Chapter V: Hook (2)

VIM Vim, n. Etym: [L., accusative of vis strength.]

Defn: Power; force; energy; spirit; activity; vigor. [Colloq.]

VIMEN Vi"men, n. Etym: [L., a twig.] (Bot.)

Defn: A long, slender, flexible shoot or branch.

VIMINAL Vim"i*nal, a. Etym: [L. viminalis pertaining to osiers, fr. vimen a pliant twig, osier.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to twigs; consisting of twigs; producing twigs.

VIMINEOUS Vi*min"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. vimineus, fr. vimen pliant twig.]

1. Of or pertaining to twigs; made of pliant twigs. "In the hive's vimineous dome." Prior.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Producing long, slender twigs or shoots.

VINACEOUS Vi*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. vinaceus. See Vine.]

1. Belonging to, or like, wine or grapes.

2. Of the color of wine, especially of red wine.

VINAIGRETTE Vin`ai*grette", n. Etym: [F., fr. vinaigre vinegar.]

1. (Cookery)

Defn: A sauce, made of vinegar, oil, and other ingredients, -- used esp. for cold meats.

2. A small perforated box for holding aromatic vinegar contained in a sponge, or a smelling bottle for smelling salts; -- called also vinegarette.

3. A small, two-wheeled vehicle, like a Bath chair, to be drawn or pushed by a boy or man. [R.]

VINAIGROUS Vin"ai*grous, a. Etym: [F. vinaigre vinegar.]

1. Resembling vinegar; sour.

2. Fig.: Unamiable; morose. Carlyle.

VINASSE Vi*nasse", n. Etym: [F.] (Chem.)

Defn: The waste liquor remaining in the process of making beet sugar, -- used in the manufacture of potassium carbonate.

VINATICO Vi*nat"i*co, n. Etym: [Pg. vinhatico.]

Defn: Madeira mahogany; the coarse, dark-colored wood of the Persea Indica.

VINCENTIAN Vin*cen"tian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Saint Vincent de Paul, or founded by him. [R.]

VINCENTIAN Vin*cen"tian, n. (R. C. Ch.) (a) Same as Lazarist. (b) A member of certain charitable sisterhoods.

VINCETOXIN Vin`ce*tox"in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside extracted from the root of the white swallowwort (Vincetoxicum officinale, a plant of the Asclepias family) as a bitter yellow amorphous substance; -- called also asclepiadin, and cynanchin.

VINCIBILITY Vin`ci*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vincible, vincibleness.

VINCIBLE Vin"ci*ble, a. Etym: [L. vincibilis, fr. vincere to vanquish, conquer: cf. F. vincible. See Victor.]

Defn: Capable of being overcome or subdued; conquerable. "He, not vincible in spirit . . . drew his sword." Hayward. "Vincible by human aid." Paley. Vincible ignorance (Theol.), ignorance within the individual's control and for which, therefore, he is responsible before God.

VINCIBLENESS Vin"ci*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vincible.

VINCTURE Vinc"ture, n. Etym: [L. vinctura, fr. vincire, vinctum, to bind.]

Defn: A binding. [Obs.]

VINCULUM Vin"cu*lum, n.; pl. L. Vincula, E. Vinculums. Etym: [L., from vincire, vinctum, to bind.]

1. A bond of union; a tie.

2. (Math.)

Defn: A straight, horizontal mark placed over two or more members of a compound quantity, which are to be subjected to the same operation, as in the expression x2 + y2 - x + y.

3. (Anat.)

Defn: A band or bundle of fibers; a frænum.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A commissure uniting the two main tendons in the foot of certain birds.

VINDEMIAL Vin*de"mi*al, a. Etym: [L. vindemialis, fr. vindemia a vintage. See Vintage.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a vintage, or grape harvest. [R.]

VINDEMIATE Vin*de"mi*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. vindemiare. See Vindemial.]

Defn: To gather the vintage. [Obs.] Evelyn.

VINDEMIATION Vin*de`mi*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. vindemiatio.]

Defn: The operation of gathering grapes. [Obs.] Bailey.

VINDICABLE Vin"di*ca*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being vindicated. -- Vin`di*ca*bil"i*ty, n.

VINDICATE Vin"di*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vindicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vindicating.] Etym: [L. vindicatus, p. p. of vindicare to lay claim to, defend, avenge. See Vengeance.]

1. To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim. [R.] Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain The birds of heaven shall vindicate their grain. Pope.

2. To maintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid; to assert convincingly; to sustain against assault; as, to vindicate a right, claim, or title.

3. To support or maintain as true or correct, against denial, censure, or objections; to defend; to justify. When the respondent denies any proposition, the opponent must directly vindicate . . . that proposition. I. Watts. Laugh where we must, be candid where we can, But vindicate the ways of God to man. Pope.

4. To maintain, as a law or a cause, by overthrowing enemies. Milton.

5. To liberate; to set free; to deliver. [Obs.] I am confident he deserves much more That vindicates his country from a tyrant Than he that saves a citizen. Massinger.

