Chapter CDLXXXVI: Prologue (137)

Defn: Existing in a vaporous form or state; as, steam is a vaporiform substance.

VAPORIMETER Vap`o*rim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Vapor + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the volume or the tension of any vapor; specifically, an instrument of this sort used as an alcoholometer in testing spirituous liquors.

VAPORING Va"por*ing, a.

Defn: Talking idly; boasting; vaunting. -- Va"por*ing*ly, adv.

VAPORISH Va"por*ish, a.

1. Full of vapors; vaporous.

2. Hypochondriacal; affected by hysterics; splenetic; peevish; humorsome. Pallas grew vap'rish once and odd. Pope.

VAPORIZABLE Vap"o*ri`za*ble (; 110), a.

Defn: Capable of being vaporized into vapor.

VAPORIZATION Vap`o*ri*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vaporisation.]

Defn: The act or process of vaporizing, or the state of being converted into vapor; the artificial formation of vapor; specifically, the conversion of water into steam, as in a steam boiler.

VAPORIZE Vap"o*rize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vaporized; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaporizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. vaporiser.]

Defn: To convert into vapor, as by the application of heat, whether naturally or artificially. Vaporizing surface. (Steam Boilers) See Evaporating surface, under Evaporate, v. t.

VAPORIZE Vap"o*rize, v. i.

Defn: To pass off in vapor.

VAPORIZER Vap"o*ri`zer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, vaporizes, or converts into vapor.

VAPOROSE Va"por*ose`, a.

Defn: Full of vapor; vaporous.

VAPOROUS Va"por*ous, a. Etym: [L. vaporosus: cf. vaporeux.]

1. Having the form or nature of vapor. Holland.

2. Full of vapors or exhalations. Shak. The warmer and more vaporous air of the valleys. Derham.

3. Producing vapors; hence, windy; flatulent. Bacon. The food which is most vaporous and perspirable is the most easily digested. Arbuthnot.

4. Unreal; unsubstantial; vain; whimsical. Such vaporous speculations were inevitable. Carlyle.

VAPOROUSNESS Va"por*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being vaporous.

VAPOR PRESSURE; VAPOR TENSION Vapor pressure or tension . (Physics)

Defn: The pressure or tension of a confined body of vapor. The pressure of a given saturated vapor is a function of the temperature only, and may be measured by introducing a small quantity of the substance into a barometer and noting the depression of the column of mercury.

VAPORY Va"por*y, a.

1. Full of vapors; vaporous.

2. Hypochondriacal; splenetic; peevish.

VAPULATION Vap`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. vapulare to be

Defn: The act of beating or whipping. [Obs.]

VAQUERO Va*que"ro, n. Etym: [Sp., cowherd, fr. vaca a cow, L. vacca. Cf. Vacher.]

Defn: One who has charge of cattle, horses, etc.; a herdsman. [Southwestern U. S.]

VARA Va"ra, n. Etym: [Sp. See 1st Vare.]

Defn: A Spanish measure of length equal to about one yard. The vara now in use equals 33.385 inches. Johnson's Cyc.

VARAN Va"ran, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The monitor. See Monitor, 3.

VARANGIAN Va*ran"gi*an, n.

Defn: One of the Northmen who founded a dynasty in Russia in the 9th century; also, one of the Northmen composing, at a later date, the imperial bodyguard at Constantinople.

VARANUS Va*ra"nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Ar. waran, waral; cf. F. varan, from the Arabic.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of very large lizards native of Asia and Africa. It includes the monitors. See Monitor, 3.

VARE Vare, n. Etym: [Sp. vara staff, wand, L. vara forked pole.]

Defn: A wand or staff of authority or justice. [Obs.] His hand a vare of justice did uphold. Dryden.

VARE Vare, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A weasel. [Prov. Eng.] Vare widgeon (Zoöl.), a female or young male of the smew; a weasel duck; -- so called from the resemblance of the head to that of a vare, or weasel. [Prov. Eng.]

VAREC Var"ec, n. Etym: [F. varech; of Teutonic origin. See Wrack seaweed, wreck.]

Defn: The calcined ashes of any coarse seaweed used for the manufacture of soda and iodine; also, the seaweed itself; fucus; wrack.

VARGUENO Var*gue"no (vär*ga"no), n. [Said to be fr. Vargas, name of a village in Spain.] (Art)

Defn: A decorative cabinet, of a form originating in Spain, the body being rectangular and supported on legs or an ornamental framework and the front opening downwards on hinges to serve as a writing desk.

VARI Va"ri, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vari.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta) of Madagascar. Its long tail is annulated with black and white.

VARIABILITY Va`ri*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. variabilité.]

1. The quality or state of being variable; variableness.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: The power possessed by living organisms, both animal and vegetable, of adapting themselves to modifications or changes in their environment, thus possibly giving rise to ultimate variation of structure or function.

VARIABLE Va"ri*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. variabilis: cf. F. variable.]

1. Having the capacity of varying or changing; capable of alternation in any manner; changeable; as, variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity.

2. Liable to vary; too susceptible of change; mutable; fickle; unsteady; inconstant; as, the affections of men are variable; passions are variable. Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. Shak. His heart, I know, how variable and vain! Milton. Variable exhaust (Steam Eng.), a blast pipe with an adjustable opening. -- Variable quantity (Math.), a variable. -- Variable stars (Astron.), fixed stars which vary in their brightness, usually in more or less uniform periods.

Syn. -- Changeable; mutable; fickle; wavering; unsteady; versatile; inconstant.

VARIABLE Va"ri*a*ble, n.

1. That which is variable; that which varies, or is subject to change.

2. (Math.)

Defn: A quantity which may increase or decrease; a quantity which admits of an infinite number of values in the same expression; a variable quantity; as, in the equation x2 - y2 = R2, x and y are variables.

3. (Naut.) (a) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force. (b) pl.

Defn: Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts. Independent variable (Math.), that one of two or more variables, connected with each other in any way whatever, to which changes are supposed to be given at will. Thus, in the equation x2 - y2 = R2, if arbitrary changes are supposed to be given to x, then x is the independent variable, and y is called a function of x. There may be two or more independent variables in an equation or problem. Cf. Dependent variable, under Dependent.

VARIABLENESS Va"ri*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being variable; variability. James i. 17.

VARIABLY Va"ri*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a variable manner.

VARIANCE Va"ri*ance, n. Etym: [L. variantia.]

