Chapter XXXIII: Front Matter (33)

VILLA, vil'a, _n._ a country residence or seat: a suburban mansion--also VILL.--_ns._ VILL'ADOM, villas collectively, people living in them; VILL'[=A]GE, any small assemblage of houses, less than a town: (_orig._) a number of houses inhabited by persons near the residence of a proprietor or farmer: (_law_) a manor, a parish or the outlying part of a parish; VILL'AGE-COMM[=U]'NITY, a clan of settlers who built their huts on a tract of land and laid out common fields which they cultivated in common as one family, the land being divided out every few years into family lots, but the whole continuing to be cultivated by the community subject to the established customs as interpreted in the village-council by the sense of the village elders--the so-called _Mark system_ of Sir Henry Maine; VILL'[=A]GER, an inhabitant of a village; VILL'[=A]GERY (_Shak._), a district of villages; VILL'AKIN, VILLANETTE', a little villa.--_adj._ VILLAT'IC (_Milt._), pertaining to a farm. [O. Fr. _ville_ (Fr. _ville_)--L. _villa_, a country-house, prob. reduced from _vicla_, dim. of _vicus_, a village; Gr. _oikos_, a house.]

VILLAIN, vil'[=a]n, or vil'in, _n._ a wicked wretch: a man extremely degraded: in feudal times, a member of the lowest class of unfree persons.--_ns._ VILL'AIN[=A]GE, VILL'AN[=A]GE, VILL'EIN[=A]GE, VILL'EN[=A]GE, in feudal times, the tenure of land by villein, i.e. base or menial services.--_adj._ VILL'AINOUS, like or suited to a villain: depraved: proceeding from extreme depravity: very bad, mean, vile.--_adv._ VILL'AINOUSLY.--_ns._ VILL'AINOUSNESS; VILL'AINY, the act of a villain: extreme depravity: an atrocious crime. [Orig. 'a serf attached to a farm,' O. Fr. _villain_--Low L. _villanus_--L. _villa_.]

VILLANELLE, vil-a-nel', _n._ a poem, of a form borrowed from the French, consisting of nineteen lines on two rhymes, arranged in six stanzas, the first five having three, the last four lines. [It. _villanella_--_villano_, rustic.]

VILLARSIA, vi-l[=a]r'si-a, _n._ a genus of widely distributed aquatic or marsh plants, of order _Gentianaceæ_--named from the French botanist Dominique _Villars_ (1745-1814).

VILLEGIATURA, vi-l[.e]j-a-t[=oo]'ra, _n._ country retirement. [It.,--_villegiare_, to stay at a country-seat--_villa_, a country-seat.]

VILLEIN, another spelling of _villain_ (only in its original meaning).

VILLI, vil'[=i], _n.pl._ (_anat._) fine small fibres covering certain membranes: (_bot._) fine soft hairs on fruits, flowers, and other parts of plants:--_sing._ VILL'US.--_adjs._ VILL'IFORM, having the form or appearance of villi; VILL'[=O]SE, VILL'OUS, covered with long, soft hairs: formed of minute villi, resembling the pile of velvet.--_n._ VILLOS'ITY, state of being villous. [L., pl. of _villus_, hair, wool.]

VIM, vim, _n._ (_slang_) energy, force. [Accus. of L. _vis_, strength.]

VIMEN, v[=i]'men, _n._ a long flexible shoot of a plant.--_adjs._ VIM'INAL; VIMIN'EOUS. [L.]

VINA, v[=e]'na, _n._ an East Indian musical instrument having five or seven steel strings stretched on a long fretted finger-board over two gourds.

VINAIGRETTE, vin-[=a]-gret', _n._ a small box of silver or gold for holding aromatic vinegar, used as a smelling-bottle. [Fr.,--_vinaigre_.]

VINASSE, vi-nas', _n._ a residual product containing potash salts, obtained from the wine-press, &c. [Fr.]

VINAYA PITAKA, vin'a-ya pit'a-ka, _n._ one of the three parts of the Tripitaka (q.v.).

VINCA, ving'ka, _n._ a genus of woody herbaceous plants of the dogbane family, the periwinkles.

VINCENTIAN, vin-sen'shi-an, _adj._ pertaining to St _Vincent_ de Paul (1576-1660) or to the charitable associations founded by him.

VINCIBLE, vin'si-bl, _adj._ that may be conquered.--_ns._ VINCIBIL'ITY, VIN'CIBLENESS. [L. _vincibilis_--_vinc[)e]re_, to conquer.]

VINCULUM, ving'k[=u]-lum, _n._ a band: a bond: (_math._) a horizontal line placed over several quantities to show that they are to be treated as one: (_anat._) a ligamentous band.--_v.t._ VIN'CUL[=A]TE, to bind. [L.,--_vinc[=i]re_, to bind.]

VINDEMIAL, vin-d[=e]'mi-al, _adj._ pertaining to the vintage.--_v.i._ VIND[=E]'MIATE, to gather the vintage.

VINDICATE, vin'di-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to lay claim to: to defend: to maintain by force.--_n._ VINDICABIL'ITY.--_adj._ VIN'DICABLE, that may be vindicated or defended.--_n._ VINDIC[=A]'TION, act of vindicating: defence: justification: support.--_adj._ VIN'DIC[=A]TIVE, vindicating: tending to vindicate: (_Shak._) revengeful, vindictive.--_ns._ VIN'DIC[=A]TIVENESS, vindictiveness; VIN'DIC[=A]TOR, one who vindicates:--_fem._ VIN'DIC[=A]TRESS.--_adjs._ VIN'DIC[=A]TORY, tending to vindicate: inflicting punishment; VINDIC'TIVE, revengeful.--_adv._ VINDIC'TIVELY.--_n._ VINDIC'TIVENESS. [L. _vindic[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_vis_, _vim_, power, _dic[=a]re_, to proclaim, _dic[)e]re_, to say; others trace to the root of _venia_, favour.]

VINE, v[=i]n, _n._ the plant from which wine is made: the woody climbing plant that produces grapes: (_hort._) a climbing or trailing plant, or its stem.--_adj._ V[=I]N[=A]'CEOUS, belonging to wine or grapes: wine-coloured.--_ns._ V[=I]'N[=A]GE, the addition of spirit to wine to enable it to stand transportation; V[=I]N[=A]'LIA, a wine festival in honour of Jupiter, celebrated on 23d April.--_adjs._ V[=I]N[=A]'RIAN, relating to wine; VINE'-CLAD, covered with vines.--_ns._ VINE'-CUL'TURE (same as VITICULTURE); VINE'-CURCU'LIO, a small reddish curculio producing galls on the stems of grape-vines; VINE'-DISEASE', a disease affecting the vine; VINE'-DRESS'ER, one who dresses or trims and cultivates vines; VINE'-FRET'TER, a small insect that infests vines; VINE'-GALL, a gall made on the stem of the vine by a vine-curculio; VINE'-LAND, land on which vines are grown; V[=I]'NERY, a hot-house for rearing vines; VINEYARD (vin'yard), a plantation of grape vines.--_adj._ V[=I]'NIC, pertaining to, or derived from, wine.--_ns._ VIN'ICULTURE, the cultivation of the vine; VIN'ICULT[=U]RIST; VIN'-ORDINAIRE', common wine: cheap wine mixed with water, commonly drunk in France and the south of Europe.--_adjs._ V[=I]'NOSE, V[=I]'NOUS, pertaining to wine: wine-coloured: caused by wine.--_n._ VINOS'ITY, state or quality of being vinous.--_adj._ V[=I]'NY, pertaining to or producing vines.--DWELL UNDER ONE'S VINE AND FIG-TREE, to live at peace on one's own land. [O. Fr.,--L. _vinea_, a vine--_vinum_; Gr. _oinos_, wine.]

VINEGAR, vin'e-gar, _n._ the form of acetic acid generally preferred for culinary purposes--made by the fermentation of vegetable substances, from malt, or from inferior wines: sourness of temper.--_v.t._ to apply vinegar to.--_adj._ VIN'AIGROUS, sour like vinegar, ill-tempered.--_ns._ VIN'EGAR-CRU'ET, a glass bottle for holding vinegar; VINEGARETTE', a vinaigrette; VIN'EGAR-PLANT, the microscopic fungus which produces acetous fermentation--found in two forms known as _mother of vinegar_ and _flowers of vinegar_.--_adjs._ VIN'EGARY, VIN'EGARISH, sour. [Fr. _vinaigre_--_vin_ (L. _vinum_, wine), _aigre_--L. _acer_, sour.]

VINEWED, vin'[=u]d, _adj._ (_Shak._) mouldy: musty.

VINGT-ET-UN, vangt-[=a]-ung', _n._ a game of cards, the aim in which is to get as near as possible to the value of twenty-one (hence the name) without exceeding it. The game is played with the whole pack, the ordinary cards being reckoned according to the number of pips on them, while the court cards are ten, and the ace is one or eleven, as the holder may elect.

VINT, vint, _v.t._ to make or prepare, as wine. [Formed from _vintage_.]

VINTAGE, vin't[=a]j, _n._ the gathering of grapes: the yearly produce of grapes: the time of grape-gathering: wine.--_n._ VIN'T[=A]GER. [Fr. _vendange_--L. _vindemia_--_vinum_, wine, grapes, _dem[)e]re_, to remove--_de_, out of or away, _em[)e]re_, to take.]

VINTNER, vint'n[.e]r, _n._ a wine-seller.--_ns._ VINT'NERY, the trade of a vintner; VINT'RY, a store for wine. [O. Fr. _vinetier_, through Low L.--L. _vinetum_, a vineyard--_vinum_, wine.]

