Chapter CDLXXXVII: Prologue (138)

Defn: Plants without true flowers, and reproduced by minute spores of various kinds, or by simple cell division. { 1. Acrogens. -- Plants usually with distinct stems and leaves, existing in two alternate conditions, one of which is nonsexual and sporophoric, the other sexual and oöphoric. Divided into Vascular Acrogens, or Pteridophyta, having the sporophoric plant conspicuous and consisting partly of vascular tissue, as in Ferns, Lycopods, and Equiseta, and Cellular Acrogens, or Bryophyta, having the sexual plant most conspicuous, but destitute of vascular tissue, as in Mosses and Scale Mosses. 2. Thallogens. -- Plants without distinct stem and leaves, consisting of a simple or branched mass of cellular tissue, or educed to a single cell. Reproduction effected variously. Divided into Algæ, which contain chlorophyll or its equivalent, and which live upon air and water, and Fungi, which contain no chlorophyll, and live on organic matter. (Lichens are now believed to be fungi parasitic on included algæ.}

Note: Many botanists divide the Phænogamia primarily into Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, and the latter into Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. Others consider Pteridophyta and Bryophyta to be separate classes. Thallogens are variously divided by different writers, and the places for diatoms, slime molds, and stoneworts are altogether uncertain. For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary.

VEGETAL Veg"e*tal, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A vegetable. [R.] B. Jonson.

VEGETALITY Veg`e*tal"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or state of being vegetal, or vegetable. [R.]

2. (Biol.)

Defn: The quality or state of being vegetal, or exhibiting those physiological phenomena which are common to plants and animals. See Vegetal, a., 2.

VEGETARIAN Veg`e*ta"ri*an, n.

Defn: One who holds that vegetables and fruits are the only proper food for man. Strict vegetarians eat no meat, eggs, or milk.

VEGETARIAN Veg`e*ta"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to vegetarianism; as, a vegetarian diet.

VEGETARIANISM Veg`e*ta"ri*an*ism, n.

Defn: The theory or practice of living upon vegetables and fruits.

VEGETATE Veg"e*tate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vegetated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vegetating.] Etym: [L. vegetatus, p. p. of vegetare to enliven. See Vegetable.]

1. To grow, as plants, by nutriment imbibed by means of roots and leaves; to start into growth; to sprout; to germinate. See dying vegetables life sustain, See life dissolving vegetate again. Pope.

2. Fig.: To lead a live too low for an animate creature; to do nothing but eat and grow. Cowper. Persons who . . . would have vegetated stupidly in the places where fortune had fixed them. Jeffrey.

3. (Med.)

Defn: To grow exuberantly; to produce fleshy or warty outgrowths; as, a vegetating papule.

VEGETATION Veg`e*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. végétation, L. vegetatio an enlivening. See Vegetable.]

1. The act or process of vegetating, or growing as a plant does; vegetable growth.

2. The sum of vegetable life; vegetables or plants in general; as, luxuriant vegetation.

3. (Med.)

Defn: An exuberant morbid outgrowth upon any part, especially upon the valves of the heart. Vegetation of salts (Old Chem.), a crystalline growth of an arborescent form.

VEGETATIVE Veg"e*ta*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. végétatif.]

1. Growing, or having the power of growing, as plants; capable of vegetating.

2. Having the power to produce growth in plants; as, the vegetative properties of soil.

3. (Biol.)

Defn: Having relation to growth or nutrition; partaking of simple growth and enlargement of the systems of nutrition, apart from the sensorial or distinctively animal functions; vegetal. -- Veg"e*ta*tive*ly, adv. -- Veg"e*ta*tive*ness, n.

VEGETE Ve*gete", a. Etym: [L. vegetus. See Vegetable.]

Defn: Lively; active; sprightly; vigorous. [Obs.] Even her body was made airy and vegete. Jer. Taylor.

VEGETISM Veg"e*tism, n.

Defn: Vegetal state or characteristic.

VEGETIVE Veg"e*tive, a. Etym: [See Vegetate, and Vegetative.]

Defn: Having the nature of a plant; vegetable; as, vegetive life. [R.] Tusser.

VEGETIVE Veg"e*tive, n.

Defn: A vegetable. [Obs.] The blest infusions That dwell in vegetives, in metals, stones. Shak.

VEGETO-ANIMAL Veg"e*to-an"i*mal, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Partaking of the nature both of vegetable and animal matter; -- a term sometimes applied to vegetable albumen and gluten, from their resemblance to similar animal products.

VEGETOUS Veg"e*tous, a. Etym: [L. vegetus. See Vegete.]

Defn: Vigorous; lively; active; vegete. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

VEHEMENCE Ve"he*mence, n. Etym: [L. vehementia: cf. F. véhémence.]

1. The quality pr state of being vehement; impetuous force; impetuosity; violence; fury; as, the vehemence.

2. Violent ardor; great heat; animated fervor; as, the vehemence of love, anger, or other passions. I . . . tremble at his vehemence of temper. Addison.

VEHEMENCY Ve"he*men*cy, n.

Defn: Vehemence. [R.] The vehemency of your affection. Shak.

VEHEMENT Ve"he*ment, a. Etym: [L. vehemens, the first part of which is perhaps akin to vehere to carry, and the second mens mind: cf. F. véhément. Cf. Vehicle, and Mental.]

1. Acting with great force; furious; violent; impetuous; forcible; mighty; as, vehement wind; a vehement torrent; a vehement fire or heat.

2. Very ardent; very eager or urgent; very fervent; passionate; as, a vehement affection or passion. "Vehement instigation." Shak. "Vehement desire." Milton.

Syn. -- Furious; violent; raging; impetuous; passionate; ardent; eager; hot; fervid; burning.

VEHEMENTLY Ve"he*ment*ly, adv.

Defn: In a vehement manner.

VEHICLE Ve"hi*cle, n. Etym: [L. vehiculum, fr. vehere to carry; akin to E. way, wain. See Way, n., and cf. Convex, Inveigh, Veil, Vex.]

1. That in or on which any person or thing is, or may be, carried, as a coach, carriage, wagon, cart, car, sleigh, bicycle, etc.; a means of conveyance; specifically, a means of conveyance upon land.

2. That which is used as the instrument of conveyance or communication; as, matter is the vehicle of energy. A simple style forms the best vehicle of thought to a popular assembly. Wirt.

3. (Pharm.)

Defn: A substance in which medicine is taken.

4. (Paint.)

Defn: Any liquid with which a pigment is applied, including whatever gum, wax, or glutinous or adhesive substance is combined with it.