1. The quality or state of being variant; change of condition; variation.

2. Difference that produce dispute or controversy; disagreement; dissension; discord; dispute; quarrel. That which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Shak.

3. (Law)

Defn: A disagreement or difference between two parts of the same legal proceeding, which, to be effectual, ought to agree, -- as between the writ and the declaration, or between the allegation and the proof. Bouvier. A variance, in disagreement; in a state of dissension or controversy; at enmity. "What cause brought him so soon at variance with himself" Milton.

VARIANT Va"ri*ant, a. Etym: [L. varians, p. pr. of variare to change: cf. F. variant. See Vary.]

1. Varying in from, character, or the like; variable; different; diverse.

2. Changeable; changing; fickle. [Obs.] He is variant, he abit [abides] nowhere. Chaucer.

VARIANT Va"ri*ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. variante.]

Defn: Something which differs in form from another thing, though really the same; as, a variant from a type in natural history; a variant of a story or a word.

VARIATE Va"ri*ate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. variatus, p. p. of variare. See Vary.]

Defn: To alter; to make different; to vary.

VARIATION Va`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [OE. variatioun, F. variation, L. variatio. See Vary.]

1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language. The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation. Locke.

2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change.

3. (Gram.)

Defn: Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity.

5. (Alg.)

Defn: One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together. Annual variation (Astron.), the yearly change in the right ascension or declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star. -- Calculus of variations. See under Calculus. -- Variation compass. See under Compass. -- Variation of the moon (Astron.), an inequality of the moon's motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures. -- Variation of the needle (Geog. & Naut.), the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; -- called also declination of the needle.

Syn. -- Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.

VARICELLA Var`i*cel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of LL. variola smallpox.] (Med.)

Defn: Chicken pox.

VARICES Var"i*ces, n. pl.

Defn: See Varix.

VARICIFORM Va*ric"i*form, a. Etym: [Varix + -form.] (Med.)

Defn: Resembling a varix.

VARICOCELE Var"i*co*cele, n. Etym: [Varix a dilated vein + Gr. varicocèle.] (Med.)

Defn: A varicose enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord; also, a like enlargement of the veins of the scrotum.

VARICOSE Var"i*cose`, a. Etym: [L. varicosus, from varix, -icis, a dilated vein; cf. varus bent, stretched, crooked.]

1. Irregularly swollen or enlarged; affected with, or containing, varices, or varicosities; of or pertaining to varices, or varicosities; as, a varicose nerve fiber; a varicose vein; varicose ulcers.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Intended for the treatment of varicose veins; -- said of elastic stockings, bandages. and the like.

VARICOSIS Var`i*cos"is, n. [NL. See Varix, and -osis.] (Med.)

Defn: The formation of varices; varicosity.

VARICOSITY Var`i*cos"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or state of being varicose.

2. An enlargement or swelling in a vessel, fiber, or the like; a varix; as, the varicosities of nerve fibers.

VARICOTOMY Var`i*cot"o*my, n. [See Varix; -tomy.] (Surg.)

Defn: Excision of a varicosity.

VARICOUS Var"i*cous, a.

Defn: Varicose. [Obs.]

VARIED Va"ried, a.

Defn: Changed; altered; various; diversified; as, a varied experience; varied interests; varied scenery. -- Va"ried*ly, adv. The varied fields of science, ever new. Cowper.

VARIEGATE Va"ri*e*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Variegated; p. pr. & vb. n. Variegating.] Etym: [L. variegatus, p. p. of variegare to variegate; varius various + agere to move, make. See Various, and Agent.]

Defn: To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; to dapple; to streak; 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. Woodward.

VARIEGATED Va"ri*e*ga`ted, a.

Defn: Having marks or patches of different colors; as, variegated leaves, or flowers. Ladies like variegated tulips show. Pope.

VARIEGATION Va`ri*e*ga"tion, n.

Defn: The act of variegating or diversifying, or the state of being diversified, by different colors; diversity of colors.

VARIER Va"ri*er, n. Etym: [From Vary.]

Defn: A wanderer; one who strays in search of variety. [Poetic] Pious variers from the church. Tennyson.

VARIETAL Va*ri"e*tal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a variety; characterizing a variety; constituting a variety, in distinction from an individual or species. Perplexed in determining what differences to consider as specific, and what as varietal. Darwin.

VARIETAS Va*ri"e*tas, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A variety; -- used in giving scientific names, and often abbreviated to var.

VARIETY Va*ri"e*ty, n.; pl. Varieties. Etym: [L. varietas: cf. F. variété. See Various.]

1. The quality or state of being various; intermixture or succession of different things; diversity; multifariousness. Variety is nothing else but a continued novelty. South. The variety of colors depends upon the composition of light. Sir I. Newton. For earth this variety from heaven. Milton. There is a variety in the tempers of good men. Atterbury.

2. That which is various. Specifically: -- (a) A number or collection of different things; a varied assortment; as, a variety of cottons and silks. He . . . wants more time to do that variety of good which his soul thirsts after. Law.

(b) Something varying or differing from others of the same general kind; one of a number of things that are akin; a sort; as, varieties of wood, land, rocks, etc. (c) (Biol.) An individual, or group of individuals, of a species differing from the rest in some one or more of the characteristics typical of the species, and capable either of perpetuating itself for a period, or of being perpetuated by artificial means; hence, a subdivision, or peculiar form, of a species.

Note: Varieties usually differ from species in that any two, however unlike, will generally propagate indefinitely (unless they are in their nature unfertile, as some varieties of rose and other cultivated plants); in being a result of climate, food, or other extrinsic conditions or influences, but generally by a sudden, rather than a gradual, development; and in tending in many cases to lose their distinctive peculiarities when the individuals are left to a state of nature, and especially if restored to the conditions that are natural to typical individuals of the species. Many varieties of domesticated animals and of cultivated plants have been directly produced by man. (d) In inorganic nature, one of those forms in which a species may occur, which differ in minor characteristics of structure, color, purity of composition, etc.