VIOL, v[=i]'ol, _n._ a musical instrument which was the immediate precursor of the violin, having from three to six strings, and played by means of a bow.--_ns._ VIOLA (v[=e]-[=o]'la, or v[=i]'[=o]-la), a larger description of violin having four strings tuned in fifths, to which the part between the second violin and bass is generally assigned--also called _Alto viola_ or _Tenor violin_; V[=I]'OL-BLOCK (_naut._), a large single block big enough to reeve a small hawser; V[=I]'OLIST, a player on the viol or the viola.--BASS VIOL, a large medieval viol: the modern violoncello. [O. Fr. _viole_--Low L. _vidula_, from L. _vitul[=a]ri_, to skip like a calf, to make merry--L. _vitulus_, a calf.]

VIOLATE, v[=i]'[=o]-l[=a]t, _v.t._ to injure: to abuse: to ravish: to profane: to break forcibly: to transgress.--_adj._ V[=I]'OLABLE, that may be violated, injured, or broken.--_adv._ VI'OLABLY.--_ns._ V[=I]OL[=A]'TION, the act of violating or injuring: infringement: non-observance: profanation: rape; V[=I]'OL[=A]TOR. [L. _viol[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_vis_, strength; cf. Gr. _is_, strength, force.]

VIOLENT, v[=i]'[=o]-lent, _adj._ acting with physical force or strength: moved by strong feeling: passionate: vehement: outrageous: produced by force: intense: compulsory: unnatural.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to be violent.--_n._ V[=I]'OLENCE, the state or quality of being violent: force, physical or moral: unjust force: outrage: profanation: injury: rape.--_adv._ V[=I]'OLENTLY.--DO VIOLENCE ON (_Shak._), to attack, murder; DO VIOLENCE TO, to outrage, injure. [Fr.,--L. _violentus_--_vis_, force.]

VIOLET, v[=i]'[=o]-let, _n._ any plant of genus _Viola_, of many species, with a flower generally of some shade of blue, but also white and yellow, and most often fragrant: the colour of the violet, a bluish or light purple.--_adj._ of the colour of the violet, bluish or light purple.--_adjs._ VIOL[=A]'CEOUS, of a violet colour, purple; VIOLES'CENT, tending to a violet colour. [Fr. _violette_, dim. of O. Fr. _viole_--L. _viola_; cf. Gr. _ion_.]

VIOLIN, v[=i]-[=o]-lin', _n._ a musical instrument of four strings placed with a bow: a fiddle: a player on the violin.--_ns._ VIOLIN'-BOW, a bow for sounding the violin; V[=I]'OLINIST, a player on the violin. [It. _violino_--_viola_.]

VIOLONCELLO, v[=e]-[=o]-lon-chel'[=o], or v[=i]-[=o]-lon-sel'[=o], _n._ a large four-stringed musical instrument of the violin class, the quality of its tone even more sympathetic than that of the violin, held between the knees in playing--it superseded the _Viol da gamba_ in the early part of the 18th century:--_pl._ VIOLONCELL'OS.--_n._ VIOLONCELL'IST, a player on the violoncello. [It., dim. of _violone_, a bass violin; see next word.]

VIOLONE, v[=e]-[=o]-l[=o]'n[=a], _n._ the largest kind of bass viol, having strings tuned an octave lower than the violoncello. [It.,--_viola_.]

VIPER, v[=i]'p[.e]r, _n._ a genus of venomous snakes, representative of family _Viperidæ_--the Common Viper or adder being the only poisonous snake indigenous to Britain: loosely, any venomous serpent except a rattlesnake, any cobriform serpent: any base, malicious person.--_adjs._ V[=I]'PERINE, related to or resembling the viper; V[=I]'PERISH, like a viper; V[=I]'PEROUS, having the qualities of a viper: venomous: malignant.--_adv._ V[=I]'PEROUSLY.--VIPER'S BUGLOSS, the blue weed or blue thistle; VIPER'S GRASS, a European perennial of the aster family. [Fr.,--L. _vipera_ (contr. of _vivipara_)--_vivus_, living, _par[)e]re_, to bring forth.]

VIRAGO, vi-r[=a]'go, or v[=i]-r[=a]'g[=o], _n._ a masculine woman: a bold, impudent woman: a termagant.--_adjs._ VIRAGIN'IAN, VIRAGINOUS (viraj'-).--_n._ VIRAGIN'ITY. [L.,--_vir_, a man.]

VIRE, v[=e]r, _n._ a crossbow-bolt: (_her._) an annulet. [Fr.]

VIRELAY, vir'e-l[=a], _n._ an ancient kind of French poem in short lines, and consisting of only two rhymes, their order as well as the length of the verses being arbitrary. [Fr. _virelai_--_virer_, to turn, _lai_, a song.]

VIREO, vir'[=e]-[=o], _n._ a genus of American singing birds, the greenlets. [L.]

VIRESCENT, v[=i]-res'ent, _adj._ growing green, greenish.--_n._ VIRES'CENCE, greenness: (_bot._) the turning green of organs properly bright-coloured. [L., pr.p. of _vir[=e]re_, to be green.]

VIRGATE, v[.e]r'g[=a]t, _adj._ like a wand or rod: slender, straight.--_n._ an old English measure of surface. [L. _virga_, a rod.]

VIRGILIAN, v[.e]r-jil'i-an, _adj._ relating to or resembling the style of _Virgil_, the Roman poet (70-21 B.C.).

VIRGIN, v[.e]r'jin, _n._ a maiden: a woman who has had no sexual intercourse with man: one devoted to virginity: a madonna, a figure of the Virgin: a person of either sex who has not known sexual intercourse: any female animal that has not copulated: a parthenogenetic insect: (_astron._) Virgo, one of the signs of the zodiac.--_adj._ becoming a maiden: maidenly: pure: chaste: undefiled: fresh, new: parthenogenetic.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to continue chaste.--_adj._ VIR'GINAL, maidenly: (_zool._) parthenogenetic.--_n._ VIRGIN[=A]'LE, a book of prayers and hymns to the Virgin Mary.--_adj._ VIR'GIN-BORN, born of the VIRGIN, of Jesus Christ: (_zool._) born by internal gemmation without impregnation.--_ns._ VIRGIN'ITY, VIR'GINHOOD, the state of a virgin; VIR'GIN-KNOT (_Shak._), maidenly chastity, in reference to the unloosing of the girdles of Greek and Roman maidens on marriage.--_adj._ VIR'GINLY, pure.--_adv._ chastely.--_ns._ VIR'GIN'S-BOW'ER, a species of clematis, hedge-vine; VIR'GIN-WOR'SHIP, adoration of the Virgin Mary; VIR'GO, the Virgin, in the zodiac.--VIRGIN BIRTH, GENERATION, parthenogenesis; VIRGIN CLAY, in pottery, &c., clay which has never been fired.--THE VIRGIN, THE BLESSED VIRGIN, the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. [O, Fr.,--L. _virgo_, _virginis_.]

VIRGINAL, v[.e]r'jin-al, _n._ an old keyed musical instrument, oblong in shape, one of the three forms of the harpsichord.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to finger, as on a virginal.

VIRGINIA, v[.e]r-jin'i-a, _n._ a well-known brand of tobacco, grown and manufactured in _Virginia_.--_n._ VIRGIN'IA-CREEP'ER, an American climbing vine, common in the south of England, remarkable for the bright-red colour it assumes in autumn.--_adj._ VIRGIN'IAN, pertaining to Virginia.--_n._ a native of Virginia.

VIRGULE, v[.e]r'g[=u]l, _n._ a little rod: a mark of punctuation, a comma.--_adj._ VIR'G[=U]L[=A]TE, rod-shaped.--_n._ VIRGUL'TUM, a twig. [L. _virgula_--_virga_, a twig.]

VIRID, vir'id, _adj._ green.--_n._ VIRID'IAN, a deep and pure bluish-green pigment, being a hydrated sesquioxide of chromium.--_adj._ VIRIDIGENOUS (-ij'-), producing a green tint.--_ns._ VIRID'ITY, VIR'IDNESS, verdure: greenness. [L., _viridis_, green--_vir[=e]re_, to be green.]

VIRIDESCENT, vir-i-des'ent, _adj._ slightly green: greenish.--_n._ VIRIDES'CENCE. [L. _viridis_, green.]

VIRILE, vir'il, or v[=i]'ril, _adj._ of or belonging to a man or to the male sex: masculine: manly.--_n._ VIRIL'ITY, the state or quality of being a man: the power of a full-grown male: the power of procreation: manhood. [L. _virilis_--_vir_, a man; cog. with Gr. _h[=e]r[=o]s_, a hero, Old High Ger. _wer_, a man.]

VIROLE, vi-r[=o]l', _n._ a ferrule: (_her._) a hoop or ring. [O. Fr.; a doublet of _ferrule_.]

VIRTU, v[.e]r't[=oo], or -t[=oo]', _n._ a love of the fine arts: taste for curiosities: objects of art or antiquity.--_adjs._ VIRTUOSE', VIRTU[=O]'SIC, exhibiting the qualities and skill of a virtuoso.--_ns._ VIRTUOS'ITY, lovers of the elegant arts as a class: exceptional skill in some of the fine arts; VIRTU[=O]'S[=O], one skilled in the fine arts, in antiquities, curiosities, and the like: a skilful musician, painter, &c. (_pl._ VIRTU[=O]'S[=O]S, VIRTU[=O]'SI):--_fem._ VIRTU[=O]'SA (_pl._ VIRTU[=O]'SE, -se); VIRTU[=O]'S[=O]SHIP. [It.; a doublet of _virtue_.]