Note: Water is used in fresco and in water-color painting, the colors being consolidated with gum arabic; size is used in distemper painting. In oil painting, the fixed oils of linseed, nut, and poppy, are used; in encaustic, wax is the vehicle. Fairholt.

VEHICLED Ve"hi*cled, a.

Defn: Conveyed in a vehicle; furnished with a vehicle. M. Green.

VEHICULAR Ve*hic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. vehicularis: cf. F. véhiculaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a vehicle; serving as a vehicle; as, a vehicular contrivance.

VEHICULARY Ve*hic"u*la*ry, a.

Defn: Vehicular.

VEHICULATE Ve*hic"u*late, v. t. & i.

Defn: To convey by means of a vehicle; to ride in a vehicle. Carlyle.

VEHICULATION Ve*hic`u*la"tion, n.

Defn: Movement of vehicles.

VEHICULATORY Ve*hic"u*la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Vehicular. Carlyle.

VEHM; VEHME Vehm, Vehme, n.; pl. Vehme (#). [See Vehmgericht.]

Defn: A vehmic court.

VEHMGERICHT Vehm"ge*richt, n.; pl. Vehmgerichte (#). [G. vefm, fehm criminal tribunal + gerichte court, judgment. Cf. Vehmic.]

Defn: A vehmic court.

VEHMIC Veh"mic, a. Etym: [G. vehm, fehm, fehme, a secret tribunal of punishment, MHG. veime, veme: cf. F. vehmique.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, certain secret tribunals flourished in Germany from the end of the 12th century to the middle of the 16th, usurping many of the functions of the government which were too weak to maintain law and order, and inspiring dread in all who came within their jurisdiction. Encyc. Brit.

VEIL Veil, n. Etym: [OE. veile, OF. veile, F. voile, L. velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship on. See Vehicle, and cf. Reveal.] [Written also vail.]

1. Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view, and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen, usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to hide or protect the face. The veil of the temple was rent in twain. Matt. xxvii. 51. She, as a veil down to the slender waist, Her unadornéd golden tresses wore. Milton.

2. A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense. [I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page. Shak.

3. (Bot.) (a) The calyptra of mosses. (b) A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; -- called also velum.

4. (Eccl.)

Defn: A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Velum, 3. To take the veil (Eccl.), to receive or be covered with, a veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to become a nun.

VEIL Veil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Veiling.] Etym: [Cf. OF. veler, F. voiler, L. velarc. See Veil, n.] [Written also vail.]

1. To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil. Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight, Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined. Milton.

2. Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal. To keep your great pretenses veiled. Shak.

VEILED Veiled, a.

Defn: Covered by, or as by, a veil; hidden. "Words used to convey a veiled meaning." Earle.

VEILED PLATE Veiled plate. (Photog.)

Defn: A fogged plate.

VEILING Veil"ing, n.

Defn: A veil; a thin covering; also, material for making veils.

VEILLESS Veil"less, a.

Defn: Having no veil. Tennyson.

VEIN Vein, n. Etym: [OE. veine, F. veine, L. vena.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the vessels which carry blood, either venous or arterial, to the heart. See Artery, 2.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the similar branches of the framework of a leaf.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the ribs or nervures of the wings of insects. See Venation.

4. (Geol. or Mining)

Defn: A narrow mass of rock intersecting other rocks, and filling inclined or vertical fissures not corresponding with the stratification; a lode; a dike; -- often limited, in the language of miners, to a mineral vein or lode, that is, to a vein which contains useful minerals or ores.

5. A fissure, cleft, or cavity, as in the earth or other substance. "Down to the veins of earth." Milton. Let the glass of the prisms be free from veins. Sir I. Newton.

6. A streak or wave of different color, appearing in wood, and in marble and other stones; variegation.

7. A train of association, thoughts, emotions, or the like; a current; a course. He can open a vein of true and noble thinking. Swift.

8. Peculiar temper or temperament; tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also, manner of speech or action; as, a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein. Shak. Certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins. Bacon. Invoke the Muses, and improve my vein. Waller.

VEIN Vein, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veined; p. pr. & vb. n. Veining.]

Defn: To form or mark with veins; to fill or cover with veins. Tennyson.

VEINAL Vein"al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to veins; venous. [R.]

VEINED Veined, a.

1. Full of veins; streaked; variegated; as, veined marble. "Veined follies." Ford.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having fibrovascular threads extending throughout the lamina; as, a veined leaf.

VEINLESS Vein"less, a.

Defn: Having no veins; as, a veinless leaf.

VEINLET Vein"let, n.

Defn: A small vein.

VEINOUS Vein"ous, a.

Defn: Marked with veins; veined; veiny. The excellent old gentleman's nails are long and leaden, and his hands lean and veinous. Dickens.

VEIN QUARTZ Vein quartz.

Defn: Quartz occurring as gangue in a vein.

VEINSTONE Vein"stone`, n.

Defn: The nonmetalliferous mineral or rock material which accompanies the ores in a vein, as quartz, calcite, barite, fluor spar, etc.; -- called also veinstuff.

VEINY Vein"y, a. Etym: [From Vein: cf. F. veiné.]

Defn: Full of veins; veinous; veined; as, veiny marble.

VELAR Ve"lar, a. Etym: [See Velum.]

1. Of or pertaining to a velum; esp. (Anat.) of or pertaining to the soft palate.

2. (Phon.)

Defn: Having the place of articulation on the soft palate; guttural; as, the velar consonants, such as k and hard q.

VELARIUM Ve*la"ri*um, n.; pl. Velaria. Etym: [L., a covering.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The marginal membrane of certain medusæ belonging to the Discophora.

VELATE Ve"late, a. Etym: [L. velatus, p. p. of velare to veil. See Veil.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having a veil; veiled.

VELDT Veldt, n. [D. veld. Cf. Field, n.]

Defn: A region or tract of land; esp., the open field; grass country. [South Africa]

VELDT SORE Veldt sore. (Med.)

Defn: An infective sore mostly on the hands and feet, often contracted in walking on the veldt and apparently due to a specific microörganism.

VELE Vele, n.

Defn: A veil. [Obs.] Spenser.

VELELLA Ve*lel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. from L. velum a veil, a sail.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of oceanic Siphonophora belonging to the genus Velella.

Note: These creatures are brilliantly colored and float at the surface of the sea. They have an oblong, disklike body, supported by a thin chitinous plate, from which rises a thin diagonal crest which acts as a sail. The feeding and reproductive zooids hang down from the under side of the disk.

VELIFEROUS Ve*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. velifer; velum a sail + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Carrying or bearing sails. [Obs.] "Veliferous chariots." Evelyn.

VELIGER Vel"i*ger, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. velum a veil + gerere bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any larval gastropod or bivalve mollusk in the state when it is furnished with one or two ciliated membranes for swimming.