Note: These may be viewed as variations from the typical species in its most perfect and purest form, or, as is more commonly the case, all the forms, including the latter, may rank as Varieties. Thus, the sapphire is a blue variety, and the ruby a red variety, of corundum; again, calcite has many Varieties differing in form and structure, as Iceland spar, dogtooth spar, satin spar, and also others characterized by the presence of small quantities of magnesia, iron, manganese, etc. Still again, there are Varieties of granite differing in structure, as graphic granite, porphyritic granite, and other Varieties differing in composition, as albitic granite, hornblendic, or syenitic, granite, etc. Geographical variety (Biol.), a variety of any species which is coincident with a geographical region, and is usually dependent upon, or caused by, peculiarities of climate. -- Variety hybrid (Biol.), a cross between two individuals of different varieties of the same species; a mongrel.

Syn. -- Diversity; difference; kind. -- Variety, Diversity. A man has a variety of employments when he does many things which are not a mere repetition of the same act; he has a diversity of employments when the several acts performed are unlike each other, that is, diverse. In most cases, where there is variety there will be more or less of diversity, but not always. One who sells railroad tickets performs a great variety of acts in a day, while there is but little diversity in his employment. All sorts are here that all the earth yields! Variety without end. Milton. But see in all corporeal nature's scene, What changes, what diversities, have been! Blackmore.

VARIETY SHOW Variety show.

Defn: A stage entertainment of successive separate performances, usually songs, dances, acrobatic feats, dramatic sketches, exhibitions of trained animals, or any specialties. Often loosely called vaudeville show.

VARIFORM Va"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. varius various + -form.]

Defn: Having different shapes or forms.

VARIFORMED Va"ri*formed, a.

Defn: Formed with different shapes; having various forms; variform.

VARIFY Va"ri*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. varius various + -fly.]

Defn: To make different; to vary; to variegate. [R.] Sylvester.

VARIOLA Va*ri"o*la, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. varius various. See Various.] (Med.)

Defn: The smallpox.

VARIOLAR Va*ri"o*lar, a. (Med.)

Defn: Variolous.

VARIOLATION Va`ri*o*la"tion, n. (Med.)

Defn: Inoculation with smallpox.

VARIOLE Va"ri*ole, n. [Cf. F. variole smallpox. See Variola.]

1. A foveola.

2. (Geol.) A spherule of a variolite.

VARIOLIC Va`ri*ol"ic, a. (Med.)

Defn: Variolous.

VARIOLITE Va"ri*o*lite, n. Etym: [L. varius various + -lite: cf. F. variolite.] (Geol.)

Defn: A kind of diorite or diabase containing imbedded whitish spherules, which give the rock a spotted appearance.

VARIOLITIC Va`ri*o*lit"ic, a. Etym: [From Variola.]

1. Thickly marked with small, round specks; spotted.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, variolite.

VARIOLOID Va"ri*o*loid, a. Etym: [Variola + -oid: cf. F. varioloïde.] (Med.)

Defn: Resembling smallpox; pertaining to the disease called varioloid.

VARIOLOID Va"ri*o*loid, n. Etym: [Cf. F. varioloïde. See Varioloid, a.] (Med.)

Defn: The smallpox as modified by previous inoculation or vaccination.

Note: It is almost always a milder disease than smallpox, and this circumstance, with its shorter duration, exhibits the salutary effects of previous vaccination or inoculation. Dunglison.

VARIOLOUS Va*ri"o*lous, a. Etym: [LL. variolosus, fr. variola the smallpox: cf. F. varioleux.] (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the smallpox; having pits, or sunken impressions, like those of the smallpox; variolar; variolic.

VARIOMETER Va`ri*om"e*ter, n. [L. varius various + -meter.] (Elec.)

Defn: An instrument for comparing magnetic forces, esp. in the earth's magnetic field.

VARIORUM Va`ri*o"rum, a. Etym: [L., abbrev. fr. cum notis variorum with notes of various persons.]

Defn: Containing notes by different persons; -- applied to a publication; as, a variorum edition of a book.

VARIOUS Va"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. varius. Cf. Vair.]

1. Different; diverse; several; manifold; as, men of various names; various occupations; various colors. So many and so various laws are given. Milton. A wit as various, gay, grave, sage, or wild. Byron.

2. Changeable; uncertain; inconstant; variable. A man so various, that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome. Dryden. The names of mixed modes . . . are very various. Locke.

3. Variegated; diversified; not monotonous. A happy rural seat of various view. Milton.

VARIOUSLY Va"ri*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In various or different ways.

VARISCITE Var"is*cite, n. Etym: [So called from Variscia in Germany.] (Min.)

Defn: An apple-green mineral occurring in reniform masses. It is a hydrous phosphate of alumina.

VARISSE Va*risse", n. Etym: [Cf. F. varice varix. Cf. Varix.] (Far.)

Defn: An imperfection on the inside of the hind leg in horses, different from a curb, but at the same height, and frequently injuring the sale of the animal by growing to an unsightly size. Craig.

VARIX Va"rix, n.; pl. Varices. Etym: [L.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A uneven, permanent dilatation of a vein.

Note: Varices are owing to local retardation of the venous circulation, and in some cases to relaxation of the parietes of the veins. They are very common in the superficial veins of the lower limbs. Dunglison.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the prominent ridges or ribs extending across each of the whorls of certain univalve shells.

Note: The varices usually indicate stages of growth, each one showing a former position of the outer lip of the aperture.

VARK Vark, n. Etym: [D. varken a pig.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bush hog, or boshvark.

VARLET Var"let, n. Etym: [OF. varlet, vaslet, vallet, servant, young man, young noble, dim of vassal. See Vassal, and cf. Valet.]

1. A servant, especially to a knight; an attendant; a valet; a footman. [Obs.] Spenser. Tusser.

2. Hence, a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; as, an impudent varlet. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou ! Shak.

3. In a pack of playing cards, the court card now called the knave, or jack. [Obs.]

VARLETRY Var"let*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. valeterie the young unmarried nobles.]

Defn: The rabble; the crowd; the mob. Shall they hoist me up, And show me to the shouting varletry Of censuring Rome. Shak.

VARNISH Var"nish, n. Etym: [OE. vernish, F. vernis, LL. vernicium; akin to F. vernir to varnish, fr. (assumed) LL. vitrinire to glaze, from LL. vitrinus glassy, fr. L. vitrum glass. See Vitreous.]

1. A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture.

Note: According to the sorts of solvents employed, the ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes. Encyc. Brit

2. That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance. The varnish of the holly and ivy. Macaulay.

3. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss. And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gave you. Shak. Varnish tree (Bot.), a tree or shrub from the juice or resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the genus Rhus, especially R. vernicifera of Japan. The black varnish of Burmah is obtained from the Melanorrhoea usitatissima, a tall East Indian tree of the Cashew family. See Copal, and Mastic.