VIRTUE, v[.e]r'tu, _n._ excellence: worth: moral excellence: the practice of duty: a moral excellence: sexual purity, esp. female chastity: purity: (_B._) strength: force: inherent power, efficacy: one of the orders of the celestial hierarchy.--_adj._ VIR'TUAL, having virtue or efficacy: having the efficacy without the material part: in effect though not in fact: (_mech._) possible and infinitesimal.--_adv._ VIR'TUALLY.--_adjs._ VIR'TUELESS, wanting virtue: without efficacy; VIR'TUE-PROOF (_Milt._), impregnable in virtue; VIR'TUOUS, having virtue or moral goodness: blameless: righteous: practising duty: being according to the moral law: chaste (of a woman).--_adv._ VIR'TUOUSLY.--_n._ VIR'TUOUSNESS.--BY, IN, VIRTUE OF, through the power, force, or efficacy of; MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY, to do as if from inclination or sense of duty something one must needs do; SEVEN PRINCIPAL VIRTUES, faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude--the first three the _theological_, the last four the _moral_ virtues; THE CARDINAL VIRTUES (see CARDINAL). [O. Fr.,--L. _virtus_, bravery, moral excellence--_vir_, a man; cf. Gr. _h[=e]r[=o]s_, Sans. _vira_, a hero.]

VIRULENT, vir'[=u]-lent, _adj._ full of poison: very active in injury: bitter in enmity: malignant.--_ns._ VIR'ULENCE, VIR'ULENCY.--_adv._ VIR'ULENTLY. [L. _virulentus_--_virus_, poison.]

VIRUS, v[=i]'rus, _n._ contagious or poisonous matter (as of ulcers, &c.): the poison which causes infection: any foul, hurtful matter.--_adjs._ V[=I]'ROSE, V[=I]'ROUS; VIR[=U]LIF'EROUS, bearing a specific virus. [L.; cog. with Gr. _ios_, Sans. _visha_, poison.]

VIS, vis, _n._ force: power:--_pl._ V[=I]'RES.--VIS INERTIÆ, inertia: sluggishness; VIS MORTUA, force of pressure, dead force; VIS VIVA, living force, equal to the mass of a moving body multiplied by the square of its velocity. [L.]

VISAGE, viz'[=a]j, _n._ the face or look.--_adj._ VIS'AGED. [Fr., through an assumed form _visaticum_, from L. _visus_, seen--_vid[=e]re_, to see.]

VIS-À-VIS, v[=e]z'-a-v[=e]', _adv._ facing one another.--_n._ one who faces, or is opposite to, another: a light carriage with seats facing each other: a kind of couch. [Fr. _vis_, face (--L. _visus_, look), _à_, to, _vis_, face.]

VISCACHA, vis-kach'a, _n._ a South American rodent of the Chinchilla family, inhabiting the South American Pampas, of stout form and about twenty inches in length, a gregarious burrower and nocturnal in habits--also _Bizcacha_.--_n._ VISCACHERA (vis-ka-ch[=a]'ra), a settlement of viscachas. [Sp.; prob. of Peruv. origin.]

VISCERA, vis'e-ra, _n.pl._ the inner parts of the animal body: the entrails:--_sing._ VIS'CUS.--_adj._ VIS'CERAL, pertaining to the viscera: abdominal.--_v.t._ VIS'CER[=A]TE, to disembowel. [L. _viscus_ (pl. _viscera_).]

VISCOUNT, v[=i]'kownt, _n._ an officer who formerly acted as deputy to the earl, the _vice-comes_: a title of nobility next below an earl:--_fem._ V[=I]'SCOUNTESS.--_ns._ V[=I]'SCOUNTCY, V[=I]'SCOUNTSHIP, V[=I]'SCOUNTY, the rank or dignity of a viscount. [O. Fr. _viscomte_ (Fr. _vicomte_)--Low L. _vice-comes_--L. _vice_, in place of, _comes_, a companion.]

VISCOUS, vis'kus, _adj._ sticky: tenacious--also VIS'CID.--_ns._ VISCID'ITY, VIS'COUSNESS; VISCOS'ITY, the property of being viscous: (_phys._) that property of matter which is seen when the relative motion of parts of any body or substance decays on its being left to itself. [Low L. _viscosus_, sticky--L. _viscum_, bird-lime, mistletoe; cog. with Gr. _ixos_, mistletoe.]

VISCUM, vis'kum, _n._ a genus of parasitic plants, including the mistletoe. [L.]

VISE. See VICE (1).

VISÉ, v[=e]-z[=a]', _n._ an indorsement on a passport denoting that it has been officially examined, and that the bearer may proceed on his journey.--_v.t._ to indorse a passport.--Also VISA (v[=e]'za). [Fr.,--Low L. _vis[=a]re_, freq. of L. _vid[=e]re_, _visum_, to see.]

VISHNU, vish'n[=oo], _n._ the second god of the Hindu triad, now the most worshipped of all Hindu gods. He became specially the benefactor of man in his _avatars_ or incarnations, ten in number--according to others, twenty-two. [Sans., 'the preserver.']

VISIBLE, viz'i-bl, _adj._ that may be seen: obvious.--_ns._ VISIBIL'ITY, state or quality of being visible, or perceivable by the eye; VIS'IBLENESS.--_adv._ VIS'IBLY.--VISIBLE CHURCH, the body of professing Christians, as opposed to the _Invisible Church_, which consists of those spiritual persons who fulfil the notion of the ideal Church, together with the body of the departed saints in heaven; VISIBLE MEANS, means or resources which are apparent to or ascertainable by others; VISIBLE SPEECH, a system of alphabetic characters, each of which represents the configuration of the mouth that produces the sound.

VISIGOTH, viz'i-goth, _n._ one of the Western Goths, as distinguished from the Ostrogoths or Eastern Goths. They formed settlements in the south of France and in Spain, and their kingdom in the latter lasted into the 8th century.--_adj._ VISIGOTH'IC. [Low L. _Visegothæ_--Teut. _west_, west, _Gothæ_, Goths.]

VISION, vizh'un, _n._ the act or sense of seeing: sight: anything seen: anything imagined to be seen: a divine revelation: an apparition: anything imaginary.--_v.t._ to see as a vision: to present as in a vision.--_n._ (_Scot._) VISIE (viz'i), a close look at anything.--_adj._ VIS'IONAL, pertaining to a vision, not real.--_adv._ VIS'IONALLY.--_n._ VIS'IONARINESS.--_adj._ VIS'IONARY, affected by visions: apt to see visions, imaginative: existing in imagination only: not real.--_n._ one who sees visions: one who forms impracticable schemes.--_adj._ VIS'IONED (_rare_), inspired so as to see visions: seen in a vision, spectral.--_n._ VIS'IONIST, a visionary person, one who believes in visions.--_adj._ VIS'IONLESS, destitute of vision.--BEATIFIC VISION (see BEATIFY); CENTRE, POINT, OF VISION, the position from which anything is observed, or represented as being seen. [Fr.,--L. _visio_, _visionis_--_vid[=e]re_, _visum_, to see; cf. Gr. _idein_, Eng. _wit_.]

VISIT, viz'it, _v.t._ to go to see or inspect: to attend: enter, appear in: to call on: (_B._) to reward or punish.--_v.i._ to be in the habit of seeing or meeting each other: to keep up acquaintance.--_n._ act of visiting or going to see.--_adjs._ VIS'ITABLE, subject to visitation: attractive to visitors; VIS'ITANT, paying visits, visiting.--_n._ one who visits: one who is a guest in the house of another: a migratory bird: one of an order of nuns founded by St Francis de Sales in 1610, also called _Salesians_, _Order_ (also _Nuns_) _of the Visitation_--the order has done much in the education of young girls.--_n._ VISIT[=A]'TION, act of visiting: examination by authority: a dispensation, whether of divine favour or retribution: (_rare_) the object of a visit: the act of a naval commander in boarding the vessel of another state to ascertain her character and object: a visit of a herald to a district for the examination of its arms, pedigrees, &c.: an unusual and extensive irruption of a species of animals into another region: (_eccles._) a festival to commemorate the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, observed by the Roman and Greek Churches on 2d July.--_adjs._ VISIT[=A]T[=O]'RIAL, VISIT[=O]'RIAL.--_n._ VIS'ITING, the act of paying visits: prompting, influence.--_adj._ that which visits.--_ns._ VIS'ITING-BOOK, a book recording the names of persons who have called or are to be called on; VIS'ITING-CARD, a small card, on which the name, address, or title, may be printed, to be left in making calls or paying visits, and sometimes sent as an act of courtesy or in token of sympathy; VIS'ITING-DAY, a day on which one is at home or ready to receive callers; VIS'ITOR, -ER, one who visits, calls on, or makes a stay with a person: a person authorised to visit an institution to see that it is managed properly:--_fem._ VIS'ITRESS.--VISITATION OF THE SICK, an office in the Anglican Church, used for the spiritual benefit of the sick, provision being also made for special confession and absolution. [Fr. _visiter_--L. _visit[=a]re_, freq. of _vis[)e]re_, to go to see, visit--_vid[=e]re_, to see.]

VISITE, vi-z[=e]t', _n._ a woman's close-fitting outer garment worn early in the 19th century. [Fr.]

VISIVE, v[=i]'siv, _adj._ visual.

VISNOMY, viz'no-mi, _n._ (_Spens._), physiognomy.

VISON, v[=i]'son, _n._ the American mink.

VISOR, viz'ur, _n._ a part of a helmet covering the face, movable, and perforated to see through (see ARMOUR): a mask.--_adj._ VIS'ORED, wearing a visor: masked. [Fr. _visière_--_vis_, countenance.]

VISTA, vis'ta, _n._ a view or prospect through or as through an avenue: the trees, &c., that form the avenue. [It. _vista_, sight, view--L. _vid[=e]re_, to see.]

VISUAL, viz'[=u]-al, _adj._ belonging to vision or sight: visible: produced by sight: used in sight: used for seeing.--_n._ VISUALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ VIS'UAL[=I]SE, to make visible or visual, externalise to the eye.--_v.i._ to call up a clear mental image.--_ns._ VIS'UAL[=I]SER; VISUAL'ITY.--_adv._ VIS'UALLY.

