worth; the act of setting a price; as the just valuation of civil and religious privileges.

2. Apprizement; as a valuation of lands for the purpose of taxation.

3. Value set upon a thing; estimated worth.

So slight a valuation

Valuator

VALUA'TOR, noun One who sets a value; an apprizer.

Value

VALUE, noun val'u. [Latin valor, from valeo, to be worth.]

1. Worth; that property or those properties of a thing which render it useful or estimable; or the degree of that property or of such properties. The real value of a thing is its utility, its power or capacity of procuring or producing good. Hence the real or intrinsic value of iron, is far greater than that of gold. But there is, in many things, an estimated value depending on opinion or fashion, such as the value of precious stones. The value of land depends on its fertility, or on its vicinity to a market, or on both.

2. Price; the rate of worth set upon a commodity, or the amount for which a thing is sold. We say, the value of a thing is what it will bring in market.

3. Worth; applied to persons.

Ye are all physicians of no value Job 13:4.

Ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31.

4. High rate.

Caesar is well acquainted with your virtue, and therefore sets this value on your life.

5. Importance; efficacy in producing effects; as considerations of no value

Before events shall have decided on the value of the measures.

6. Import; precise signification; as the value of a word or phrase.

VALUE, verb transitive val'u.

1. To estimate the worth of; to rate at a certain price; to apprise; as, to value lands or goods.

2. To rate at a high price; to have in high esteem; as a valued poem or picture. A man is apt to value his own performances at too high a rate; he is even disposed to value himself for his humility.

3. To esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; as, to value one for his works or virtues.

4. To take account of.

The mind doth value every moment.

5. To reckon or estimate with respect to number or power.

The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong.

6. To consider with respect to importance.

The king must take it ill, so slightly valu'd in his messenger.

Neither of them valued their premises according to the rules of honor or integrity.

7. To raise to estimation.

Some value themselves to their country by jealousies to the crown. [Not in use.]

8. To be worth. [Not in use.]

Valued

VAL'UED, participle passive Estimated at a certain rate; apprized; esteemed.

Valueless

VAL'UELESS, adjective Being of no value; having no worth.

Valuer

VAL'UER, noun One who values; an apprizer; one who holds in esteem.

Valuing

VAL'UING, participle present tense Setting a price on; estimating the worth of; esteeming.

Valvate

VALV'ATE, adjective [See Valve.] Having or resembling a valve.

Valve

VALVE, noun valv. [Latin valvae, folding doors; coinciding with valvo.]

1. A folding door.

Swift through the valves the visionary fair repass'd.

2. A lid or cover so formed as to open a communication in one direction, and close it in the other. Thus the valve of a common pump opens upwards to admit the water, and closes downwards to prevent its return.

3. In anatomy, a membranous partition within the cavity of a vessel, which opens to allow the passage of a fluid in one direction, and shuts to prevent its regurgitation.

4. In botany, the outer coat, shell or covering of a capsule or other pericarp, or rather one of the pieces which compose it; also, one of the leaflets composing the calyx and corol in grasses.

5. One of the pieces or divisions in bivalve and multivalve shells.

Valved

VALV'ED, adjective Having valves; composed of valves.

Valvlet

VALV'LET,

VALV'ULAR, adjective Containing valves.

Valvule

VALV'ULE, noun A little valve; one of the pieces which compose the outer covering of a pericarp.

Vamp

VAMP, noun The upper leather of a shoe.

VAMP, verb transitive To piece an old thing with a new part; to repair.

I had never much hopes of your vamped play.

Vamped

VAMP'ED, participle passive Pieced; repaired.

Vamper

VAMP'ER, noun One who pieces an old thing with something new.

Vamping

VAMP'ING, participle present tense Piecing with something new.

Vampire

VAMP'IRE, noun

1. In mythology, an imaginary demon, which was fabled to suck the blood of persons during the night.

2. In zoology, a species of large bat, the Vespertilio vampyrus of Linne, called also the ternate bat. It inhabits Guinea, Madagascar, the East India Isles, New Holland and New Caledonia. These animals fly in flocks, darkening the air by their numbers. It is said that this bat will insinuate his tongue into the vein of an animal imperceptibly, and suck his blood while asleep. This name is also given by Buffon to a species of large bat in South America, the V. spectrum of Linne.