VARNISH Var"nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Varnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Varnishing.] Etym: [Cf. F. vernir, vernisser. See Varnish, n.]

1. To lay varnish on; to cover with a liquid which produces, when dry, a hard, glossy surface; as, to varnish a table; to varnish a painting.

2. To cover or conceal with something that gives a fair appearance; to give a fair coloring to by words; to gloss over; to palliate; as, to varnish guilt. "Beauty doth varnish age." Shak. Close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. Milton. Cato's voice was ne'er employed To clear the guilty and to varnish crimes. Addison.

VARNISHER Var"nish*er, n.

1. One who varnishes; one whose occupation is to varnish.

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

VARNISHING Var"nish*ing, n.

Defn: The act of laying on varnish; also, materials for varnish.

VARSITY Var"si*ty, n.

Defn: Colloq. contr. of University.

VARSOVIENNE Var`so`vienne", n. [F., prop. fem. of varsovien pertaining to Warsaw, fr. Varsovie Warsaw, Pol. Warszawa.] (a) A kind of Polish dance. (b) Music for such a dance or having its slow triple time characteristic strong accent beginning every second measure.

VARTABED Var"ta*bed, n. Etym: [Armen., a doctor, master, preceptor.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A doctor or teacher in the Armenian church. Members of this order of ecclesiastics frequently have charge of dioceses, with episcopal functions.

VARUNA Va*ru"na, n. Etym: [Skr. Varua.] (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: The god of the waters; the Indian Neptune. He is regarded as regent of the west, and lord of punishment, and is represented as riding on a sea monster, holding in his hand a snaky cord or noose with which to bind offenders, under water.

VARUS Va"rus, n. [NL., fr. L., bent, grown inwards.] (Med.)

Defn: A deformity in which the foot is turned inward. See Talipes.

VARVEL Var"vel, n. Etym: [F. vervelle.]

Defn: In falconry, one of the rings secured to the ends of the jesses. [Written also vervel.]

VARVELED Var"veled, a.

Defn: Having varvels, or rings. [Written also varvelled, and vervelled.]

Note: In heraldry, when the jesses attached to the legs of hawks hang loose, or have pendent ends with rings at the tips, the blazon is a hawk (or a hawk's leg) jessed and varveled.

VARY Va"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Varied; p. pr. & vb. n. Varying.] Etym: [OE. varien, F. varier, L. variare, fr. varius various. See Various, and cf. Variate.]

1. To change the aspect of; to alter in form, appearance, substance, position, or the like; to make different by a partial change; to modify; as, to vary the properties, proportions, or nature of a thing; to vary a posture or an attitude; to vary one's dress or opinions. Shall we vary our device at will, Even as new occasion appears Spenser.

2. To change to something else; to transmute; to exchange; to alternate. Gods, that never change their state, Vary oft their love and hate. Waller. We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies. Dryden.

3. To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate. God hath varied their inclinations. Sir T. Browne. God hath here Varied his bounty so with new delights. Milton.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See Variation, 4.

VARY Va"ry, v. i.

1. To alter, or be altered, in any manner; to suffer a partial change; to become different; to be modified; as, colors vary in different lights. That each from other differs, first confess; Next, that he varies from himself no less. Pope.

2. To differ, or be different; to be unlike or diverse; as, the laws of France vary from those of England.

3. To alter or change in succession; to alternate; as, one mathematical quantity varies inversely as another. While fear and anger, with alternate grace, Pant in her breast, and vary in her face. Addison.

4. To deviate; to depart; to swerve; -- followed by from; as, to vary from the law, or from reason. Locke.

5. To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension; as, men vary in opinion. The rich jewel which we vary for. Webster (1623).

VARY Va"ry, n.

Defn: Alteration; change. [Obs.] Shak.

VARYING Va"ry*ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Vary. Varying hare (Zoöl.), any hare or rabbit which becomes white in winter, especially the common hare of the Northern United States and Canada.

VAS Vas, n.; pl. Vasa. Etym: [L., a vessel. See Vase.] (Anat.)

Defn: A vessel; a duct. Vas deferens; pl. Vasa deferentia. Etym: [L. vas vessel + deferens carrying down.] (Anat.) The excretory duct of a testicle; a spermatic duct.

VASCULAR Vas"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. vasculum a small vessel, dim. of vas vessel: cf. F. vasculaire. See Vase, and cf. Vessel.]

1. (Biol.) (a) Consisting of, or containing, vessels as an essential part of a structure; full of vessels; specifically (Bot.), pertaining to, or containing, special ducts, or tubes, for the circulation of sap. (b) Operating by means of, or made up of an arrangement of, vessels; as, the vascular system in animals, including the arteries, veins, capillaries, lacteals, etc. (c) Of or pertaining to the vessels of animal and vegetable bodies; as, the vascular functions.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the higher division of plants, that is, the phænogamous plants, all of which are vascular, in distinction from the cryptogams, which to a large extent are cellular only. Vascular plants (Bot.), plants composed in part of vascular tissue, as all flowering plants and the higher cryptogamous plants, or those of the class Pteridophyta. Cf. Cellular plants, Cellular. -- Vascular system (Bot.), the body of associated ducts and woody fiber; the fibrovascular part of plants. -- Vascular tissue (Bot.), vegetable tissue composed partly of ducts, or sap tubes. -- Water vascular system (Zoöl.), a system of vessels in annelids, nemerteans, and many other invertebrates, containing a circulating fluid analogous to blood, but not of the same composition. In annelids the fluid which they contain is usually red, but in some it is green, in others yellow, or whitish.

VASCULARITY Vas`cu*lar"i*ty, n.; pl. Vascularities (. (Biol.)

Defn: The quality or state of being vascular.

VASCULOSE Vas"cu*lose`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the substances of which vegetable tissue is composed, differing from cellulose in its solubility in certain media.

VASCULUM Vas"cu*lum, n.; pl. Vascula. Etym: [L., a small vessel.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Ascidium, n., 1.

2. A tin box, commonly cylindrical or flattened, used in collecting plants.

VASE Vase, n. Etym: [F. vase; cf. Sp. & It. vaso; fr. L. vas, vasum. Cf. Vascular, Vessel.]