VITAL, v[=i]'tal, _adj._ belonging or contributing to life: containing or necessary to life: important as life: essential.--_n._ V[=I]TALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ V[=I]'TALISE, to make vital or alive: to give life to or furnish with the vital principle.--_ns._ V[=I]'TALISM, the doctrine that there is a vital principle distinct from the organisation of living bodies, which directs all their actions and functions; V[=I]'TALIST, one who holds this doctrine.--_adj._ V[=I]TALIS'TIC.--_n._ V[=I]TAL'ITY, quality of being vital: principle or power of life: capacity to endure and flourish.--_adv._ V[=I]'TALLY.--_n.pl._ V[=I]'TALS, the interior organs essential for life: the part of any whole necessary for its existence.--_n._ V[=I]T[=A]'TIVENESS (_phrenol._), the love of life, a faculty assigned to a protuberance under the ear.--VITAL FORCE, the principle of life in animals and plants; VITAL FUNCTIONS, power, ability to continue living; VITAL PRINCIPLE, that principle on which the life of an organism is thought to depend; VITAL STATISTICS, a division of statistics dealing with the facts and problems concerning population. [L. _vitalis_--_vita_, life--_viv[)e]re_, to live; cog. with Gr. _bios_, life.]

VITELLUS, v[=i]-tel'us, _n._ the yolk of an egg.--_adjs._ VIT'ELLARY, VITELL'INE, pertaining to the vitellus, or forming such.--_n._ VITELL'ICLE, a yolk-sac.--_adj._ VITELLIGENOUS (-ij'-), producing yolk. [L., 'a yolk,' a transferred use of _vitellus_--_vitulus_, a calf.]

VITEX, v[=i]'teks, _n._ a genus of trees or shrubs of the natural order _Verbenaceæ_. [L.]

VITIATE, vish'i-[=a]t, _v.t._ to render faulty or defective: to make less pure: to deprave: to taint--earlier VI'CIATE.--_ns._ VITI[=A]'TION; VI'TI[=A]TOR; VITIOS'ITY, state or quality of being vicious. [L. _viti[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_vitium_. See VICE (2).]

VITILITIGATION, vit-i-lit-i-g[=a]'shun, _n._ vexatious litigation.--_v.i._ VITILIT'IGATE.

VITIS, v[=i]'tis, _n._ a genus of plants, including the grape.--_n._ VIT'ICIDE, a vine-destroyer, vine-pest.--_adj._ VITIC'OLOUS, inhabiting, or produced upon, the vine.--_ns._ VIT'ICULTURE, cultivation of the vine; VITICUL'T[=U]RIST. [L. _vitis_, a vine--_vi[=e]re_, to twist.]

VITREOUS, vit'r[=e]-us, _adj._ glassy: pertaining to, consisting of, or like glass.--_ns._ VITREOS'ITY, VIT'REOUSNESS; VITRES'CENCE.--_adj._ VITRES'CENT, tending to become glass.--_n._ VIT'REUM, the vitreous humour of the eye.--_adj._ VIT'RIC.--_ns._ VIT'RICS, glassy materials: the history of glass and its manufacture; VITRIFAC'TION, VITRIFIC[=A]'TION, act, process, or operation of vitrifying, or converting into glass; VITRIFAC'TURE, the manufacture of glass.--_adjs._ VIT'RIFIABLE, that may be vitrified or turned into glass; VIT'RIFIED.--_ns.pl._ VIT'RIFIED-FORTS, -WALLS, certain ancient Scottish, French, &c. forts or walls in which the silicious stone has been vitrified by fire, whether by intention or accident is uncertain.--_adj._ VIT'RIFORM, having the form of glass.--_v.t._ VIT'RIFY, to make into glass.--_v.i._ to become glass.--_ns._ VITR[=I]'NA, a genus of land molluscs forming a connecting-link between the slugs and true snails--the glass-snail; VIT'RINE, a show-case made of glass and used to protect delicate articles. [L. _vitrum_, glass--_vid[=e]re_, to see.]

VITRIOL, vit'ri-ol, _n._ the popular name of sulphuric acid: a soluble sulphate of a metal--_green vitriol_=sulphate of iron, _blue vitriol_=sulphate of copper, _white vitriol_=sulphate of zinc.--_v.t._ VIT'RIOL[=A]TE, to convert into vitriol.--_n._ VITRIOL[=A]'TION, the act or process of converting into vitriol.--_adjs._ VITRIOL'IC, pertaining to or having the qualities of vitriol: biting, very severe; VIT'RIOL[=I]SABLE.--_n._ VITRIOLIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ VIT'RIOLISE, to vitriolate: to poison with vitriol.--ELIXIR OF VITRIOL, old name for the aromatic sulphuric acid of the Pharmacopoeia; OIL OF VITRIOL, concentrated sulphuric acid. [O. Fr.,--Low L. _vitriolum_--_vitriolus_--L. _vitreus_, of glass.]

VITRO-DI-TRINA, vit'r[=o]-di-tr[=e]'na, _n._ lacework glass. [It., 'glass of lace.']

VITROPHYRE, vit'r[=o]-f[=i]r, _n._ a porphyritic variety of volcanic glass.--_adj._ VITROPHYR'IC. [L. _vitrum_, glass, _porphyrites_, porphyry.]

VITRUVIAN, vi-tr[=oo]'vi-an, _adj._ denoting a peculiar kind of convoluted scrollwork, so named from _Vitruvius_, a Roman architect under Augustus.

VITTA, vit'a, _n._ a fillet, or garland for the head:--_pl._ VITT'Æ (-[=e]). [L.]

VITULAR, vit'[=u]-lar, VITULINE, vit'[=u]-l[=i]n, _adj._ relating to a calf or to veal. [From L. _vitulus_, a calf.]

VITUPERATE, v[=i]-t[=u]'pe-r[=a]t, _v.t._ to find fault with: to address with abuse: to rate soundly.--_adj._ VIT[=U]'PERABLE, deserving vituperation.--_n._ VIT[=U]PER[=A]'TION, act of vituperating: censure: abuse.--_adj._ VIT[=U]'PER[=A]TIVE, containing vituperation or censure.--_adv._ VIT[=U]'PER[=A]TIVELY.--_n._ VIT[=U]'PER[=A]TOR, one who vituperates. [L. _vituper[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_vitium_, a fault, _par[=a]re_, to set out.]

VIURE, v[=e]'[=u]r, _n._ (_her._) a thin ribbon crossing the field in any direction. [Fr.]

VIVA, v[=e]'va, _interj._ long live.--_n._ the exclamation _Viva_! [It., 'Let him live'--L. _viv[)e]re_, to live.]

VIVACE, v[=e]-vä'che, _adj._ (_mus._) lively:--_superl._ VIVACIS'SIMO. [It.]

VIVACIOUS, v[=i]-v[=a]'shus, (or vi-), _adj._ lively or long-lived: active: sportive.--_adv._ VIV[=A]'CIOUSLY.--_ns._ VIV[=A]'CIOUSNESS; VIVAC'ITY, state of being vivacious: life: animation: liveliness or sprightliness of temper or behaviour: (_rare_) a vivacious act or saying. [L. _vivax_, _vivacis_--_viv[)e]re_, to live.]

VIVANDIÈRE, v[=e]-vong-di-[=a]r', _n._ in the French and some other Continental armies, a female attendant in a regiment, who sells spirits and other comforts, marching with the corps. [Fr., _fem._ of _vivandier_--It. _vivandière_, a sutler--_vivanda_, food.]

VIVARIUM, v[=i]-v[=a]'ri-um, _n._ an artificial enclosure for keeping or raising living animals, as a park, fish-pond, &c.--Also V[=I]'VARY. [L. _vivarium_--_vivus_, alive--_viv[)e]re_, to live.]

VIVAT, v[=i]'vat, _n._ an exclamation of applause. [L., 'let him live.']

VIVA VOCE, v[=i]'va v[=o]'s[=e], by word of mouth. [L., 'with living voice,'--_vivus_, living, _vox_, _vocis_, voice.]

VIVE, v[=e]v, _interj._ long live. [Fr., 'let him live.']

VIVE, v[=i]v, _adj._ (_Bacon_) lively, forcible. [Fr.,--L. _vivus_--_viv[)e]re_, to live.]

VIVERRINE, v[=i]-ver'in, _adj._ pertaining to the _Viverridæ_, one of the four families of the _Æluroidea_ section of Carnivora.--_n._ one of the _Viverridæ_, and esp. of the division of _Viverrinæ_, including the civets, genets, &c.

VIVERS, v[=e]'v[.e]rz, _n.pl._ (_Scot._) food, eatables. [Fr. _vivres_--L. _viv[)e]re_, to live.]

VIVES, v[=i]vz, _n.pl._ a disease of horses, &c., seated in the glands under the ear. [O. Fr. _avives_, _vives_--Sp. _avivas_--Ar. _addh[=i]ba_--_al_, the, _dh[=i]ba_, she-wolf.]

VIVID, viv'id, _adj._ lively or life-like: having the appearance of life: forming brilliant images in the mind: striking.--_adv._ VIV'IDLY.--_ns._ VIV'IDNESS, VIVID'ITY.--_adj._ VIVIF'IC, vivifying.--_ns._ VIVIFIC[=A]'TION; VIV'IFIER.--_v.t._ VIV'IFY, to make vivid, endue with life. [L. _vividus_--_viv[)e]re_, to live.]

VIVIPAROUS, v[=i]-vip'a-rus, _adj._ producing young alive: (_bot._) germinating from a seed still on the parent plant.--_ns._ V[=I]VIPAR'ITY, V[=I]VIP'AROUSNESS.--_adv._ V[=I]VIP'AROUSLY. [L., from _vivus_, alive, _par[)e]re_, to produce.]