Van

VAN, noun [Eng. advance, advantage. It is from the root of Latin venio, the primary sense of which is to pass.]

1. The front of an army; or the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle.

2. Among farmers, a fan for winnowing grain. [This in New England is always pronounced fan, which see. But the winnowing machine has nearly superseded the use of it.

3. In mining, the cleansing of ore or tin stuff by means of a shovel.

4. A wing with which the air is beaten.

He wheel'd in air, and stretch'd his vans in vain.

VAN, verb transitive To fan. [Not in use.] [See Fan.]

Van-Couriers

VAN-COURIERS, noun In armies, light armed soldiers sent before armies to beat the road upon the approach of an enemy; precursors.

Van-Foss

VAN-FOSS, noun A ditch on the outside of the counterscarp.

Vandal

VAN'DAL, noun A ferocious, cruel person.

Vandalic

VANDAL'IC, adjective Pertaining to the Vandals; designating the south shore of the Baltic where once lived the Vandals, a nation of ferocious barbarians; hence, ferocious; rude; barbarous.

Vandalism

VAN'DALISM, noun Ferocious cruelty; indiscriminate destruction of lives and property.

Vandyke

VANDY'KE, noun A small round handkerchief with a collar for the neck, worn by females.

Vane

VANE, noun

A plate placed on a spindle, at the top of a spire, for the purpose of showing by its turning and direction, which way the wind blows. In ships, a piece of bunting is used for the same purpose.

Vang

VANG, noun

1. The vangs of a ship are a sort of braces to steady the mizen-gaff.

2. The thin membranous part or web of a feather.

VAN'-GU'ARD, noun [van and guard.] The troops who march in front of an army; the first line.

Vanilla

VANIL'LA, noun A genus of plants which have an unctuous aromatic taste, and a fragrant smell; natives of South America and the West Indies.

Vanish

VAN'ISH, verb intransitive [Latin vanesco, vanus, vain, or its root; Eng. to wane. The primary sense is to withdraw or depart.

1. To disappear; to pass from a visible to an invisible state; as, vapor vanishes from the sight by being dissipated. Light vanishes, when the rays of the illuminating body are intercepted; darkness vanishes before the rising sun.

2. To disappear; to pass beyond the limit of vision; as, a ship vanishes from the sight of spectators on land.

3. To disappear; to pass away; to be annihilated or lost. How cheering is the well founded hope of enjoying delights which can never vanish!

Vanished

VAN'ISHED, adjective Having no perceptible existence.

Vanishing

VAN'ISHING, participle present tense Disappearing; passing from the sight or possession; departing forever.

Vanity

VAN'ITY, noun [Latin vanitas, from vanus, vain.]

1. Emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty; inanity.

Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; all is vanity Ecclesiastes 1:2.

2. Fruitless desire or endeavor.

Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come.

3. Trifling labor that produces no good.

4. Emptiness; untruth

Here I may well show the vanity of what is reported in the story of Walsingham.

5. Empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.

Sin with vanity had fill'd the works of men.

Think not when woman's transient breath is fled, that all her vanities at once are dead; succeeding vanities she still regards.

6. Ostentation; arrogance.

7. Inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride, inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations. Fops cannot be cured of their vanity

Vanity is the food of fools.

No man sympathizes with the sorrows of vanity

Vanquish

VAN'QUISH, verb transitive [Latin vinco, vincio, to bind.]

1. To conquer; to overcome; to subdue in battle; as an enemy.

They vanquished the rebels in all encounters.

2. To defeat in any contest; to refute in argument.

VAN'QUISH, noun A disease in sheep, in which they pine away.

Vanquishable

VAN'QUISHABLE, adjective That may be conquered.

Vanquished

VAN'QUISHED, participle passive Overcome in battle; subdued; defeated.

Vanquisher

VAN'QUISHER, noun A conqueror; a victor.

Vanquishing

VAN'QUISHING, participle present tense Conquering; subduing; defeating; refuting.

Vansire

VAN'SIRE, noun In zoology, a species of weasel with short ears, found in Madagascar.

Vant

V'ANT, verb intransitive To boast. [This is the more correct orthography. See Vaunt.]

Vantage

V'ANTAGE, noun [Latin venio. See Advantage and Van.]

1. Gain; profit. obsolete

2. Superiority; state in which one has better means of action or defense than another. [This, I believe, is used only in the compound, vantage-ground.]