1. A vessel adapted for various domestic purposes, and anciently for sacrificial used; especially, a vessel of antique or elegant pattern used for ornament; as, a porcelain vase; a gold vase; a Grecian vase. See Illust. of Portland vase, under Portland. No chargers then were wrought in burnished gold, Nor silver vases took the forming mold. Pope.

2. (Arch.) (a) A vessel similar to that described in the first definition above, or the representation of one in a solid block of stone, or the like, used for an ornament, as on a terrace or in a garden. See Illust. of Niche. (b) The body, or naked ground, of the Corinthian and Composite capital; -- called also tambour, and drum.

Note: Until the time of Walker (1791), vase was made to rhyme with base,, case, etc., and it is still commonly so pronounced in the United States. Walker made it to rhyme with phrase, maze, etc. Of modern English practice, Mr. A. J. Ellis (1874) says: "Vase has four pronunciations in English: vasz, which I most commonly say, is going out of use väz I hear most frequently, vaz very rarely, and vas I only know from Cull's marking. On the analogy of case, however, it should be the regular sound."

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The calyx of a plant.

VASE CLOCK Vase clock. (Art)

Defn: A clock whose decorative case has the general form of a vase, esp. one in which there is no ordinary dial, but in which a part of a vase revolves while a single stationary indicator serves as a hand.

VASECTOMY Vas*ec"to*my (vas*ek"to*my), n. [Vas + -ecmoty.] (Surg.)

Defn: Resection or excision of the vas deferens.

VASELINE Vas"e*line, n. Etym: [Said by the manufacturer to be derived from G. wasser water + Gr. 'e`laion olive oil.]

Defn: A yellowish translucent substance, almost odorless and tasteless, obtained as a residue in the purification of crude petroleum, and consisting essentially of a mixture of several of the higher members of the paraffin series. It is used as an unguent, and for various purposes in the arts. See the Note under Petrolatum. [Written also vaselin.]

VASE-SHAPED Vase"-shaped`, a.

Defn: Formed like a vase, or like a common flowerpot.

VASIFORM Vas"i*form, a. Etym: [L. vas a vessel + -form.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having the form of a vessel, or duct. Vasiform tissue (Bot.), tissue containing vessels, or ducts.

VASOCONSTRICTOR Vas`o*con*strict"or, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: Causing constriction of the blood vessels; as, the vasoconstrictor nerves, stimulation of which causes constriction of the blood vessels to which they go. These nerves are also called vasohypertonic. n.

Defn: A substance which causes constriction of the blood vessels. Such substances are used in medicine to raise blood pressure.

VASODENTINE Vas`o*den"tine, n. Etym: [L. vas a vessel + E. dentine.] (Anat.)

Defn: A modified form of dentine, which is permeated by blood capillaries; vascular dentine.

VASODILATOR Vas`o*di*lat"or, a.Etym: [L. vas a vessel + dilator.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Causing dilation or relaxation of the blood vessels; as, the vasodilator nerves, stimulation of which causes dilation of the blood vessels to which they go. These nerves are also called vaso- inhibitory, and vasohypotonic nerves, since their stimulation causes relaxation and rest.

VASOFORMATIVE Vas`o*form"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. vas a vessel + formative] (Physiol.)

Defn: Concerned in the development and formation of blood vessels and blood corpuscles; as, the vasoformative cells.

VASO-INHIBITORY Vas`o-in*hib"i*to*ry, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: See Vasodilator.

VASOMOTOR Vas`o*mo"tor, a. Etym: [L. vas a vessel + motor that which moves fr. movere to move.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Causing movement in the walls of vessels; as, the vasomotor mechanisms; the vasomotor nerves, a system of nerves distributed over the muscular coats of the blood vessels. Vasomotor center, the chief dominating or general center which supplies all the unstriped muscles of the arterial system with motor nerves, situated in a part of the medulla oblongata; a center of reflex action by the working of which afferent impulses are changed into efferent, -- vasomotor impulses leading either to dilation or constriction of the blood vessels.

VASSAL Vas"sal, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. vassallus, vassus; of Celtic origin; cf. W. & Corn. gwas a youth, page, servant, Arm. gwaz a man, a male. Cf. Valet, Varlet, Vavasor.]

1. (Feud. Law)

Defn: The grantee of a fief, feud, or fee; one who holds land of superior, and who vows fidelity and homage to him; a feudatory; a feudal tenant. Burrill.

2. A subject; a dependent; a servant; a slave. "The vassals of his anger." Milton. Rear vassal, the vassal of a vassal; an arriere vassal.

VASSAL Vas"sal, a.

Defn: Resembling a vassal; slavish; servile. The sun and every vassal star. Keble.

VASSAL Vas"sal, v. t.

Defn: To treat as a vassal; to subject to control; to enslave. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

VASSALAGE Vas"sal*age, n. Etym: [OE. vassalage, F. vasselage, LL. vassallaticum.]

1. The state of being a vassal, or feudatory.

2. Political servitude; dependence; subjection; slavery; as, the Greeks were held in vassalage by the Turks.

3. A territory held in vassalage. "The Countship of Foix, with six territorial vassalages." Milman.

4. Vassals, collectively; vassalry. [R.] Shak.

5. Valorous service, such as that performed by a vassal; valor; prowess; courage. [Obs.] Chaucer.

VASSALESS Vas"sal*ess, n.

Defn: A female vassal. [R.] Spenser.

VASSALRY Vas"sal*ry, n.

Defn: The body of vassals. [R.]

VAST Vast, a. [Compar. Vaster; superl. Vastest.] Etym: [L. vastus empty, waste, enormous, immense: cf. F. vaste. See Waste, and cf. Devastate.]

1. Waste; desert; desolate; lonely. [Obs.] The empty, vast, and wandering air. Shak.

2. Of great extent; very spacious or large; also, huge in bulk; immense; enormous; as, the vast ocean; vast mountains; the vast empire of Russia. Through the vast and boundless deep. Milton.

3. Very great in numbers, quantity, or amount; as, a vast army; a vast sum of money.

4. Very great in importance; as, a subject of vast concern.

Syn. -- Enormous; huge; immense; mighty.

VAST Vast, n.

Defn: A waste region; boundless space; immensity. "The watery vast." Pope. Michael bid sound The archangel trumpet. Through the vast of heaven It sounded. Milton.

VASTATION Vas*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. vastatio, fr. vastare to lay waste, fr. vastus empty, waste.]

Defn: A laying waste; waste; depopulation; devastation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

VASTEL Vas"tel, n.