VIVISECTION, viv-i-sek'shun, _n._ the practice of making operations or painful experiments on living animals, for the purposes of physiological research or demonstration.--_v.t._ VIVISECT', to practise vivisection on.--_adj._ VIVISEC'TIONAL.--_ns._ VIVISEC'TIONIST, one who practises or defends vivisection; VIVISEC'TOR, one who practises vivisection; VIVISECT[=O]'RIUM, a place for vivisection. [L. _vivus_, alive, _sectio_--_sec[=a]re_, to cut.]

VIVISEPULTURE, viv-i-sep'ul-t[=u]r, _n._ burial alive.

VIXEN, vik'sn, _n._ a she-fox: an ill-tempered woman.--_adjs._ VIX'EN, VIX'ENISH, VIX'ENLY, ill-tempered, snarling. [Formerly also _vixon_; a form of _fixen_--A.S. _fyxen_, a she-fox.]

VIZ. See VIDELICET.

VIZAMENT, viz'a-ment, _n._ (_Shak._) advisement.

VIZARD, viz'ard, VIZOR, viz'ur. Same as VISOR.

VIZIR, VIZIER, vi-z[=e]r', _n._ a minister or councillor of state in the Ottoman Empire and other Mohammedan states--also VISIER', VEZIR', WIZIER'.--_ns._ VIZIR'ATE, VIZIER'ATE, VIZIR'SHIP, VIZIER'SHIP, the office of a vizir.--_adjs._ VIZIR'IAL, VIZIER'IAL.--GRAND VIZIR, in Turkey, the prime-minister, and formerly also commander of the army. [Ar. _waz[=i]r_, a porter--_wazara_, to bear a burden.]

VLY, vl[=i], or fl[=i], _n._ a swamp, a shallow pond which is sometimes dry.--Also VLEIJ, VLEI. [A word of Dutch origin used in South Africa, prob. derived from Dut. _vallei_, a valley.]

VOCABLE, v[=o]'ka-bl, _n._ that which is sounded with the voice: a word: a name.--_ns._ VOCAB'[=U]LARY, a list of vocables or words explained in alphabetical order: the words of a language: a dictionary: any list of words; VOCAB'[=U]LIST, a lexicographer, the harmless drudge who compiles a dictionary.--_adjs._ V[=O]'CAL, having a voice: uttered or changed by the voice: (_phon._) voiced, uttered with voice: having a vowel function; VOCAL'IC, containing vowels.--_n._ VOCALIS[=A]'TION, act of vocalising.--_v.t._ V[=O]'CALISE, to make vocal: to form into voice: to insert the vowel points, as in Hebrew.--_v.i._ to speak, sing.--_ns._ V[=O]'CALIST, a vocal musician, a singer; VOCAL'ITY, V[=O]'CALNESS, utterableness: vowel character.--_adv._ V[=O]'CALLY.--_adj._ VOC'ULAR (_rare_), vocal.--VOCAL CHORDS, two elastic membraneous folds of the larynx capable of being stretched or relaxed; VOCAL MUSIC, music produced by the human voice alone, as opposed to _Instrumental music_. [L. _vocabulum_--_voc[=a]re_, to call.]

VOCATION, v[=o]-k[=a]'shun, _n._ call or act of calling: calling: occupation.--_adj._ VOC[=A]'TIONAL.--_adv._ VOC[=A]'TIONALLY. [L. _vocatio_--_voc[=a]re_.]

VOCATIVE, vok'a-tiv, _adj._ pertaining to the act of calling, applied to the grammatical case used in personal address.--_n._ the case of a word when a person or thing is addressed. [L. _vocativus_--_voc[=a]re_.]

VOCIFERATE, v[=o]-sif'e-r[=a]t, _v.i._ to cry with a loud voice.--_v.t._ to utter with a loud voice.--_n._ VOCIF'ERANCE, clamour.--_adj._ VOCIF'ERANT, clamorous.--_ns._ VOCIFER[=A]'TION, act of vociferating: a violent or loud outcry; VOCIF'ER[=A]TOR.--_v.t._ VOCIF'ERISE, to vociferate.--_n._ VOCIFEROS'ITY.--_adj._ VOCIF'EROUS, making a loud outcry: noisy.--_adv._ VOCIF'EROUSLY.--_n._ VOCIF'EROUSNESS. [L.--_vox_, _vocis_, voice, _ferre_, to carry.]

VOCULAR, vok'[=u]-lar, _adj._ vocal.--_n._ VOC'ULE, a slight sound of the voice.

VODKA, v[=o]d'ka, _n._ a Russian spirit, properly distilled from rye, but sometimes from potatoes. [Russ., 'brandy,' dim. of _voda_, water.]

VOE, v[=o], _n._ in Shetland, a bay, creek.--Also VO, VAE. [Ice. _vágr_, _vogr_, a creek.]

VOGIE, v[=o]'gi, _adj._ (_Scot._) vain: merry.

VOGUE, v[=o]g, _n._ mode or fashion at any particular time: practice: popular reception. [Fr. _vogue_, course of a ship--_voguer_, to row, from Old High Ger. _wag[=o]n_ (Ger. _wogen_, to fluctuate, float)--_waga_, a waving, akin to _w[=a]g_, a wave.]

VOICE, vois, _n._ sound from the mouth: sound given out by anything: utterance or mode of utterance: language: expression: expressed opinion: one who speaks: (_Shak._) reputation: sound uttered with resonance of the vocal chords: vote: (_gram._) mode of inflecting verbs, as being active or passive.--_v.t._ to give utterance to, declare, announce: to fit for sounding: to regulate the tone of: to utter with voice or tone, as distinguished from breath.--_adjs._ VOICED, furnished with a voice; VOICE'FUL, having a voice: vocal.--_n._ VOICE'FULNESS.--_adj._ VOICE'LESS, having no voice or vote.--_ns._ VOICE'LESSNESS; VOIC'ER; VOIC'ING, the regulating of the tone of organ pipes, ensuring proper power, pitch, and quality.--IN MY VOICE (_Shak._), in my name; INNER VOICE, PART, in music, a voice-part intermediate between the highest and the lowest; IN VOICE, in good condition for singing or speaking.--WITH ONE VOICE, unanimously. [O. Fr. _voix_--L. _vox_, _vocis_; akin to Gr. _epos_, a word.]

VOID, void, _adj._ unoccupied: empty: destitute (with _of_): having no binding force: wanting: unsubstantial.--_n._ an empty space.--_v.t._ to make vacant: to quit: to send out, emit, empty out: to render of no effect, to nullify: (_Spens._) to lay aside, divest one's self of.--_adj._ VOID'ABLE, that may be voided or evacuated.--_n._ VOID'ANCE, act of voiding or emptying: state of being void: ejection.--_p.adj._ VOID'ED (_her._), having the inner part cut away or left vacant--said of a charge or ordinary.--_ns._ VOID'ER, one who empties: a contrivance in armour for covering an unprotected part of the body: a tray for carrying away crumbs, &c.; VOID'ING, the act of voiding: a remnant; VOID'NESS, emptiness: nullity. [O. Fr. _voide_, _void_, empty--L. _viduus_, bereft; others trace to Low L. form, akin to L. _vac[=a]re_, to be empty.]

VOIVODE, VAIVODE, voi'v[=o]d, v[=a]'v[=o]d, _n._ the leader of an army: in Poland the title of the head of an administrative division, in Moldavia and Wallachia the former title of the princes, in Turkey an inferior administrative official--also VAY'VODE, WAI'WODE, WAY'WODE.--_ns._ VOI'VODESHIP, VAI'VODESHIP. [Russ. _voevoda_ (Serv. _vojvoda_, Pol. _wojewoda_), a general.]

VOL, vol, _n._ (_her._) two wings displayed and conjoined in base. [Fr.]

VOLABLE, vol'a-bl, _adj._ (_Shak._) nimble--willed. [L. _vol[=a]re_, to fly.]

VOLANT, v[=o]'lant, _adj._ flying: nimble: (_her._) represented as flying, or as in the air unsupported, or creeping.--_n._ V[=O]'LANT-PIECE, a part of the helmet which could be removed at will.--_adj._ VOL'ATILE, evaporating very quickly: flighty: apt to change.--_ns._ VOL'ATILENESS, VOLATIL'ITY, quality of being volatile: disposition to evaporate rapidly: sprightliness: fickleness.--_adj._ VOL'ATILISABLE.--_ns._ VOLATILIS[=A]'TION, act or process of making volatile or evaporating.--_v.t._ VOL'ATILISE, to make volatile: to cause to evaporate.--_n._ VOL'ERY, a large enclosure for birds in which they have room to fly.--_adj._ VOL'ITANT, flying.--_n._ VOLIT[=A]'TION. [Fr.,--L. _volans_, _antis_, pr.p. of _vol[=a]re_, to fly.]

VOLANTE, v[=o]-lan'te, _n._ a two-wheeled covered vehicle with long shafts, with a chaise-body hung before the axle, driven by a postillion. [Sp.]

VOLAPÜK, v[=o]-la-pük', _n._ a name given to a universal language invented in 1879 by Johann Schleyer of Constance, Baden, the vocabulary being mainly based on English, and the grammar being simplified to the utmost.--_n._ VOLAPÜK'IST, one versed in Volapük: one who advocates the adoption of Volapük. [Lit. 'world-speech'--_vol_, shortened from Eng. _world_, _pük_, for Eng. _speak_.]

VOLAR, v[=o]'lar, _adj._ pertaining to the palm, palmar.--_n._ V[=O]'LA, the hollow of the hand or foot:--_pl._ V[=O]'LÆ. [L.]