VELITATION Vel`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. velitatio, fr. velitari, velitatus, to skirmish, from veles, -itis, a light-armed soldier.]

Defn: A dispute or contest; a slight contest; a skirmish. [R.] Sir M. Hale. After a short velitation we parted. Evelyn.

VELIVOLANT Ve*liv"o*lant, a. Etym: [L. velivolans; velum a sail + volare to fly.]

Defn: Flying with sails; passing under full sail. [R.]

VELL Vell, n. Etym: [Cf. L. vellus the skin of a sheep with the wool on it, a fleece, a hide or pelt, or E. fell a hide.]

Defn: The salted stomach of a calf, used in making cheese; a rennet bag. [Prov. Eng.]

VELL Vell, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Vell, n.]

Defn: To cut the turf from, as for burning. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

VELLEITY Vel*le"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. velléité (cf. It. velleità), fr. L. velle to will, to be willing.]

Defn: The lowest degree of desire; imperfect or incomplete volition. Locke.

VELLET Vel"let, n.

Defn: Velvet. [Obs.] Spenser.

VELLICATE Vel"li*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vellicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vellicating.] Etym: [L. vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to twitch, fr. vellere to pluck, pull.]

Defn: To twitch; to cause to twitch convulsively. Convulsions, arising from something vellicating a nerve in its extremity, are not very dangerous. Arbuthnot.

VELLICATE Vel"li*cate, v. i.

Defn: To move spasmodically; to twitch; as, a nerve vellicates.

VELLICATION Vel`li*ca"tion, Etym: [L. vellicatio.]

1. The act of twitching, or of causing to twitch.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A local twitching, or convulsive motion, of a muscular fiber, especially of the face.

VELLICATIVE Vel"li*ca*tive, a.

Defn: Having the power of vellicating, plucking, or twitching; causing vellication.

VELLON Vel*lon", n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A word occurring in the phrase real vellon. See the Note under Its Real.

VELLUM Vel"lum, n. Etym: [OE. velim, F. vélin, fr. L. vitulinus of a calf, fr. vitulus a calf. See Veal.]

Defn: A fine kind of parchment, usually made from calfskin, and rendered clear and white, -- used as for writing upon, and for binding books. Vellum cloth, a fine kind of cotton fabric, made very transparent, and used as a tracing cloth.

VELLUMY Vel"lum*y, a.

Defn: Resembling vellum.

VELOCIMETER Vel`o*cim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. velox, -ocis, rapid + -meter.]

Defn: An apparatus for measuring speed, as of machinery or vessels, but especially of projectiles.

VELOCIPEDE Ve*loc"i*pede, n. Etym: [L. velox, -ocis, swift + pes, pedis, a foot. See Velocity, and Foot.]

Defn: A light road carriage propelled by the feet of the rider. Originally it was propelled by striking the tips of the toes on the roadway, but commonly now by the action of the feet on a pedal or pedals connected with the axle of one or more of the wheels, and causing their revolution. They are made in many forms, with two, three, or four wheels. See Bicycle, and Tricycle.

VELOCIPEDIST Ve*loc"i*pe`dist, n.

Defn: One who rides on a velocipede.

VELOCITY Ve*loc"i*ty, n.; pl. Velocities. Etym: [L. velocitas, from velox, - ocis, swift, quick; perhaps akin to v to fly (see Volatile): cf. F. vélocité.]

1. Quickness of motion; swiftness; speed; celerity; rapidity; as, the velocity of wind; the velocity of a planet or comet in its orbit or course; the velocity of a cannon ball; the velocity of light.

Note: In such phrases, velocity is more generally used than celerity. We apply celerity to animals; as, a horse or an ostrich runs with celerity; but bodies moving in the air or in ethereal space move with greater or less velocity, not celerity. This usage is arbitrary, and perhaps not universal.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: Rate of motion; the relation of motion to time, measured by the number of units of space passed over by a moving body or point in a unit of time, usually the number of feet passed over in a second. See the Note under Speed. Angular velocity. See under Angular. -- Initial velocity, the velocity of a moving body at starting; especially, the velocity of a projectile as it leaves the mouth of a firearm from which it is discharged. -- Relative velocity, the velocity with which a body approaches or recedes from another body, whether both are moving or only one. -- Uniform velocity, velocity in which the same number of units of space are described in each successive unit of time. -- Variable velocity, velocity in which the space described varies from instant, either increasing or decreasing; -- in the former case called accelerated velocity, in the latter, retarded velocity; the acceleration or retardation itself being also either uniform or variable. -- Virtual velocity. See under Virtual.

Note: In variable velocity, the velocity, strictly, at any given instant, is the rate of motion at that instant, and is expressed by the units of space, which, if the velocity at that instant were continued uniform during a unit of time, would be described in the unit of time; thus, the velocity of a falling body at a given instant is the number of feet which, if the motion which the body has at that instant were continued uniformly for one second, it would pass through in the second. The scientific sense of velocity differs from the popular sense in being applied to all rates of motion, however slow, while the latter implies more or less rapidity or quickness of motion.

Syn. -- Swiftness; celerity; rapidity; fleetness; speed.

VELOURS Ve*lours", n. Etym: [F. See Velure.]

Defn: One of many textile fabrics having a pile like that of velvet.

VELOUTE; SAUCE VELOUTE Ve*lou`té", n., or Sauce velouté. [F. velouté, lit., velvety.] (Cookery)

Defn: A white sauce or stock made by boiling down ham, veal, beef, fowl, bouillon, etc., then adding soup stock, seasoning, vegetables, and thickening, and again boiling and straining.

VELTFARE Velt"fare, n. Etym: [See Fieldfare.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The fieldfare. [Prov. Eng.]

VELUM Ve"lum, n.; pl. Vela. Etym: [L., an awning, a veil. See Veil.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Curtain or covering; -- applied to various membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. See under Palate.

2. (Bot.) (a) See Veil, n., 3 (b). (b) A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of quillworts Isoetes).

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A veil-like organ or part. Especially: (a) The circular membrane that partially incloses the space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medusæ. (b) A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of Protozoa.

VELURE Vel"ure, n. Etym: [F. velours, OF. velous, from L. villosus hairy. See Velvet.]

Defn: Velvet. [Obs.] "A woman's crupper of velure." Shak.

VELUTINA Vel`u*ti"na, n. Etym: [NL. See Velvet.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of marine gastropods belonging to Velutina and allied genera.

VELUTINOUS Ve*lu"ti*nous, a. Etym: [It. velluto velvet. See Velvet.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the surface covered with a fine and dense silky pubescence; velvety; as, a velutinous leaf.