Defn: See Wastel. [Obs.] Fuller.

VASTIDITY Vas*tid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. vastité, L. vastitas.]

Defn: Vastness; immensity. [Obs.] "All the world's vastidity." Shak.

VASTITUDE Vas"ti*tude, n. Etym: [L. vastitudo.]

1. Vastness; immense extent. [R.]

2. Destruction; vastation. [Obs.] Joye.

VASTITY Vast"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. vastitas.]

Defn: Vastness. [Obs.] The huge vastity of the world. Holland.

VASTLY Vast"ly, adv.

Defn: To a vast extent or degree; very greatly; immensely. Jer. Taylor.

VASTNESS Vast"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vast.

VASTY Vas"ty, a. Etym: [From Vast.]

Defn: Vast; immense. [R.] I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Shak.

VASUM Va"sum, n. Etym: [L., a vase. See Vase.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus including several species of large marine gastropods having massive pyriform shells, with conspicuous folds on the columella.

VAT Vat, n. Etym: [A dialectic form for fat, OE. fat, AS. fæt; akin to D.vat, OS. fat, G. fass, OHG. faz, Icel. & Sw. fat, Dan.fad, Lith. p a pot, and probably to G. fassen to seize, to contain, OHG. fazz, D. vatten. Cf. Fat a vat.]

1. A large vessel, cistern, or tub, especially one used for holding in an immature state, chemical preparations for dyeing, or for tanning, or for tanning leather, or the like. Let him produce his vase and tubs, in opposition to heaps of arms and standards. Addison.

2. A measure for liquids, and also a dry measure; especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectoliter of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 standard gallons in the United States.

Note: The old Dutch grain vat averaged 0.762 Winchester bushel. The old London coal vat contained 9 bushels. The solid-measurement vat of Amsterdam contains 40 cubic feet; the wine vat, 241.57 imperial gallons, and the vat for olive oil, 225.45 imperial gallons.

3. (Metal.) (a) A wooden tub for washing ores and mineral substances in. (b) A square, hollow place on the back of a calcining furnace, where tin ore is laid to dry.

4. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A vessel for holding holy water.

VAT Vat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vatting.]

Defn: To put or transfer into a vat.

VATFUL Vat"ful, n.; pl. Vatfuls (.

Defn: As much as a vat will hold; enough to fill a vat.

VATICAL Vat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. vates a prophet.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a prophet; prophetical. Bp. Hall.

VATICAN Vat"i*can, n. Etym: [L. Vaticanus, mons, or collis, Vaticanus, the Vatican hill, in Rome, on the western bank of the Tiber: cf. F. Vatican, It. Vaticano.]

Defn: A magnificent assemblage of buildings at Rome, near the church of St. Peter, including the pope's palace, a museum, a library, a famous chapel, etc.

Note: The word is often used to indicate the papal authority. Thunders of the Vatican, the anathemas, or denunciations, of the pope.

VATICAN COUNCIL Vat"i*can Coun"cil. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The council held under Pope Pius IX. in Vatican at Rome, in 1870, which promulgated the dogma of papal infallibility.

VATICANISM Vat"i*can*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine of papal supremacy; extreme views in support of the authority of the pope; ultramontanism; -- a term used only by persons who are not Roman Catholics.

VATICANIST Vat"i*can*ist, n.

Defn: One who strongly adheres to the papal authority; an ultramontanist.

VATICIDE Vat"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. vates a prophet + caedere to kill.]

Defn: The murder, or the murderer, of a prophet. "The caitiff vaticide." Pope.

VATICINAL Va*tic"i*nal, a. Etym: [See Vaticinate.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to prophecy; prophetic. T. Warton.

VATICINATE Va*tic"i*nate, v. i. & t. Etym: [L. vaticinatus, p. p. of vaticinari to prophesy, fr. vaticinus prophetical, fr. vates a prophet.]

Defn: To prophesy; to foretell; to practice prediction; to utter prophecies.

VATICINATION Va*tic`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. vaticinatio.]

Defn: Prediction; prophecy. It is not a false utterance; it is a true, though an impetuous, vaticination. I. Taylor.

VATICINATOR Va*tic"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who vaticinates; a prophet.

VATICINE Vat"i*cine, n. Etym: [L. vaticinium.]

Defn: A prediction; a vaticination. [Obs.] Holinshed.

VAUDEVILLE Vaude"ville, n. Etym: [F., fr. Vau-de-vire, a village in Normandy, where Olivier Basselin, at the end of the 14th century, composed such songs.] [Written also vaudevil.]

1. A kind of song of a lively character, frequently embodying a satire on some person or event, sung to a familiar air in couplets with a refrain; a street song; a topical song.

2. A theatrical piece, usually a comedy, the dialogue of which is intermingled with light or satirical songs, set to familiar airs. The early vaudeville, which is the forerunner of the opera bouffe, was light, graceful, and piquant. Johnson's Cyc.

VAUDOIS Vau*dois, n. sing. & pl. [

1. An inhabitant, or the inhabitants, of the Swiss canton of Vaud.

2. A modern name of the Waldenses.

VAUDOUX Vau*doux", n. & a.

Defn: See Voodoo.

VAULT Vault, n. Etym: [OE. voute, OF. voute, volte, F. voûte, LL. volta, for voluta, volutio, fr. L. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn about. See Voluble, and cf. Vault a leap, Volt a turn, Volute.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy. The long-drawn aisle and fretted vault. Gray.

2. An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, use for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar. "Charnel vaults." Milton. The silent vaults of death. Sandys. To banish rats that haunt our vault. Swift.

3. The canopy of heaven; the sky. That heaven's vault should crack. Shak.

4. Etym: [F. volte, It. volta, originally, a turn, and the same word as volta an arch. See the Etymology above.]

Defn: A leap or bound. Specifically: -- (a) (Man.) The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet. (b) A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard, or the like.

Note: The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in pronunciation. Barrel, Cradle, Cylindrical, or Wagon, vault (Arch.), a kind of vault having two parallel abutments, and the same section or profile at all points. It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see Rampant vault, under Rampant), or curved in plan, as around the apse of a church. -- Coved vault. (Arch.) See under 1st Cove, v. t. -- Groined vault (Arch.), a vault having groins, that is, one in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault. -- Rampant vault. (Arch.) See under Rampant. -- Ribbed vault (Arch.), a vault differing from others in having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character. -- Vault light, a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement or ceiling to admit light to a vault below.