VOLCANO, vol-k[=a]'no, _n._ a more or less conical hill or mountain, usually truncated, and communicating with the interior of the earth by a pipe or funnel, through which issue hot vapours and gases, and frequently loose fragmentary materials and streams of molten rock: a form of firework.--_adj._ VOLCAN'IC, pertaining to, produced, or affected by a volcano.--_adv._ VOLCAN'ICALLY.--_n._ VOLCANIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ VOL'CANISE, to subject to the action of volcanic heat.--_ns._ VOL'CANISM, VOLCANIC'ITY, phenomena connected with volcanoes; VOL'CANIST, a student of volcanic phenomena; VOLCAN'ITY, state of being volcanic; VOLC[=A]'NOISM (_rare_), violent eruptiveness.--_adj._ VOLCANOLOG'ICAL.--_n._ VOLCANOL'OGY.--VOLCANIC ROCKS, those formed by volcanic agency. [It. _volcano_--L. _Volcanus_, _Vulcanus_, god of fire.]

VOLE, v[=o]l, _n._ in card-playing, the winning of all the tricks in one deal.--_v.i._ to win such. [Fr.,--L. _vol[=a]re_, to fly.]

VOLE, v[=o]l, _n._ a genus of rodent quadrupeds of the subfamily _Arvicolinæ_, which also includes the lemmings, the musk-rats, &c., the Field-vole, the Water-vole, popularly called the water-rat, and the Bank-vole.

VOLERY. See under VOLANT.

VOLET, vol'[=a], _n._ a veil: one of the wings of a triptych picture. [O. Fr., 'a shutter'--L. _vol[=a]re_, to fly.]

VOLITANT, vol'i-tant, _adj._ having the power of flight.--_n._ VOLIT[=A]'TION, act of flying.

VOLITION, v[=o]-lish'un, _n._ act of willing or choosing: the exercise of the will: the power of determining.--_adjs._ VOLI'TIENT (_rare_), willing; VOLI'TIONAL, VOLI'TIONARY.--_adv._ VOLI'TIONALLY.--_adjs._ VOLI'TIONLESS; VOL'ITIVE, having power to will: expressing a wish. [Low L. _volitio_--L. _volo_, _velle_, to will, be willing.]

VOLKSLIED, f[=o]lks'l[=e]t, _n._ a folk-song. [Ger.]

VOLKSRAAD, f[=o]lks'rät, _n._ the name of the legislative assembly of the Orange Free State before its final annexation by England in 1900.

VOLLEY, vol'i, _n._ a flight of shot: the discharge of many small-arms at once: an outburst of many at once: in tennis and lawn-tennis, a hard return of the ball before it reaches the ground--_half-volley_ is a return by striking the ball just as it touches or rises from the ground:--_pl._ VOLL'EYS.--_v.t._ to discharge in a volley.--_v.i._ to fly together, as missiles: to sound together: in lawn-tennis, to use the stroke so called. [Fr. _volée_, a flight--_voler_--L. _vol[=a]re_, to fly.]

VOLSUNGS, vol'sungz, _n.pl._ a famous heroic race in old German legend, its founder _Volsung_ or Wolsung, the grandson of Odin, and its brightest ornament Volsung's son, Siegmund.

VOLT, v[=o]lt, _n._ a turn or bound: a sudden movement or leap to avoid a thrust: a gait of two treads made by a horse going sideways round a centre.--_n._ VOL'TAGE. [Fr. _volte_--It. _volta_--L. _volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to turn.]

VOLT, v[=o]lt, _n._ the unit of electro-motive force now in universal use among electricians, defined legally in terms of the ohm and ampere.--_adj._ VOL'TA-ELEC'TRIC, of or pertaining to galvanism.--_n._ VOL'TA-ELECTROM'ETER, an instrument for measuring electric currents.--_adj._ VOL'TA-ELECTROM[=O]'TIVE.--_n._ V[=O]L'TAGE, electro-motive force reckoned in volts.--_adj._ VOLT[=A]'IC, pertaining to Alessandro _Volta_, an Italian scientist (1745-1826), who mainly developed the theory of current electricity along purely physical lines, discovered the electric decomposition of water, and invented a new electric battery, the electrophorus, and the electroscope.--_ns._ VOL'TAISM, that branch of electric science which treats of the production of an electric current from the chemical interaction of two immersed dissimilar metals (same as GALVANISM); VOLTAM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the decomposition produced by an electric current; V[=O]LT'-AM'PERE, the rate of activity in an electric circuit when the electro-motive force is one volt and the current one ampere; VOLT'ATYPE, an electrotype; V[=O]LT'METER, an instrument for measuring voltage.--VOLTAIC PILE, a galvanic battery.

VOLTA, v[=o]l'ta, _n._ an old dance: (_mus._) turn, time:--_pl._ VOL'TE (-te). [It.]

VOLTAIRIAN, vol-t[=a]r'i-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Voltaire_, a famous French poet, dramatist, historian, and sceptic (1694-1778).--_n._ one who advocates the views and principles of VOLTAIRE.--_ns._ VOLTAIR'IANISM, the spirit of Voltaire--i.e. a sceptical, incredulous, and sarcastic attitude, especially towards Christianity; VOLTAIR'ISM, incredulity, scepticism.

VOLTIGEUR, vol-ti-zh[.e]r', _n._ a vaulter or tumbler: formerly in the French army, one of a light-armed company of picked men placed on the left of a battalion: under the Second Empire, a member of several special infantry regiments. [Fr.]

VOLUBLE, vol'[=u]-bl, _adj._ easy to roll or move: flowing smoothly: fluent in speech.--_adj._ VOL'UBILE (_Milt._), rolling: revolving.--_ns._ VOLUBIL'ITY, VOL'UBLENESS, state or quality of being voluble: fluency of speech.--_adv._ VOL'UBLY. [L. _volubilis_--_volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to roll.]

VOLUCRINE, vol'[=u]-krin, _adj._ pertaining to birds, bird-like. [L. _volucris_, a bird--_vol[=a]re_, to fly.]

VOLUME, vol'[=u]m, _n._ a roll or scroll, which was the form of ancient books: a book, whether complete in itself or part of a work: a rounded mass, convolution: cubical content: a quantity: dimensions: fullness of voice.--_v.i._ to swell.--_adj._ VOL'UMED, having the form of a volume or roll: of volume or bulk.--_ns._ VOLUMENOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the volume of a solid body by the quantity of fluid it displaces; VOL'UM[=E]TER, an instrument for measuring the volumes of gases.--_adjs._ VOLUMET'RIC, -AL.--_adv._ VOLUMET'RICALLY.--_adjs._ VOL[=U]'MINAL, pertaining to cubical content; VOL[=U]'MINOUS, consisting of many volumes or books, or of many coils: of great bulk: having written much, as an author: in many volumes, capable of filling many volumes.--_adv._ VOL[=U]'MINOUSLY.--_ns._ VOL[=U]'MINOUSNESS, VOLUMINOS'ITY; VOL'[=U]MIST (_rare_), an author.--VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS, the analysis of a compound by determining the quantity of a standard solution required to satisfy a reaction in a known quantity of the compound.--SPEAK, TELL, VOLUMES, to mean much, to be very significant. [Fr.,--L. _volumen_, a roll--_volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to roll.]

VOLUNTARY, vol'un-ta-ri, _adj._ willing: acting by choice: free: proceeding from the will: subject to the will: done by design or without compulsion: of or pertaining to voluntaryism.--_n._ one who does anything of his own free-will: a piece of music played at will: an upholder of voluntaryism.--_adv._ VOL'UNTARILY.--_ns._ VOL'UNTARINESS; VOL'UNTARYISM, the system of maintaining the Church by voluntary offerings, instead of by the aid of the State, as alone consistent with true religious liberty, involving freedom from State support, patronage, or control; VOL'UNTARYIST.--_adj._ VOL'UNT[=A]TIVE, voluntary.--VOLUNTARY SCHOOL, in England, one of a number of elementary schools supported by voluntary subscriptions, and in many cases controlled by religious bodies. [L. _voluntarius_--_voluntas_, choice--_volo_, _velle_, to will.]

VOLUNTEER, vol-un-t[=e]r', _n._ one who enters any service, esp. military, voluntarily or of his own free choice: a soldier belonging to any body other than the regular army.--_adj._ entering into service voluntarily.--_v.t._ to offer voluntarily.--_v.i._ to enter into any service of one's own free-will or without being asked. [Fr. _volontaire_--L. _voluntarius_.]

VOLUPTUARY, v[=o]-lup't[=u]-a-ri, _n._ a voluptuous person, or one excessively given to bodily enjoyments or luxury: a sensualist.--_adj._ promoting sensual pleasure. [L. _voluptuarius_--_voluptas_, pleasure.]

VOLUPTUOUS, v[=o]-lup't[=u]-us, _adj._ full of pleasure: given to excess of pleasure, esp. sensual: contributing to sensual pleasure.--_adv._ VOLUP'TUOUSLY.--_n._ VOLUP'TUOUSNESS. [L. _voluptuosus_--_voluptas_, pleasure.]

VOLUSPA, vol-us-pä', _n._ one of the poems of the Elder Edda: a sibyl or prophetess--a wrong use, though found in Scott's _Pirate_. [Ice. _Völuspá_, the song of the sibyl, _völu_, gen. of _völva_, a prophetess, _spá_, prophecy.]

VOLUTE, v[=o]-l[=u]t', _n._ a spiral scroll used in the Ionic and Corinthian capitals: a kind of spiral shell, chiefly tropical: whorl of a spiral shell.--_adj._ (_bot._) rolled up in any direction.--_adj._ VOL[=U]'TED, having a volute.--_n._ VOL[=U]'TION, a convolution: a whorl.--_adj._ VOL'[=U]TOID, like a volute. [Fr.,--L. _volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to roll.]

VOLVE, volv, _v.t._ (_obs._) to turn over, ponder. [L. _volv[)e]re_, to turn.]