VELVERD Vel"verd, n.

Defn: The veltfare. [Prov. Eng.]

VELVERET Vel`ver*et", n.

Defn: A kind of velvet having cotton back.

VELVET Vel"vet, n. Etym: [OE. velouette, veluet, velwet; cf. OF. velluau, LL. velluetum, vellutum, It. velluto, Sp. velludo; all fr. (assumed) LL. villutus shaggy, fr L. villus shaggy hair; akin to vellus a fleece, and E. wool. See Wool, and cf. Villous.]

1. A silk fabric, having a short, close nap of erect threads. Inferior qualities are made with a silk pile on a cotton or linen back.

2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid growth. Cotton velvet, an imitation of velvet, made of cotton. -- Velvet cork, the best kind of cork bark, supple, elastic, and not woody or porous. -- Velvet crab a European crab (Portunus puber). When adult the black carapace is covered with a velvety pile. Called also lady crab, and velvet fiddler. -- Velvet dock (Bot.), the common mullein. -- Velvet duck. (Zoöl.) (a) A large European sea duck, or scoter (Oidemia fusca). The adult male is glossy, velvety black, with a white speculum on each wing, and a white patch behind each eye. (b) The American whitewinged scoter. See Scoter. -- Velvet flower (Bot.), love-lies-bleeding. See under Love. -- Velvet grass (Bot.), a tall grass (Holcus lanatus) with velvety stem and leaves; -- called also soft grass. -- Velvet runner (Zoöl.), the water rail; -- so called from its quiet, stealthy manner of running. [Prov. Eng.] -- Velvet scoter. (Zoöl.) Same as Velvet duck, above. -- Velvet sponge. (Zoöl.) See under Sponge.

VELVET Vel"vet, a.

Defn: Made of velvet; soft and delicate, like velvet; velvety. " The cowslip's velvet head." Milton.

VELVET Vel"vet, v. i.

Defn: To pain velvet. [R.] Peacham.

VELVET Vel"vet, v. t.

Defn: To make like, or cover with, velvet. [R.]

VELVETBREAST Vel"vet*breast`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The goosander. [Local, U. S.]

VELVETEEN Vel`vet*een", n. Etym: [Cf. F. velvetine. See Velvet.]

Defn: A kind of cloth, usually cotton, made in imitation of velvet; cotton velvet.

VELVETING Vel"vet*ing, n.

Defn: The fine shag or nap of velvet; a piece of velvet; velvet goods.

VELVETLEAF Vel"vet*leaf`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several plants which have soft, velvety leaves, as the Abutilon Avicennæ, the Cissampelos Pareira, and the Lavatera arborea, and even the common mullein.

VELVETY Vel"vet*y, a.

Defn: Made of velvet, or like velvet; soft; smooth; delicate.

VENA Ve"na, n.; pl. Venæ. Etym: [L. See Vein.]

Defn: A vein. Vena cava; pl. Venæ cavæ. Etym: [L., literally, hollow vein.] (Anat.) Any one of the great systemic veins connected directly with the heart.-- Vena contracta. Etym: [L., literally, contracted vein.] (Hydraulics) The contracted portion of a liquid jet at and near the orifice from which it issues. -- Vena portæ; pl. VenÆ portæ. Etym: [L., literally, vein of the entrance.] (Anat.) The portal vein of the liver. See under Portal.

VENADA Ve*na"da, N. Etym: [Cf. Sp. venado a does, stag.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pudu.

VENAL Ve"nal, a. Etym: [L. vena a vein.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to veins; venous; as, venal blood. [R.]

VENAL Ve"nal, a. Etym: [L. venalis, from venus sale; akin to Gr. vasna: cf. F. vénal.]

Defn: Capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration; made matter of trade or barter; held for sale; salable; mercenary; purchasable; hireling; as, venal services. " Paid court to venal beauties." Macaulay. The venal cry and prepared vote of a passive senate. Burke.

Syn. -- Mercenary; hireling; vendible. -- Venal, Mercenary. One is mercenary who is either actually a hireling (as, mercenary soldiers, a mercenary judge, etc.), or is governed by a sordid love of gain; hence, we speak of mercenary motives, a mercenary marriage, etc. Venal goes further, and supposes either an actual purchase, or a readiness to be purchased, which places a person or thing wholly in the power of the purchaser; as, a venal press. Brissot played ingeniously on the latter word in his celebrated saying, " My pen is venal that it may not be mercenary," meaning that he wrote books, and sold them to the publishers, in order to avoid the necessity of being the hireling of any political party. Thus needy wits a vile revenue made, And verse became a mercenary trade. Dryden. This verse be thine, my friend, nor thou refuse This, from no venal or ungrateful muse. Pope.

VENALITY Ve*nal"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. venalitas: cf. F. vénalité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being venal, or purchasable; mercenariness; prostitution of talents, offices, or services, for money or reward; as, the venality of a corrupt court; the venality of an official. Complaints of Roman venality became louder. Milton.

VENALLY Ve"nal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a venal manner.

VENANTES Ve*nan"tes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. venans, p. pr. of venari to hunt.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hunting spiders, which run after, or leap upon, their prey.

VENARY Ven"a*ry, a. Etym: [LL. venarius, fr. L. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt.]

Defn: Of or, pertaining to hunting.

VENATIC; VENATICAL Ve*nat"ic, Ve*nat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. venaticus, fr. venatus hunting, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to hunting; used in hunting. [R.] " Venatical pleasure." Howell.

VENATICA Ve*nat"i*ca, n.

Defn: See Vinatico.

VENATION Ve*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. vena a vein.]

Defn: The arrangement or system of veins, as in the wing of an insect, or in the leaves of a plant. See Illust. in Appendix.

VENATION Ve*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. venatio, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt. See Venison.]

Defn: The act or art of hunting, or the state of being hunted. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

VENATORIAL Ven`a*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. venatorius.]

Defn: Or or pertaining to hunting; venatic. [R.]

VEND Vend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vended; p. pr. & vb. n. Vending.] Etym: [F. vendre, L. vendere, from venum dare; venus sale + dare to give. See 2d Venal, Date, time.]

Defn: To transfer to another person for a pecuniary equivalent; to make an object of trade; to dispose of by sale; to sell; as, to vend goods; to vend vegetables.

Note: Vend differs from barter. We vend for money; we barter for commodities. Vend is used chiefly of wares, merchandise, or other small articles, not of lands and tenements.

VEND Vend, n.

1. The act of vending or selling; a sale.

2. The total sales of coal from a colliery. [Eng.]

VENDACE Ven"dace, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European lake whitefish (Coregonus Willughbii, or C. Vandesius) native of certain lakes in Scotland and England. It is regarded as a delicate food fish. Called also vendis.