3. Opportunity; convenience. obsolete

V'ANTAGE, verb transitive To profit. [Not in use.]

Vantage-Ground

V'ANTAGE-GROUND, noun Superiority of state or place; the place or condition which gives one an advantage over another.

Vantbrass

VANT'BRASS, noun Armor for the arm. obsolete

Vaorate

VA'ORATE, verb intransitive To emit vapor. [See Evaporate.]

Vapid

VAP'ID, adjective [Latin vapidus. The radical verb is not in the Latin, but the sense must be to pass or fly off, to escape; or to strike down. Latin vapulo. It is probably allied to vapor.]

1. Having lost its life and spirit; dead; spiritless; flat; as vapid beer; a vapid state of the blood.

2. Dull; unaminated.

Vapidness

VAP'IDNESS, noun

1. The state of having lost its life or spirit; deadness; flatness; as the vapidness of ale or cider.

2. Dullness; want of life or spirit.

Vapor

VA'POR, noun [Latin vapor ]

1. In a general sense, an invisible elastic fluid, rendered aeriform by heat, and capable of being condensed, or brought back to the liquid or solid state, by cold. The vapor of water is distinguished by the name of steam, which see.

2. A visible fluid floating in the atmosphere. All substances which impair the transparency of the atmosphere, as smoke, fog, etc. are in common language called vapors, though the term vapor is technical applied only to an invisible and condensible substance, as in No. 1; fog, etc. being vapor condensed, or water in a minute state of division. vapor rising into the higher regions of the atmosphere, and condensed in large volumes, forms clouds.

3. Substances resembling smoke, which sometimes fill the atmosphere, particularly in America during the autumn.

4. Wind; flatulence.

5. Mental fume; vain imagination; unreal fancy.

6. Vapors, a disease of nervous debility, in which a variety of strange images float in the brain, or appear as if visible. Hence hypochondriacal affections and spleen are called vapors.

7. Something unsubstantial, fleeting or transitory.

For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:1.

VA'POR, verb intransitive [Latin veporo.]

1. To pass off in fumes or a moist floating substance; to steam; to be exhaled; to evaporate. [In this sense, evaporate is generally used.]

2. To emit fumes.

Running water vapors not so much as standing water. [Little used.]

3. To bully; to boast or vaunt with a vain ostentatious display of worth; to brag.

[This is the most usual signification of the word.]

And what in real value's wanting, supply with vaporing and ranting.

VA'POR, verb transitive To emit, cast off or scatter in fumes or stream; as, to vapor away a heated fluid.

Another sighing vapors forth his soul.

Vapor-Bath

VA'POR-BATH, noun [vapor and bath.]

1. The application of vapor to the body in a close place.

2. In chimistry, an apparatus for heating bodies by the fumes of hot water.

Vaporability

VAPORABIL'ITY, noun The quality of being capable of vaporization.

Vaporable

VAP'ORABLE, adjective Capable of being converted into vapor by the agency of caloric.

Vaporation

VAPORA'TION, noun [Latin vaporatio.] The act or process of converting into vapor, or of passing off in vapor.

Vapored

VA'PORED, adjective

1. Moist; wet with vapors.

2. Splenetic; peevish.

Vaporer

VA'PORER, noun A boaster; one who makes a vaunting display of his prowess or worth; a braggart.

Vaporific

VAPORIF'IC, adjective [Latin vapor and facio, to make.]

Forming into vapor; converting into steam, or expelling in a volatile form, as fluids.

Vaporing

VA'PORING, participle present tense Boasting; vaunting ostentatiously and vainly.

Vaporingly

VA'PORINGLY, adverb In a boasting manner.

Vaporish

VA'PORISH, adjective

1. Full of vapors.

2. Hypochondriac; splenetic; affected by hysterics.

Vaporization

VAPORIZA'TION, noun The artificial formation of vapor.

Vaporize

VAP'ORIZE, verb transitive To convert into vapor by the application of heat or artificial means.

VAP'ORIZE, verb intransitive To pass off in vapor.

Vaporized

VAP'ORIZED, participle passive Expelled in vapor.

Vaporizing

VAP'ORIZING, participle present tense Converting into vapor.

Vaporous

VA'POROUS, adjective

1. Full of vapors or exhalations; as the vaporous air of valleys.

2. Vain; unreal; proceeding from the vapors.

3. Windy; flatulent; as, vaporous food is the most easily digested.

Vaporousness

VA'POROUSNESS, noun State of being full of vapors.