VOLVOX, vol'voks, _n._ a genus of simple organisms found in ponds, canals, &c., being fresh-water algæ, consisting of green flagellate cells, united by protoplasmic bridges in a hollow spherical colony. [Formed from L. _volv[)e]re_, to roll.]

VOLVULUS, vol'v[=u]-lus; _n._ occlusion of the intestine through twisting.

VOMER, v[=o]'m[.e]r, _n._ the thin flat bone forming part of the middle partition of the nose, separating the nostrils. [L., 'a ploughshare.']

VOMIT, vom'it, _v.i._ to throw up the contents of the stomach by the mouth, to spew.--_v.t._ to throw out with violence.--_n._ matter ejected from the stomach: something that excites vomiting.--_adj._ VOM'IC, purulent.--_n._ VOM'ICA, a cavity in the lung containing pus; VOM'ITING, act of one who vomits: matter vomited.--_adjs._ VOM'ITIVE, VOM'ITORY, causing to vomit.--_n._ a vomit or emetic.--_ns._ VOM'ITO, the worst form of yellow fever, usually attended with the black vomit; VOM'ITORY, a door of a large building by which the crowd is let out; VOMITURI'TION, violent retching. [L. _vom[)e]re_, _-[)i]tum_, to throw up; Gr. _emein_.]

VOODOO, VOUDOU, v[=oo]-d[=oo], _n._ the name given in the southern United States to any practiser of witchcraft, or of any charm, incantation, &c., especially when tinctured with African rites or superstitions: the supreme evil spirit of the voodoos.--_adj._ pertaining to the rites or practices of the voodoo.--_v.t._ to affect by voodoo charms.--_n._ VOODOO'ISM, voodoo superstitions. [Creole Fr. _vaudoux_, a negro sorcerer, prob. a form of Fr. _Vaudois_, a Waldensian--a heretic being capable of any kind of wickedness.]

VORACIOUS, v[=o]-r[=a]'shus, _adj._ eager to devour: greedy: very hungry.--_adv._ VOR[=A]'CIOUSLY.--_ns._ VORAC'ITY, VOR[=A]'CIOUSNESS, quality of being voracious. [L. _vorax_, _voracis_--_vor[=a]re_, to devour.]

VORAGINOUS, v[=o]-raj'i-nus, _adj._ pertaining to a whirlpool.--_n._ VOR[=A]'GO (-g[=o]), a gulf. [L. _vorago_.]

VORANT, v[=o]'rant, _adj._ (_her._) devouring. [L. _vorans_, pr.p. of _vorare_, to devour.]

VORTEX, vor'teks, _n._ a whirling motion of a fluid forming a cavity in the centre: a whirlpool: an eddy having a rotational motion of the smallest visible portion in the centre:--_pl._ VOR'TICES, VOR'TEXES.--_ns._ VOR'TEX-RING (_phys._), a vortical molecular filament or column forming a ring composed of a number of small rotating circles, placed side by side--e.g. the smoke-rings emitted by a skilful cigarette-smoker; VOR'TEX-TH[=E]'ORY, the theory that matter is ultimately composed of vortices in a fluid--a conception due to Lord Kelvin.--_adj._ VOR'TICAL, whirling.--_adv._ VOR'TICALLY.--_adjs._ VOR'TICOSE, VORTIC'[=U]LAR, VORTIGINAL (-ij'-), VORTIGINOUS (-ij'-). [L. _vortex_, _vertex_--_vort[)e]re_, _vert[)e]re_, to turn.]

VORTICELLA, vor-ti-sel'a, _n._ a genus of ciliated Infusorians belonging to the order _Peritricha_, in which the cilia are restricted to a fringe round the mouth. [From L. _vortex_, a whirl.]

VOTARY, v[=o]'ta-ri, _adj._ bound or consecrated by a vow.--_n._ one devoted as by a vow to some service, worship, or way of life:--_fem._ V[=O]'TARESS.--_n._ V[=O]'TARIST, a votary. [Low L. _votarius_--L. _votum_, to vow.]

VOTE, v[=o]t, _n._ expression of a wish or opinion, as to a matter in which one has interest: that by which a choice is expressed, as a ballot: decision by a majority: something granted by the will of the majority.--_v.i._ to express the choice by a vote.--_v.t._ to choose by a vote: to grant by a vote: (_coll._) to declare by general consent.--_adjs._ V[=O]'TABLE, capable of voting; VOTE'LESS.--_ns._ V[=O]'TER; V[=O]'TING-P[=A]'PER, a balloting-paper, used in the election of members to Parliament.--VOTE DOWN, to put an end to by a vote, or otherwise; VOTE STRAIGHT, to give one's vote honestly.--CUMULATIVE VOTING, that system of voting in which the voter has a right to as many votes as there are members to be elected, and may give all his votes or as many as he pleases to one candidate.--SPLIT ONE'S VOTES, to divide one's votes judiciously among several candidates so as to strengthen those one favours. [L. _votum_, a wish--_vov[=e]re_, _votum_, to vow.]

VOTIVE, v[=o]'tiv, _adj._ given by vow: vowed.--_adv._ V[=O]'TIVELY.--VOTIVE OFFERING, a tablet, picture, &c. dedicated in fulfilment of a vow. [L. _votivus_--_votum_, a vow.]

VOUCH, vowch, _v.t._ to call upon to witness: to maintain by repeated affirmations: to warrant: to attest: to produce vouchers for: (_Milt._) to second, support.--_v.i._ to bear witness: to give testimony.--_n._ confirmation, attestation.--_ns._ VOUCHEE', the person vouched or summoned in a writ of right; VOUCH'ER, one who vouches or gives witness: a paper which vouches or confirms the truth of anything, as accounts: a mechanical contrivance used in shops for automatically registering the amount of money drawn; VOUCH'MENT, a solemn declaration. [O. Fr. _voucher_, _vocher_, to call to defend--L. _voc[=a]re_, to call.]

VOUCHSAFE, vowch-s[=a]f, _v.t._ to vouch or warrant safe: to sanction or allow without danger: to condescend to grant.--_v.i._ to condescend.--_n._ VOUCHSAFE'MENT.

VOULGE, v[=oo]zh, _n._ a weapon carried by foot-soldiers in the 14th century, having a blade fixed on a long staff. [Fr.]

VOUSSOIR, v[=oo]-swär', _n._ one of the wedge-like stones which form part of an arch.--_v.t._ to form with such. [Fr., through Low L., from L. _volutus_--_volv[)e]re_, to roll.]

VOW, vow, _n._ a voluntary promise made to God, and, as such, carrying with it the most stringent obligation to its fulfilment: a solemn or formal promise of fidelity or affection: (_Shak._) a positive assertion.--_v.t._ to give by solemn promise: to devote: to threaten, to maintain solemnly.--_v.i._ to make vows.--_n._ VOW'-FELL'OW (_Shak._), one bound by the same vow.--BAPTISMAL VOWS, the promises made at baptism by the person baptised, or by the sponsors or parents in his name; MONASTIC VOWS (see MONASTERY); SOLEMN, as opposed to SIMPLE VOWS, such vows as the Church takes under her special charge, or is said in a solemn manner to accept, as those of poverty, obedience, and chastity, involving complete and irrevocable surrender. [O. Fr. _vou_ (Fr. _voeu_)--L. _votum_--_vov[=e]re_, to vow.]

VOWEL, vow'el, _n._ a sound or tone produced by the unimpeded passage of the breath, when modified by the glottis into _voice_, through the tube of the mouth, which is made to assume different shapes by altering the form and position of the tongue and the lips--the letters _a_, _e_, _i_, _o_, _u_ are called vowels, as being able to be sounded by themselves, with a continuous passage of the breath; but there are thirteen simple vowel sounds in English.--_adj._ vocal: pertaining to a vowel.--_vs.t._ VOW'EL, VOW'ELISE, to insert vowel signs in words written primarily with consonants only.--_ns._ VOW'ELISM, the use of vowels; VOW'ELIST, one given to vowelism.--_adjs._ VOW'ELLED, furnished with vowels; VOW'ELLESS, without vowels; VOW'ELLY, full of vowels.--VOWEL POINTS, marks inserted in consonantal word to indicate vowels. [Fr. _voyelle_--L. _vocalis_--_vox_, _vocis_, the voice.]

VOX, voks, _n._ voice: a voice or song part.--VOX ANGELICA, or CÆLESTIS, in organ-building, a stop producing a wavy effect; VOX HUMANA, in organ-building, a reed-stop producing tones resembling those of the human voice. [L.]

VOYAGE, voi'[=a]j, _n._ passage by water: (_Shak._) an enterprise.--_v.i._ to make a voyage, or to pass by water.--_v.t._ to traverse, pass over.--_adj._ VOY'AGE-ABLE, navigable.--_n._ VOY'AGER, one who voyages.--_n.pl._ VOYAGEURS (vwo-ya-zher'), name given in Canada to the men who in their bark canoes kept up communication between the stations, and effected transportation of men and supplies, in the North-west and Hudson's Bay territory. [Fr.,--L. _viaticum_, travelling-money--L. _via_, a way.]

VRAISEMBLANCE, vr[=a]-song-blongs', _n._ verisimilitude. [Fr., _vrai_, true, _semblance_, appearance.]

VUG, vug, _n._ a Cornish miner's name for a cavity in a rock.--_adj._ VUG'GY.

VULCAN, vul'kan, _n._ (_Roman myth._) the god of fire.--_n._ VULCAN[=A]'LIA, an ancient Roman, festival in honour of VULCAN, held on 23d August.--_adjs._ VULC[=A]'NIAN, pertaining to VULCAN, or to one who works in iron; VULCAN'IC (same as VOLCANIC).--_n._ VULCANIC'ITY, volcanicity.--_adj._ VULCAN[=I]'SABLE.--_n._ VULCANIS[=A]'-TION.--_v.t._ VUL'CANISE, to combine with sulphur by heat, as caoutchouc--_v.i._ to admit of such treatment.--_ns._ VUL'CANISM, volcanism; VUL'CANIST, a supporter of the Huttonian theory in geology which asserted the igneous origin of such rocks as basalt; VUL'CANITE, the harder of the two kinds of vulcanised india-rubber or caoutchouc, the softer kind being called _soft-rubber_. [L. _Vulcanus_.]