VENDEE Vend*ee", n.

Defn: The person to whom a thing is vended, or sold; -- the correlative of vendor.

VENDEMIAIRE Ven`dé`miaire", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. vindemia vintage.]

Defn: The first month of the French republican calendar, dating from September 22, 1792.

Note: This calendar was substituted for the ordinary calendar, dating from the Christian era, by a decree of the National Convention in 1793. The 22d of September, 1792, which had been fixed upon as the day of the foundation of the republic, was also the date of the new calendar. In this calendar, the year, which began at midnight of the day of the autumnal equinox, was divided into twelve months of thirty days, with five additional days for festivals, and every fourth year six. Each month was divided into three decades of ten days each, the week being abolished. The names of the months in their order were, Vendémiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire Nivose, Pluviose, Ventose, Germinal, Floréal, Prairial, Messidor, Thermidor (sometimes called Fervidor), and Fructidor. This calendar was abolished December 31, 1805, and the ordinary one restored January 1, 1806.

VENDER Vend"er, n. Etym: [From Vend: cf. F. vendeur, OF. vendeor. Cf. Vendor.]

Defn: One who vends; one who transfers the exclusive right of possessing a thing, either his own, or that of another as his agent, for a price or pecuniary equivalent; a seller; a vendor.

VENDETTA Ven*det"ta, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: A blood feud; private revenge for the murder of a kinsman.

VENDIBILITY Vend`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vendible, or salable.

VENDIBLE Vend"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. vendibilis: cf. OF. vendible, F. vendable.]

Defn: Capable of being vended, or sold; that may be sold; salable. The regulating of prices of things vendible. Bacon.

Note: Vendible differs from marketable; the latter signifies proper or fit for market, according to the laws or customs of a place. Vendible has no reference to such legal fitness.

VENDIBLE Vend"i*ble, n.

Defn: Something to be sold, or offered for sale. -- Vend"i*ble*ness, n. -- Vend"i*bly, adv.

VENDITATE Ven"di*tate, v. t. Etym: [See Venditation.]

Defn: To cry up. as if for sale; to blazon. [Obs.] Holland.

VENDITATION Ven`di*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. venditatio, fr. venditare, venditatum, to offer again and again for sale, v. freq. of vendere. See Vend.]

Defn: The act of setting forth ostentatiously; a boastful display. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

VENDITION Ven*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. venditio: cf. F. vendition.]

Defn: The act of vending, or selling; sale.

VENDOR Vend"or , n. Etym: [See Vender.]

Defn: A vender; a seller; the correlative of vendee.

VENDOR'S LIEN Vend"or's lien. (Law)

Defn: An implied lien (that is, one not created by mortgage or other express agreement) given in equity to a vendor of lands for the unpaid purchase money.

VENDS Vends, n. pl. (Ethnol.)

Defn: See Wends.

VENDUE Ven*due", n. Etym: [OF. vendue, from F. vendre, p. p. vendu, vendue, to sell.]

Defn: A public sale of anything, by outcry, to the highest bidder; an auction. [Obsoles.] Vendue master, one who is authorized to sell any property by vendue; an auctioneer. [Obsoles.]

VENEER Ve*neer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veneered; p. pr. & vb. n. Veneering.] Etym: [G. furnieren, fourniren, fr. F. fournir to furnish. See Furnish.]

Defn: To overlay or plate with a thin layer of wood or other material for outer finish or decoration; as, to veneer a piece of furniture with mahogany. Used also figuratively. As a rogue in grain Veneered with sanctimonious theory. Tennyson.

VENEER Ve*neer", n. Etym: [Cf. G. furnier or fournier. See Veneer, v. t.]

Defn: A thin leaf or layer of a more valuable or beautiful material for overlaying an inferior one, especially such a thin leaf of wood to be glued to a cheaper wood; hence, external show; gloss; false pretense. Veneer moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Chilo; -- so called because the mottled colors resemble those of veneering.

VENEERING Ve*neer"ing, n.

1. The act or art of one who veneers.

2. Thin wood or other material used as a veneer.

VENEFICAL Ve*nef"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. veneficus.]

Defn: Veneficial. [Obs.] "Venefical instruments." B. Jonson.

VENEFICE Ven"e*fice, n. Etym: [L. veneficium, fr. veneficus poisoning; venenum poison + facere to make: cf. F. vénéfice.]

Defn: The act or practice of poisoning. [Obs.]

VENEFICIAL; VENEFICIOUS Ven`e*fi"cial, Ven`e*fi"cious, a.

Defn: Acting by poison; used in poisoning or in sorcery. [Obs.] "An old veneficious practice." Sir T. Browne. -- Ven`e*fi"cious*ly, adv. [Obs.]

VENEMOUS Ven"e*mous, a.

Defn: Venomous. [Obs.]

VENENATE Ven"e*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. veneatus, p. p. venenare to poison, from venenum poison. Cf. Venom.]

Defn: To poison; to infect with poison. [R.] Harvey.

VENENATE Ven"e*nate, a.

Defn: Poisoned. Woodward.

VENENATION Ven`en*na"tion, n.

1. The act of poisoning.

2. Poison; venom. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

VENENE Ve*nene", a.

Defn: Poisonous; venomous. [Obs.]

VENENOSE Ven"e*nose`, a. Etym: [L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. Cf. Venomous.]

Defn: Poisonous. [Obs.]

VENERABILITY Ven`er*a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being venerable; venerableness. Dr. H. More.

VENERABLE Ven"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. venerabilis: cf. F. vénérable.]

1. Capable of being venerated; worthy of veneration or reverence; deserving of honor and respect; -- generally implying an advanced age; as, a venerable magistrate; a venerable parent. He was a man of eternal self-sacrifice, and that is always venerable. De Quincey. Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former generation. D. Webster.

2. Rendered sacred by religious or other associations; that should be regarded with awe and treated with reverence; as, the venerable walls of a temple or a church.

Note: This word is employed in the Church of England as a title for an archdeacon. In the Roman Catholic Church, venerable is applied to those who have attained to the lowest of the three recognized degrees of sanctity, but are not among the beatified, nor the canonized. -- Ven"er*a*ble*ness, n. -- Ven"er*a*bly, adv.

VENERACEA Ven`e*ra"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Venus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive tribe of bivalve mollusks of which the genus Venus is the type. The shells are usually oval, or somewhat heartshaped, with a conspicuous lunule. See Venus.

VENERATE Ven"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Venerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Venerating.] Etym: [L. veneratus, p. p. of venerari to venerate; akin to Venus Venus, Skr. van to like, to wish, and E. winsome. See Winsome.]