VAULT Vault, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaulting.] Etym: [OE. vouten, OF. volter, vouter, F. voûter. See Vault an arch.]

1. To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch; as, vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court. The shady arch that vaulted the broad green alley. Sir W. Scott.

2. Etym: [See Vault, v. i.]

Defn: To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole; as, to vault a fence. I will vault credit, and affect high pleasures. Webster (1623).

VAULT Vault, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. volter, F. voltiger, It. volt turn. See Vault, n., 4.]

1. To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring. Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself. Shak. Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree. Dryden. Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth. Addison.

2. To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.

VAULTAGE Vault"age, n.

Defn: Vaulted work; also, a vaulted place; an arched cellar. [Obs.] Shak.

VAULTED Vault"ed, a.

1. Arched; concave; as, a vaulted roof.

2. Covered with an arch, or vault.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Arched like the roof of the mouth, as the upper lip of many ringent flowers.

VAULTER Vault"er, n.

Defn: One who vaults; a leaper; a tumbler. B. Jonson.

VAULTING Vault"ing, n.

1. The act of constructing vaults; a vaulted construction.

2. Act of one who vaults or leaps.

VAULTY Vault"y, a.

Defn: Arched; concave. [Obs.] "The vaulty heaven." Shak.

VAUNCE Vaunce, v. i. Etym: [See Advance.]

Defn: To advance. [Obs.] Spenser.

VAUNT Vaunt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vaunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaunting.] Etym: [F. vanter, LL. vanitare, fr. L. vanus vain. See Vain.]

Defn: To boast; to make a vain display of one's own worth, attainments, decorations, or the like; to talk ostentatiously; to brag. Pride, which prompts a man to vaunt and overvalue what he is, does incline him to disvalue what he has. Gov. of Tongue.

VAUNT Vaunt, v. t.

Defn: To boast of; to make a vain display of; to display with ostentation. Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 1 Cor. xiii. 4. My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. Milton.

VAUNT Vaunt, n.

Defn: A vain display of what one is, or has, or has done; ostentation from vanity; a boast; a brag. The spirits beneath, whom I seduced With other promises and other vaunts. Milton.

VAUNT Vaunt, n. Etym: [F. avant before, fore. See Avant, Vanguard.]

Defn: The first part. [Obs.] Shak.

VAUNT Vaunt, v. t. Etym: [See Avant, Advance.]

Defn: To put forward; to display. [Obs.] "Vaunted spear." Spenser. And what so else his person most may vaunt. Spenser.

VAUNT-COURIER Vaunt"-cou`ri*er, n.

Defn: See Van-courier. [Obs.] Shak.

VAUNTER Vaunt"er, n.

Defn: One who vaunts; a boaster.

VAUNTFUL Vaunt"ful, a.

Defn: Given to vaunting or boasting; vainly ostentatious; boastful; vainglorious.

VAUNTINGLY Vaunt"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a vaunting manner.

VAUNTMURE Vaunt"mure`, n. Etym: [F. avant-mur. See Vanguard, and Mure.] (Fort.)

Defn: A false wall; a work raised in front of the main wall. [Written also vaimure, and vamure.] Camden.

VAUQUELINITE Vauque"lin*ite, n. Etym: [So called after the French chemist Vauquelin, who died in 1829: cf. F. vauquelinite.] (Min.)

Defn: Chromate of copper and lead, of various shades of green.

VAUT Vaut, v. i.

Defn: To vault; to leap. [Obs.] Spenser.

VAUT Vaut, n.

Defn: A vault; a leap. [Obs.] Spenser.

VAUTY Vaut"y, a.

Defn: Vaulted. "The haughty vauty welkin." [Obs.] Taylor (1611).

VAVASOR Vav"a*sor, n. Etym: [OE. vavasour, OF. vavassor, vavassour, F. vavasseur, LL. vavassor, probably contr. from vassus vassorum vassal of the vassals. See Vassal.] (Feud. Law)

Defn: The vassal or tenant of a baron; one who held under a baron, and who also had tenants under him; one in dignity next to a baron; a title of dignity next to a baron. Burrill. "A worthy vavasour." Chaucer. [Also written vavasour, vavassor, valvasor, etc.] Vavasours subdivide again to vassals, exchanging land and cattle, human or otherwise, against fealty. Motley.

VAVASORY Vav"a*so*ry, n. Etym: [F. vavassorie.] (Feud. Law)

Defn: The quality or tenure of the fee held by a vavasor; also, the lands held by a vavasor.

VAWARD Va"ward`, n. Etym: [For vanward, equivalent to vanguard. See Vanguard, Ward guard.]

Defn: The fore part; van. [Obs.] Since we have the vaward of the day. Shak.

VAZA PARROT Va"za par`rot. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of parrots of the genus Coracopsis, native of Madagascar; -- called also vasa parrot.

VEADAR Ve"a*dar, n.

Defn: The thirteenth, or intercalary, month of the Jewish ecclesiastical calendar, which is added about every third year.

VEAL Veal, n.Etym: [OE. veel, OF. veel, F. veau, L. vitellus, dim. of vitulus a calf; akin to E. wether. See Wether, and cf. Vellum, Vituline.]

Defn: The flesh of a calf when killed and used for food.

VECTION Vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. vectio, from vehere, vectum, to carry.]

Defn: Vectitation. [Obs.]

VECTITATION Vec`ti*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. vectitatus bornve, v. intens. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry.]

Defn: The act of carrying, or state of being carried. [Obs.]

VECTOR Vec"tor, n. Etym: [L., a bearer, carrier. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry.]

1. Same as Radius vector.

2. (Math.)

Defn: A directed quantity, as a straight line, a force, or a velocity. Vectors are said to be equal when their directions are the same their magnitudes equal. Cf. Scalar.

Note: In a triangle, either side is the vector sum of the other two sides taken in proper order; the process finding the vector sum of two or more vectors is vector addition (see under Addition).

VECTURE Vec"ture, n. Etym: [L. vectura, from vehere, vectum, to carry. Cf. Vettura, Voiture.]

Defn: The act of carrying; conveyance; carriage. [Obs.] Bacon.

VEDA Ve"da, n. Etym: [Skr. v, properly, knowledge, from vid to know. See Wit.]

Defn: The ancient sacred literature of the Hindoos; also, one of the four collections, called Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, constituting the most ancient portions of that literature.