VULGAR, vul'gar, _adj._ pertaining to or used by the common people, native: public: common; national, vernacular: mean or low: rude.--_n._ the common people: the common language of a country.--_ns._ VULG[=A]'RIAN, a vulgar person: a rich unrefined person; VULGARIS[=A]'TION, a making widely known: a making coarse or common.--_v.t._ VUL'GARISE, to make vulgar or rude.--_ns._ VUL'GARISM, a vulgar phrase: coarseness; VULGAR'ITY, VUL'GARNESS, quality of being vulgar: mean condition of life: rudeness of manners.--_adv._ VUL'GARLY.--_n._ VUL'GATE, an ancient Latin version of the Scriptures, so called from its common use in the R.C. Church, prepared by Jerome in the fourth century, and pronounced 'authentic' by the Council of Trent.--VULGAR FRACTION, a fraction written in the common way.--THE VULGAR, the common people. [L. _vulgaris_--_vulgus_, the people.]

VULNERABLE, vul'ne-ra-bl, _adj._ capable of being wounded: liable to injury.--_v.t._ VULN (_her._), to wound.--_adj._ VULNED (_her._).--_ns._ VULNERABIL'ITY, VUL'NERABLENESS.--_adj._ VUL'NERARY, pertaining to wounds: useful in healing wounds.--_n._ anything useful in curing wounds.--_adj._ VUL'NEROSE, with many wounds. [L. _vulnerabilis_--_vulner[=a]re_, to wound--_vulnus_, _vulneris_, a wound.]

VULPINE, vul'pin, _adj._ relating to or like the fox: cunning.--_adj._ VULPEC'[=U]LAR, vulpine.--_ns._ VUL'PICIDE, the killing of a fox: a fox-killer; VUL'PINISM, craftiness. [L.,--_vulpes_, a fox.]

VULSELLA, vul-sel'a, _n._ a forceps with toothed or clawed blades:--_pl._ VULSELL'Æ (-[=e]). [L.]

VULTURE, vul't[=u]r, _n._ a large rapacious bird of prey, feeding largely on carrion: one who or that which resembles a vulture.--_adjs._ VUL'T[=U]RINE, VUL'T[=U]RISH, VUL'T[=U]ROUS, like the vulture: rapacious.--_ns._ VUL'TURISM, rapacity; VUL'TURN, the Australian brush-turkey. [O. Fr. _voutour_ (Fr. _vautour_)--L. _vultur_; perh. from _vell[)e]re_, to pluck, to tear.]

VULVA, vul'va, _n._ the orifice of the external organs of generation of the female.--_adjs._ VUL'VAR, VUL'VATE; VUL'VIFORM, oval.--_ns._ VULVIS'MUS, vaginismus; VULV[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the vulva.--_adjs._ VULVO-[=U]'TERINE, pertaining to the vulva and the uterus; VULVOVAG'INAL, pertaining to the vulva and the vagina.--_n._ VULVOVAGIN[=I]'TIS, inflammation of both the vulva and the vagina.

VUM, vum, _v.i._ (_U.S._) a corruption of _vow_, in phrase 'I vum.'

VYING, v[=i]'ing, _pr.p._ of _vie_.

* * * * *

W the twenty-third letter of our alphabet, like _æ_, a ligature rather than a letter, with a double value, as consonant and as vowel--when the sound is voiced we have _w_, as in 'we' or 'wen,' the corresponding unvoiced sound being _wh_, as in 'when,' 'what.' A final _w_ is vocalic, as in 'few.' The A.S. _hw_ has become _wh_; _cw_ has become _qu_ as in _queen_, from A.S. _cwén_; while _w_ is occasionally intrusive, as in _whole_, from A.S. _hál_.

WABBLE, WOBBLE, wob'l, _v.i._ to incline alternately to one side and the other: to rock, to vacillate.--_n._ a hobbling, unequal motion.--_ns._ WABB'LER, WOBB'LER, one who or that which wabbles: a boiled leg of mutton.--_adjs._ WABB'LY, WOBB'LY, shaky, given to wabbling.--_adj._ and _n._ WOBB'LING, vacillating. [Low Ger. _wabbeln_, to wabble; cog. with Eng. _waver_.]

WABSTER, wab'st[.e]r, _n._ (_Scot._) a webster, weaver.

WACKE, wak'e, _n._ German miners' term for a soft, grayish kind of trap-rock.

WAD, wod, _n._ a mass of loose matter thrust close together for packing, &c., as hay, tow, &c.: a little mass of paper, tow, or the like to keep the charge in a gun.--_v.t._ to form into a mass: to pad, stuff out: to stuff a wad into:--_pr.p._ wad'ding; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ wad'ded.--_n._ WAD'DING, a wad, or the materials for wads: a soft stuff, also sheets of carded cotton for stuffing garments, &c. [Skeat refers to Scand., Sw. _vadd_, wadding; cf. Ger. _watte_, wadding, _wat_, cloth (whence Fr. _ouate_); ult. allied to _weed_.]

WAD, wad, a Scotch form of _wed_, also of _would_.

WAD, WADD, wod, _n._ an earthy ore of manganese.

WADDLE, wod'l, _v.i._ to take short steps and move from side to side in walking.--_n._ a clumsy, rocking gait.--_n._ WADD'LER.--_adv._ WADD'LINGLY, with a waddling gait. [Perh. _wade_.]

WADDY, wad'i, _n._ a native Australian wooden war-club, a walking-stick--also WADD'IE.--_v.t._ to strike with a waddy.

WADE, w[=a]d, _v.i._ to walk through any substance that yields to the feet, as water: to pass with difficulty or labour.--_n._ (_coll._) a ford.--_n._ W[=A]'DER, one who wades: a bird that wades, e.g, the heron: (_pl._) high waterproof boots used by fishermen for wading. [A.S. _wadan_, to move; Ger. _waten_.]

WADI, WADY, wod'i, _n._ the dry bed of a torrent: a river-valley. [Ar. _wad[=i]_, a ravine (Sp. _guad-_, first syllable of many river-names).]

WADMAL, wod'mal, _n._ (_Scot._) a thick woollen cloth.--Also WAD'MOLL. [Ice. _vadhmál_--_vadhr_, cloth, _mál_, a measure.]

WADSET, wod'set, _n._ a mortgage--also WAD'SETT.--_n._ WAD'SETTER, a mortgagee. [_Wad_=_wed_, _set_.]

WAE, w[=a], _n._ (_Spens._) woe.--_adj._ (_Scot._) sorrowful.--_adjs._ WAE'FUL, WAE'SOME, woeful, pitiful.--_n._ WAE'NESS, sadness.--_interj._ WAE'SUCKS, alas!

WAFER, w[=a]'f[.e]r, _n._ a thin round cake of unleavened bread, usually stamped with a cross, an Agnus Dei, the letters I.H.S., &c., used in the Eucharist in the R.C. Church: a thin leaf of coloured paste for sealing letters, &c.: a thin cake of paste used to facilitate the swallowing of powders.--_v.t._ to close with a wafer.--_n._ W[=A]'FER-CAKE.--_adj._ W[=A]'FERY, like a wafer. [O. Fr. _waufre_ (Fr. _gaufre_)--Old Dut. _waefel_, a cake of wax; Ger. _wabe_, a honeycomb.]

WAFF, waf, _adj._ (_Scot._) weak, worthless, paltry.--_n._ a worthless person. [_Waif_.]

WAFF, waf, _n._ (_Scot._) a slight hasty motion: a quick light blow: a sudden ailment: a faint but disagreeable odour: a ghost.

WAFF, waf, _n._ an obsolete form of _wave_.

WAFF, waf, _v.i._ (_prov._) to bark.--Also WAUGH.

WAFFLE, wof'l, _n._ a kind of batter-cake, baked over the fire in an iron utensil of hinged halves called a WAFF'LE-[=I]'RON. [Dut. _wafel_, wafer.]

WAFFLE, wof'l, _v.i._ (_prov._) to wave. [_Waff_ (3).]

WAFT, waft, _v.t._ to bear through a fluid medium, as air or water: (_Shak._) to wave the hand, beckon, to turn.--_v.i._ to float.--_n._ a floating body: a signal made by moving something in the air, esp. an ensign, stopped together at the head and middle portions, slightly rolled up lengthwise, and hoisted at different positions at the after-part of a ship: a breath, puff, slight odour.--_ns._ WAF'T[=A]GE, act of wafting, transportation in air or water; WAF'TER, one who or that which wafts; WAF'T[=U]RE (_Shak._), act of wafting or of waving, waving motion, beckoning. [_Wave_.]

WAG, wag, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to move from side to side: to shake to and fro: (_coll._) to depart: (_Shak._) to move on, make progress:--_pr.p._ wag'ging; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ wagged.--_n._ a shaking, moving to and fro. [Referred by Skeat to Old Sw. _wagga_, to wag (Ice. _vagga_, a cradle); allied to A.S. _wagian_, to wag, Old High Ger. _wag[=o]n_, to shake, A.S. _wegan_, to carry, move.]

WAG, wag, _n._ a droll, mischievous fellow: a man full of sport and humour: a wit: a fellow generally.--_n._ WAG'GERY, mischievous merriment.--_adjs._ WAG'GISH--(_rare_) WAG'SOME.--_adv._ WAG'GISHLY.--_ns._ WAG'GISHNESS; WAG'-WIT, a would-be wit. [Prob. _waghalter_, one who deserves hanging.]