Defn: To regard with reverential respect; to honor with mingled respect and awe; to reverence; to revere; as, we venerate parents and elders. And seemed to venerate the sacred shade. Dryden. I do not know a man more to be venerated for uprightness of heart and loftiness of genius. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To reverence; revere; adore; respect.

VENERATION Ven`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. veneratio: cf. F. vénération.]

Defn: The act of venerating, or the state of being venerated; the highest degree of respect and reverence; respect mingled with awe; a feeling or sentimental excited by the dignity, wisdom, or superiority of a person, by sacredness of character, by consecration to sacred services, or by hallowed associations. We find a secret awe and veneration for one who moves about us in regular and illustrious course of virtue. Addison.

Syn. -- Awe; reverence; respect. See Reverence.

VENERATOR Ven"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who venerates. Jer. Taylor

VENEREAL Ve*ne"re*al, a. Etym: [L. venereus, venerius, fr. Venus, Veneris, Venus, the goddess of love. See Venerate.]

1. Of or pertaining to venery, or sexual love; relating to sexual intercourse. Into the snare I fell Of fair, fallacious looks, venereal trains, Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life. Milton.

2. (Med.) (a) Arising from sexual intercourse; as, a venereal disease; venereal virus or poison. (b) Adapted to the cure of venereal diseases; as, venereal medicines.

3. Adapted to excite venereal desire; aphrodisiac.

4. Consisting of, or pertaining to, copper, formerly called by chemists Venus. [Obs.] Boyle.

VENEREAL Ve*ne"re*al, n. (Med.)

Defn: The venereal disease; syphilis.

VENEREAN Ve*ne"re*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. vénérien.]

Defn: Devoted to the offices of Venus, or love; venereal. [Obs.] "I am all venerean in feeling." Chaucer.

VENEREOUS Ve*ne"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. venereus.]

1. Venereal; exciting lust; aphrodisiac. [Obs.]

2. Lustful; lascivious; libidinous. [R.] Derham.

VENEROUS Ven"er*ous, a.

Defn: Venereous. [Obs.] Burton.

VENERY Ven"er*y, n. Etym: [L. Venus, Veneris, the goddess of love.]

Defn: Sexual love; sexual intercourse; coition. Contentment, without the pleasure of lawful venery, is continence; of unlawful, chastity. Grew.

VENERY Ven"er*y, n. Etym: [OE. venerie, F. vénerie, fr. OF. vener to hunt, L. venari. See Venison.]

Defn: The art, act, or practice of hunting; the sports of the chase. "Beasts of venery and fishes." Sir T. Browne. I love hunting and venery. Chaucer.

VENESECTION Ve`ne*sec"tion, n. Etym: [NL. venaesectio; L. vena vein + sectio section.] (Med.)

Defn: The act or operation of opening a vein for letting blood; bloodletting; phlebotomy.

VENETIAN Ve*ne"tian, a. Etym: [Cf. It. Veneziano, L. Venetianus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Venice in Italy. Venetian blind, a blind for windows, doors, etc., made of thin slats, either fixed at a certain angle in the shutter, or movable, and in the latter case so disposed as to overlap each other when close, and to show a series of open spaces for the admission of air and light when in other positions. -- Venetian carpet, an inexpensive carpet, used for passages and stairs, having a woolen warp which conceals the weft; the pattern is therefore commonly made up of simple stripes. -- Venetian chalk, a white compact or steatite, used for marking on cloth, etc. -- Venetian door (Arch.), a door having long, narrow windows or panes of glass on the sides. -- Venetian glass, a kind of glass made by the Venetians, for decorative purposes, by the combination of pieces of glass of different colors fused together and wrought into various ornamental patterns. -- Venetian red, a brownish red color, prepared from sulphate of iron; -- called also scarlet ocher. -- Venetian soap. See Castile soap, under Soap. -- Venetian sumac (Bot.), a South European tree (Rhus Cotinus) which yields the yellow dyewood called fustet; -- also called smoke tree. -- Venetian window (Arch.), a window consisting of a main window with an arched head, having on each side a long and narrow window with a square head.

VENETIAN Ve*ne"tian, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Venice.

VENEW Ven"ew, n. Etym: [F. venue, lit., an arrival, from venir, p. p. venu, venue, to come. See Venue.]

Defn: A bout, or turn, as at fencing; a thrust; a hit; a veney. [Obs.] Fuller.

VENEY Ven"ey, n. Etym: [Cf. Venew or Visne.]

Defn: A bout; a thrust; a venew. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. Three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes. Shak.

VENGE Venge, v. t. Etym: [F. venger. See Vengeance.]

Defn: To avenge; to punish; to revenge. [Obs.] See Avenge, and Revenge. Chaucer. "To venge me, as I may." Shak.

VENGEABLE Venge"a*ble, a.

Defn: Revengeful; deserving revenge. [Obs.] Spenser. -- Venge"a*bly, adv. [Obs.]

VENGEANCE Venge"ance, n. Etym: [F. vengeance, fr. venger to avenge, L. vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge, fr. vindex a claimant, defender, avenger, the first part of which is of uncertain origin, and the last part akin to dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Avenge, Revenge, Vindicate.]

1. Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an offense; retribution; -- often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge. To me belongeth vengeance and recompense. Deut. xxxii. 35. To execute fierce vengeance on his foes. Milton.

2. Harm; mischief. [Obs.] Shak. What a vengeance, or What the vengeance, what! -- emphatically. [Obs.] "But what a vengeance makes thee fly!" Hudibras. "What the vengeance! Could he not speak 'em fair" Shak. -- With a vengeance, with great violence; as, to strike with a vengeance. [Colloq.]

VENGEANCELY Venge"ance*ly, adv.

Defn: Extremely; excessively. [Obs.] "He loves that vengeancely." Beau. & Fl.

VENGEFUL Venge"ful, a.

Defn: Vindictive; retributive; revengeful. "Vengeful ire." Milton. -- Venge"ful*ly, adv.

VENGEMENT Venge"ment, n. Etym: [OF. vengement.]

Defn: Avengement; penal retribution; vengeance. [Obs.] Spenser.

VENGER Ven"ger, n.

Defn: An avenger. [Obs.] Spenser.

VENIABLE Ve"ni*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. veniabilis, fr. venia forgiveness, pardon.]

Defn: Venial; pardonable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. -- Ve"ni*a*bly, adv. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

VENIAL Ve"ni*al, a. Etym: [OF. venial, F. véniel, L. venialis, from venia forgiveness, pardon, grace, favor, kindness; akin to venerari to venerate. See Venerate.]

1. Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable; pardonable; as, a venial fault or transgression. So they do nothing, 't is a venial slip. Shak.