Vapory

VA'PORY, adjective

1. Vaporous; full of vapors.

2. Hypochondriac; splenetic; peevish.

Vapulation

VAPULA'TION, noun [Latin vapulo.] The act of beating or shipping. [Not in use.]

Vare

VARE, noun A wand or staff of justice. [Not in use.]

Varec

VAR'EC, noun The French name for kelp or incinerated sea weed; wrack.

Vari

VA'RI, noun In zoology, a species of quadruped, the maucauco or Lemur catta of Linne, having its tail marked with rings of black and white; a native of Madagascar. The vari of Buffon is the black maucauco, Latin macaco of Linne, with the neck bearded, like a ruff.

Variable

VA'RIABLE, adjective

1. That may vary or alter; capable of alteration in any manner; changeable; as variable winds or seasons; variable colors.

2. Susceptible of change; liable to change; mutable; fickle; unsteady; inconstant; as, the affections of men are variable; passions are variable

His heart I know, how variable and vain.

3. In mathematics, subject to continual increase or decrease; in opposition to constant, retaining the same value.

VA'RIABLE, noun In mathematics, a quantity which is in a state of continual increase or decrease. The indefinitely small quantity by which a variable is continually increased or diminished, is called its differential, and the method of finding these quantities, the differential calculus.

Variableness

VA'RIABLENESS, noun

1. Susceptibility of change; liableness or aptness to alter; changeableness; as the variableness of the weather.

2. Inconstancy; fickleness; unsteadiness; levity; as the variableness of human passions.

Variably

VA'RIABLY, adverb Changeably; with alteration; in an inconstant or fickle manner.

Variance

VA'RIANCE, noun [See Vary.]

1. In law, an alteration of something formerly laid in a writ; or a difference between a declaration and a writ, or the deed on which it is grounded.

2. Any alteration or change of condition.

3. Difference that produces dispute or controversy; disagreement; dissension; discord. A mere variance may become a war. Without a spirit of condescension, there will be an everlasting variance

1. At variance in disagreement; in a state of difference or want of agreement.

2. In a state of dissension or controversy; in a state of enmity.

Variate

VA'RIATE, verb transitive

1. To alter; to make different.

2. To vary. [A bad word.]

Variation

VARIA'TION, noun [Latin variatio. See Vary.]

1. Alteration; a partial change in the form, position, state or qualities of the same thing; as a variation of color in different lights; a variation in the size of a plant from day to day; the unceasing, though slow variation of language; a variation in a soil from year to year. Our opinions are subject to continual variations.

The essences of things are conceived not capable of such variation

2. Difference; change from one to another.

In some other places are born more females than males; which, upon this variation of proportion, I recommend to the curious.

3. In grammar, change of termination of nouns and adjectives, constituting what is called case, number and gender; as the variation of words.

4. Deviation; as a variation of a transcript from the original.

5. In astronomy, the variation of the moon is the third inequality in her motion; by which, when out of the quadratures, her true place differs from her place twice equated.

6. In geography and navigation, the deviation of the magnetic needle from the true north point; called also declination.

The variation of the needle at New Haven, in 1820, as ascertained from the mean of numerous observations made by Professor Fisher, was 4 degrees 25.42' west.

7. In music, the different manner of singing or playing the same air or tune, by subdividing the notes into several others of less value, or by adding graces, yet so that the tune itself may be discovered through all its embellishments.

Varicocele

VAR'ICOCELE, noun [Latin varix, a dilated vein, and Gr. a tumor.]

In surgery, a varicous enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord; or more generally, a like enlargement of the veins of the scrotum.

Varicose

VAR'ICOSE,

VAR'ICOUS, adjective [Latin varicosus, having enlarged veins.]

1. Preternaturally enlarged, or permanently dilated, as a vein.

2. Swelled; puffy; as an ulcer on the legs of beasts.

Varicous

VAR'ICOUS, a. [L. varicosus, having enlarged veins.] 1. Preternaturally enlarged, or permanently dilated, as a vein.2. Swelled; puffy; as an ulcer on the legs of beasts.

Varied

VA'RIED, participle passive of vary. Altered; partially changed; changed.

Variegate

VA'RIEGATE, verb transitive [Latin vario, varius. See Vary.]