Note: The language of the Vedas is usually called Vedic Sanskrit, as distinguished from the later and more settled form called classical Sanskrit.

VEDANTA Ve*dan"ta, n. Etym: [Skr. V.]

Defn: A system of philosophy among the Hindoos, founded on scattered texts of the Vedas, and thence termed the "Anta," or end or substance. Balfour (Cyc. of India.)

VEDANTIC Ve*dan"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Vedas.

VEDANTIST Ve*dan"tist, n.

Defn: One versed in the doctrines of the Vedantas.

VEDETTE Ve*dette", n. Etym: [F. vedette, It. vedetta, for veletta (influenced by vedere to see, L. videre), from It. veglia watch, L. vigilia. See Vigil.]

Defn: A sentinel, usually on horseback, stationed on the outpost of an army, to watch an enemy and give notice of danger; a vidette.

VEDRO Ve"dro, n. Etym: [Russ.]

Defn: A Russian liquid measure, equal to 3.249 gallons of U.S. standard measure, or 2.706 imperial gallons. McElrath.

VEER Veer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Veered; p. pr. & vb. n. Veering.] Etym: [F. virer (cf. Sp. virar, birar), LL. virare; perhaps fr. L. vibrare to brandish, vibrate (cf. Vibrate); or cf. L. viriae armlets, bracelets, viriola a little bracelet (cf. Ferrule). Cf. Environ.]

Defn: To change direction; to turn; to shift; as, wind veers to the west or north. "His veering gait." Wordsworth. And as he leads, the following navy veers. Dryden. an ordinary community which is hostile or friendly as passion or as interest may veer about. Burke. To veer and haul (Naut.), to vary the course or direction; -- said of the wind, which veers aft and hauls forward. The wind is also said to veer when it shifts with the sun.

VEER Veer, v. t.

Defn: To direct to a different course; to turn; to wear; as, to veer, or wear, a vessel. To veer and haul (Naut.), to pull tight and slacken alternately. Totten. -- To veer away or out (Naut.), to let out; to slacken and let run; to pay out; as, to veer away the cable; to veer out a rope.

VEERING Veer"ing, a.

Defn: Shifting. -- Veer"ing*ly, adv.

VEERY Veer"y, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American thrush (Turdus fuscescens) common in the Northern United States and Canada. It is light tawny brown above. The breast is pale buff, thickly spotted with brown. Called also Wilson's thrush. Sometimes I hear the veery's clarion. Thoreau.

VEGA Ve"ga, n. (Astron.) Etym: [Ar. w, properly, falling: cf. F. Wéga.]

Defn: A brilliant star of the first magnitude, the brightest of those constituting the constellation Lyra.

VEGETABILITY Veg`e*ta*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vegetable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

VEGETABLE Veg`e*ta*ble, a. Etym: [F. végétable growing, capable of growing, formerly also, as a noun, a vegetable, from L. vegetabilis enlivening, from vegetare to enliven, invigorate, quicken, vegetus enlivened, vigorous, active, vegere to quicken, arouse, to be lively, akin to vigere to be lively, to thrive, vigil watchful, awake, and probably to E. wake, v. See Vigil, Wake, v.]

1. Of or pertaining to plants; having the nature of, or produced by, plants; as, a vegetable nature; vegetable growths, juices, etc. Blooming ambrosial fruit Of vegetable gold. Milton.

2. Consisting of, or comprising, plants; as, the vegetable kingdom. Vegetable alkali (Chem.), an alkaloid. -- Vegetable brimstone. (Bot.) See Vegetable sulphur, below. -- Vegetable butter (Bot.), a name of several kinds of concrete vegetable oil; as that produced by the Indian butter tree, the African shea tree, and the Pentadesma butyracea, a tree of the order Guttiferæ, also African. Still another kind is pressed from the seeds of cocoa (Theobroma). -- Vegetable flannel, a textile material, manufactured in Germany from pine-needle wool, a down or fiber obtained from the leaves of the Pinus sylvestris. -- Vegetable ivory. See Ivory nut, under Ivory. -- Vegetable jelly. See Pectin. -- Vegetable kingdom. (Nat. Hist.) See the last Phrase, below. --

Vegetable leather. (a) (Bot.) A shrubby West Indian spurge (Euphorbia punicea), with leathery foliage and crimson bracts. (b) See Vegetable leather, under Leather. -- Vegetable marrow (Bot.), an egg-shaped gourd, commonly eight to ten inches long. It is noted for the very tender quality of its flesh, and is a favorite culinary vegetable in England. It has been said to be of Persian origin, but is now thought to have been derived from a form of the American pumpkin. -- Vegetable oyster (Bot.), the oyster plant. See under Oyster. -- Vegetable parchment, papyrine. -- Vegetable sheep (Bot.), a white woolly plant (Raoulia eximia) of New Zealand, which grows in the form of large fleecy cushions on the mountains. -- Vegetable silk, a cottonlike, fibrous material obtained from the coating of the seeds of a Brazilian tree (Chorisia speciosa). It us used for various purposes, as for stuffing, and the like, but is incapable of being spun on account of a want of cohesion among the fibers. -- Vegetable sponge. See 1st Loof. -- Vegetable sulphur, the fine highly inflammable spores of the club moss (Lycopodium clavatum); witch. -- Vegetable tallow, a substance resembling tallow, obtained from various plants; as, Chinese vegetable tallow, obtained from the seeds of the tallow tree. Indian vegetable tallow is a name sometimes given to piney tallow. -- Vegetable wax, a waxy excretion on the leaves or fruits of certain plants, as the bayberry. Vegetable kingdom (Nat. Hist.), that primary division of living things which includes all plants. The classes of the vegetable kingdom have been grouped differently by various botanists. The following is one of the best of the many arrangements of the principal subdivisions. I. Phænogamia (called also Phanerogamia).

Defn: Plants having distinct flowers and true seeds. { 1. Dicotyledons (called also Exogens). -- Seeds with two or more cotyledons. Stems with the pith, woody fiber, and bark concentrically arranged. Divided into two subclasses: Angiosperms, having the woody fiber interspersed with dotted or annular ducts, and the seed contained in a true ovary; Gymnosperms, having few or no ducts in the woody fiber, and the seeds naked. 2. Monocotyledons (called also Endogens). -- Seeds with single cotyledon. Stems with slender bundles of woody fiber not concentrically arranged, and with no true bark.} II. Cryptogamia.