2. Allowed; permitted. [Obs.] "Permitting him the while venial discourse unblamed." Milton. Venial sin (R. C. Theol.), a sin which weakens, but does not wholly destroy, sanctifying grace, as do mortal, or deadly, sins. -- Ve"ni*al*ly, adv. -- Ve"ni*al*ness, n. Bp. Hall.

VENIALITY Ve`ni*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being venial; venialness. Jer. Taylor.

VENIN Ven"in, n. [L. venenum poison.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A toxic substance contained in the venom of poisonous snakes; also, a (supposedly identical) toxic substance obtained by the cleavage of an albumose.

VENIRE FACIAS Ve*ni"re fa"ci*as. Etym: [L., make, or cause, to come.] (Law) (a) A judicial writ or precept directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause a certain number of qualified persons to appear in court at a specified time, to serve as jurors in said court. (b) A writ in the nature of a summons to cause the party indicted on a penal statute to appear. Called also venire.

VENISON Ven"i*son, n. Etym: [OE. veneison, veneson, venison, OF. veneison, F. venaison, L. venatio hunting, the chase, game, fr. venari, p. p. venatus, to hunt; perhaps akin to OHG. weidin, weidenen, to pasture, to hunt, G. weide pasturage. Cf. Gain to acquire, Venation.]

1. Beasts of the chase. [Obs.] Fabyan.

2. Formerly, the flesh of any of the edible beasts of the chase, also of game birds; now, the flesh of animals of the deer kind exclusively.

VENITE Ve*ni"te, n. Etym: [L., come, imperative 2d person pl. So called from its opening word in the Latin version.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The 95th Psalm, which is said or sung regularly in the public worship of many churches. Also, a musical composition adapted to this Psalm.

VENOM Ven"om, n. Etym: [OE. venim, OF. venim, F. venin, L. veneum. Cf. Venenate.]

1. Matter fatal or injurious to life; poison; particularly, the poisonous, the poisonous matter which certain animals, such as serpents, scorpions, bees, etc., secrete in a state of health, and communicate by thing or stinging. Or hurtful worm with cankered venom bites. Milton.

2. Spite; malice; malignity; evil quality. Chaucer. "The venom of such looks." Shak.

Syn. -- Venom; virus; bane. See Poison.

VENOM Ven"om, v. t. Etym: [OE. venimen, OF. venimer, L. venenare. See Venom, n.]

Defn: To infect with venom; to envenom; to poison. [R.] "Venomed vengeance." Shak.

VENOMOUS Ven"om*ous, a. Etym: [OE. venemous, venimous, F. venimeux, L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. See Venom, and cf. Venenose.]

1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous; as, the bite of a serpent may be venomous.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion of venom, as certain serpents and insects.

3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a venomous progeny; a venomous writer. Venomous snake (Zoöl.), any serpent which has poison glands and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or Solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or Proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary maxillary teeth behind them. -- Ven"om*ous*ly, adv. -- Ven"om*ous*ness, n.

VENOSE Ve*nose", a. Etym: [See Venous.]

Defn: Having numerous or conspicuous veins; veiny; as, a venose frond.

VENOSITY Ve*nos"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or state of being venous.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A condition in which the circulation is retarded, and the entire mass of blood is less oxygenated than it normally is.

VENOUS Ven"ous, a. Etym: [L. venosus, from vena a vein. See Vein.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a vein or veins; as, the venous circulation of the blood.

2. Contained in the veins, or having the same qualities as if contained in the veins, that is, having a dark bluish color and containing an insufficient amount of oxygen so as no longer to be fit for oxygenating the tissues; -- said of the blood, and opposed to arterial.

3. Marked with veins; veined; as, a venous leaf. Venous leaf (Bot.), a leaf having vessels branching, or variously divided, over its surface. -- Venous hum (Med.), a humming sound, or bruit, heard during auscultation of the veins of the neck in anæmia. -- Venous pulse (Physiol.), the pulse, or rhythmic contraction, sometimes seen in a vein, as in the neck, when there is an obstruction to the passage of blood from the auricles to the ventricles, or when there is an abnormal rigidity in the walls of the greater vessels. There is normally no pulse in a vein.

VENT Vent, n. Etym: [F. vente, fr. L. vendere, -itum, to sell; perh. confused with E. vent an opening. See Vend.]

Defn: Sale; opportunity to sell; market. [Obs.] Shelton. There is no vent for any commodity but of wool. Sir W. Temple.

VENT Vent, v. t.

Defn: To sell; to vend. [Obs.] Therefore did those nations vent such spice. Sir W. Raleigh.

VENT Vent, n. Etym: [Sp. venta a poor inn, sale, market. See Vent sale.]

Defn: A baiting place; an inn. [Obs.]

VENT Vent, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. venter to blow, vent wind (see Ventilate); but prob influenced by E. vent an opening.]

Defn: To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort. [Obs.] Spenser.

VENT Vent, n. Etym: [OE. fent, fente, a slit, F. fente a slit, cleft, fissure, from fendre to split, L. findere; but probably confused with F. vent wind, L. ventus. See Fissure, and cf. Vent to snuff.]

1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to escape; as, the vent of a cask; the vent of a mold; a volcanic vent. Look, how thy wounds do bleed at many vents. Shak. Long't was doubtful, both so closely pent, Which first should issue from the narrow vent. Pope.

2. Specifically: --(a) (Zoöl.)

Defn: The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes. (b) (Gun.) The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole. (c) (Steam Boilers) Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet.

3. Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet.

4. Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance. Without the vent of words. Milton. Thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel. Shak. To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth; as, to give vent to anger. -- To take vent, to escape; to be made public. [R.] -- Vent feather (Zoöl.), one of the anal, or crissal, feathers of a bird. -- Vent field (Gun.), a flat raised surface around a vent. -- Vent piece. (Gun.) (a) A bush. See 4th Bush, n, 2. (b) A breech block.

VENT Vent, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vented; p. pr. & vb. n. Venting.]

1. To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet to.

2. To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint. The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent. Dryden.

3. To utter; to report; to publish. [Obs.] By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies. Milton. Thou hast framed and vented very curious orations. Barrow.

4. To scent, as a hound. [Obs.] Turbervile.

5. To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as, to vent. a mold.

VENTAGE Vent"age, n.

Defn: A small hole, as the stop in a flute; a vent. Shak.

VENTAIL Vent"ail, n. Etym: [OF. ventaille, F. ventail. See Ventilate, and cf. Aventail.]

Defn: That part of a helmet which is intended for the admission of air, -- sometimes in the visor. Spenser. Her ventail up so high that he descried Her goodly visage and her beauty's pride. Fairfax.