To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; as, to variegate a floor with marble of different colors.

The shells are filled with a white spar, which variegates and adds to the beauty of the stone.

Ladies like variegated tulips show.

Variegated

VA'RIEGATED, participle passive Diversified in colors or external appearance. variegated leaves, in botany, are such as are irregularly marked with white or yellow spots.

Variegating

VA'RIEGATING, participle present tense Diversifying with colors.

Variegation

VARIEGA'TION, noun The act of diversifying, or state of being diversified by different colors; diversity of colors.

Variety

VARI'ETY, noun [Latin varietas, from vario, to vary.]

1. Intermixture of different things, or of things different in form; or a succession of different things.

Variety is nothing else but a continued novelty.

The variety of colors depends on the composition of light.

2. One thing of many which constitute variety In this sense, it has a plural; as the varieties of a species.

3. Difference; dissimilitude.

There is a variety in the tempers of good men.

4. Variation; deviation; change from a former state. [Little used.]

5. Many and different kinds. The shopkeeper has a great variety of cottons and silks.

He wants to do a variety of good things.

6. In natural history, a difference not permanent or invariable, but occasioned by an accidental change; as a variety of any species of plant.

Naturalists formerly erred very much in supposing an accidental variety of plants, animals or minerals, to be a distinct species. Ray has established a good test for varieties in botany. A plant is distinct, which propagates itself in its own form by its seed; but when the difference disappears in the new plant, it is only a variety variety then is a difference between individuals, not permanent nor important enough to constitute a distinct species; such as in size, color, fullness, curling, etc.

7. Different sort; as varieties of soil or land.

Variolite

VA'RIOLITE, noun [Latin varius and Gr. stone.]

In mineralogy, a kind of porphyritic rock, in which the imbedded substances are imperfectly crystallized, or are rounded, giving the stone a spotted appearance.

Variolites are fragments of primitive gladular rocks.

Varioloid

VA'RIOLOID, noun [Latin variolae and Gr. form.

The name recently given to a disease resembling the small pox.

Variolous

VA'RIOLOUS, adjective [Latin variolae, from vario, to diversify.] Pertaining to or designating the small pox.

Various

VA'RIOUS, adjective [Latin varius, See Vary.]

1. different; several; manifold; as men of various names and various occupations.

2. Changeable; uncertain; unfixed.

The names of mixed modes - are very various and doubtful.

3. Unlike each other; diverse.

So many and so various laws are giv'n.

4. Variegated; diversified.

Variously

VA'RIOUSLY, adverb In different ways; with change; with diversity; as objects variously represented; flowers variously colored. The human system is variously affected by different medicines.

Varix

VA'RIX, noun [Latin]

1. An uneven swelling of a dilated vein.

2. In beasts, a sort of puffy dilatation or enlargement in some part of a vein, forming a kind of knot.

Varlet

V'ARLET, noun [See Valet.]

1. Anciently, a servant or footman.

2. A scoundrel; a rascal; as an impudent varlet

Varletry

V'ARLETRY, noun The rabble; the crowd. [Not in use.]

Varnish

V'ARNISH, noun [Low Latin vernix.]

1. A thick, viscid, glossy liquid, laid on work by painters and others, to give it a smooth hard surface and a beautiful gloss. Varnishes are made of different materials and for different purposes. amber varnish is made of amber, lintseed oil, litharge and turpentine. Black varnish for japanning wood and leather, is made by mixing lampblack with a proper quantity of a strong solution of gum-lac in spirit of wine.

2. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct.

V'ARNISH, verb transitive

1. To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid, for giving any thing a glossy surface; as, to varnish a sideboard or table.

2. To cover with something that gives a fair external appearance.

Close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal.

3. To give a fair external appearance in words; to give a fair coloring to; as, to varnish errors or deformity.

Cato's voice was ne'er employ'd to clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes.

And bow the knee to pomp that loves to varnish guilt.

Varnish-Tree

V'ARNISH-TREE, noun The Rhus vernix, poison ash, or poison oak.

Varnished

V'ARNISHED, participle passive

1. Covered with varnish; made glossy.

2. Rendered fair in external appearance.

Varnisher

V'ARNISHER, noun

1. One who varnishes, or whose occupation is to varnish.

2. One who disguises or palliates; one who gives a fair external appearance.