VENTER Vent"er, n.

Defn: One who vents; one who utters, reports, or publishes. [R.] Barrow.

VENTER Vent"er, n. Etym: [L.]

1. (Anat.) (a) The belly; the abdomen; -- sometimes applied to any large cavity containing viscera. (b) The uterus, or womb. (c) A belly, or protuberant part; a broad surface; as, the venter of a muscle; the venter, or anterior surface, of the scapula.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lower part of the abdomen in insects.

3. (Rom. & O. E. Law)

Defn: A pregnant woman; a mother; as, A has a son B by one venter, and a daughter C by another venter; children by different venters.

VENTHOLE Vent"hole, n.

Defn: A touchhole; a vent.

VENTIDUCT Ven"ti*duct, n. Etym: [L. ventus wind + ductus a leading, conduit, fr. ducere, ductum, to lead.]

Defn: A passage for wind or air; a passage or pipe for ventilating apartments. Gwilt.

VENTILATE Ven"ti*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ventilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ventilating.] Etym: [L. ventilatus, p. p. of ventilare to toss, brandish in the air, to fan, to winnow, from ventus wind; akin to E. wind. See Wind rushing air.]

1. To open and expose to the free passage of air; to supply with fresh air, and remove impure air from; to air; as, to ventilate a room; to ventilate a cellar; to ventilate a mine.

2. To provide with a vent, or escape, for air, gas, etc.; as, to ventilate a mold, or a water-wheel bucket.

3. To change or renew, as the air of a room. Harvey.

4. To winnow; to fan; as, to ventilate wheat.

5. To sift and examine; to bring out, and subject to penetrating scrutiny; to expose to examination and discussion; as, to ventilate questions of policy. Ayliffe.

6. To give vent; to utter; to make public. Macaulay took occasion to ventilate one of those starling, but not very profound, paradoxes. J. C. Shairp.

VENTILATION Ven`ti*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ventilatio: cf. F. ventilation.]

1. The act of ventilating, or the state of being ventilated; the art or process of replacing foul air by that which is pure, in any inclosed place, as a house, a church, a mine, etc.; free exposure to air. Insuring, for the laboring man, better ventilation. F. W. Robertson.

2. The act of refrigerating, or cooling; refrigeration; as, ventilation of the blood. [Obs.] Harvey.

3. The act of fanning, or winnowing, for the purpose of separating chaff and dust from the grain.

4. The act of sifting, and bringing out to view or examination; free discussion; public exposure. The ventilation of these points diffused them to the knowledge of the world. Bp. Hall.

5. The act of giving vent or expression. "Ventilation of his thoughts." Sir H. Wotton.

VENTILATIVE Ven"ti*la*tive, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to ventilation; adapted to secure ventilation; ventilating; as, ventilative apparatus.

VENTILATOR Ven"ti*la`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ventilateur, L. ventilator a winnower.]

Defn: A contrivance for effecting ventilation; especially, a contrivance or machine for drawing off or expelling foul or stagnant air from any place or apartment, or for introducing that which is fresh and pure.

VENTOSE Ven*tose", n.

Defn: A ventouse. [Obs.] Holland.

VENTOSE Ven*tose", a. Etym: [L. ventosus windy. See Ventilate.]

Defn: Windy; flatulent. Richardson (Dict.).

VENTOSE Ven`tose", n. Etym: [F. ventôse. See Ventose, a.]

Defn: The sixth month of the calendar adopted by the first French republic. It began February 19, and ended March 20. See Vend.

VENTOSITY Ven*tos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. ventositas: cf. F. ventosité. See Ventose, n.]

Defn: Quality or state of being ventose; windiness; hence, vainglory; pride. Bacon.

VENTOUSE Ven"touse, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A cupping glass. [Obs.] Chaucer.

VENTOUSE Ven"touse, v. t. & i.

Defn: To cup; to use a cupping glass. [Obs.] [Written also ventuse.] Chaucer.

VENTRAD Ven"trad, adv. Etym: [L. venter belly + ad to.] (Anat.)

Defn: Toward the ventral side; on the ventral side; ventrally; -- opposed to dorsad.

VENTRAL Ven"tral, a. Etym: [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly; perhaps akin to G. wanst: cf. F. ventral.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or ventral side, of an animal or of one of its parts; hemal; abdominal; as, the ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root of a spinal nerve; -- opposed to Ant: dorsal.

2. (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal, etc., which faces toward the center of a flower. (b) Of or pertaining to the lower side or surface of a creeping moss or other low flowerless plant. Opposed to Ant: dorsal. Ventral fins (Zoöl.), the posterior pair of fins of a fish. They are often situated beneath the belly, but sometimes beneath the throat. -- Ventral segment. (Acoustics) See Loop, n., 5.

VENTRICLE Ven"tri*cle, n. Etym: [L. ventriculus the stomach, a ventricle, dim. of venter the belly: cf. F. ventricule. See Ventral.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A cavity, or one of the cavities, of an organ, as of the larynx or the brain; specifically, the posterior chamber, or one of the two posterior chambers, of the heart, which receives the blood from the auricle and forces it out from the heart. See Heart.

Note: The principal ventricles of the brain are the fourth in the medulla, the third in the midbrain, the first and second, or lateral, ventricles in the cerebral hemispheres, all of which are connected with each other, and the fifth, or pseudoc, situated between the hemispheres, in front of, or above, the fornix, and entirely disconnected with the other cavities. See Brain, and C.

2. The stomach. [Obs.] Whether I will or not, while I live, my heart beats, and my ventricle digests what is in it. Sir M. Hale.

3. Fig.: Any cavity, or hollow place, in which any function may be conceived of as operating. These [ideas] are begot on the ventricle of memory. Shak.

VENTRICOSE; VENTRICOUS Ven"tri*cose`, Ven"tri*cous, a. Etym: [NL. ventricosus, fr. L. venter belly.] (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Swelling out on one side or unequally; bellied; ventricular; as, a ventricose corolla. Ventricose shell. (Zoöl.) (a) A spiral shell having the body whorls rounded or swollen in the middle. (b) A bivalve shell in which the valves are strongly convex.

VENTRICULAR Ven*tric"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ventriculaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a ventricle; bellied.

VENTRICULITE Ven*tric"u*lite, n. Etym: [See Ventriculus.] (Paleon.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of siliceous fossil sponges belonging to Ventriculites and allied genera, characteristic of the Cretaceous period.

Note: Many of them were shaped like vases, others like mushrooms. They belong to the hexactinellids, and are allied to the Venus's basket of modern seas.

VENTRICULOUS Ven*tric"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. ventriculosus of the belly.]

Defn: Somewhat distended in the middle; ventricular.