6. To avenge; to punish; as, a war to vindicate or punish infidelity. [Obs.] Bacon. God is more powerful to exact subjection and to vindicate rebellion. Bp. Pearson.

Syn. -- To assert; maintain; claim. See Assert.

VINDICATION Vin`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. vindicatio a laying claim, defense, vindication. See Vindicate.]

1. The act of vindicating, or the state of being vindicated; defense; justification against denial or censure; as, the vindication of opinions; his vindication is complete. Occasion for the vindication of this passage in my book. Locke.

2. (Civil Law)

Defn: The claiming a thing as one's own; the asserting of a right or title in, or to, a thing. Burrill.

VINDICATIVE Vin"di*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. vindicatif. Cf. Vindictive.]

1. Tending to vindicate; vindicating; as, a vindicative policy.

2. Revengeful; vindictive. [Obs.] Vindicative persons live the life of witches, who, as they are mischievous, so end they infortunate. Bacon. -- Vin"di*ca*tive*ness, n.

VINDICATOR Vin"di*ca`tor, n. Etym: [LL., an avenger.]

Defn: One who vindicates; one who justifies or maintains. Locke.

VINDICATORY Vin"di*ca*to*ry, a.

1. Tending or serving to vindicate or justify; justificatory; vindicative.

2. Inflicting punishment; avenging; punitory. The afflictions of Job were no vindicatory punishments to take vengeance of his sins. Abp. Bramhall.

VINDICTIVE Vin*dic"tive, a. Etym: [For vindicative, confused with L. vindicta revenge, punishment, fr. vindicare to vindicate. Cf. Vindicative.]

1. Disposed to revenge; prompted or characterized by revenge; revengeful. I am vindictive enough to repel force by force. Dryden.

2. Punitive. [Obs.] Vindictive damages. (Law) See under Damage, n. -- Vin*dic"tive*ly, adv. -- Vin*dic"tive*ness, n.

VINE Vine, n. Etym: [F. vigne, L. vinea a vineyard, vine from vineus of or belonging to wine, vinum wine, grapes. See Wine, and cf. Vignette.] (Bot.) (a) Any woody climbing plant which bears grapes. (b) Hence, a climbing or trailing plant; the long, slender stem of any plant that trails on the ground, or climbs by winding round a fixed object, or by seizing anything with its tendrils, or claspers; a creeper; as, the hop vine; the bean vine; the vines of melons, squashes, pumpkins, and other cucurbitaceous plants. There shall be no grapes on the vine. Jer. viii. 13. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds. 2 Kings iv. 89. Vine apple (Bot.), a small kind of squash. Roger Williams. -- Vine beetle (Zoöl.), any one of several species of beetles which are injurious to the leaves or branches of the grapevine. Among the more important species are the grapevine fidia (see Fidia), the spotted Pelidnota (see Rutilian), the vine fleabeetle (Graptodera chalybea), the rose beetle (see under Rose), the vine weevil, and several species of Colaspis and Anomala. -- Vine borer. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of beetles whose larvæ bore in the wood or pith of the grapevine, especially Sinoxylon basilare, a small species the larva of which bores in the stems, and Ampeloglypter sesostris, a small reddish brown weevil (called also vine weevil), which produces knotlike galls on the branches. (b) A clearwing moth (Ægeria polistiformis), whose larva bores in the roots of the grapevine and is often destructive. -- Vine dragon, an old and fruitless branch of a vine. [Obs.] Holland. -- Vine forester (Zoöl.), any one of several species of moths belonging to Alypia and allied genera, whose larvæ feed on the leaves of the grapevine. -- Vine fretter (Zoöl.), a plant louse, esp. the phylloxera that injuries the grapevine. -- Vine grub (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of insect larvæ that are injurious to the grapevine. -- Vine hopper (Zoöl.), any one of several species of leaf hoppers which suck the sap of the grapevine, especially Erythroneura vitis. See Illust. of Grape hopper, under Grape. -- Vine inchworm (Zoöl.), the larva of any species of geometrid moths which feed on the leaves of the grapevine, especially Cidaria diversilineata. -- Vine-leaf rooer (Zoöl.), a small moth (Desmia maculalis) whose larva makes a nest by rolling up the leaves of the grapevine. The moth is brownish black, spotted with white. -- Vine louse (Zoöl.), the phylloxera. -- Vine mildew (Bot.), a fungous growth which forms a white, delicate, cottony layer upon the leaves, young shoots, and fruit of the vine, causing brown spots upon the green parts, and finally a hardening and destruction of the vitality of the surface. The plant has been called Oidium Tuckeri, but is now thought to be the conidia- producing stage of an Erysiphe. -- Vine of Sodom (Bot.), a plant named in the Bible (Deut. xxxii. 32), now thought to be identical with the apple of Sodom. See Apple of Sodom, under Apple. -- Vine sawfly (Zoöl.), a small black sawfiy (Selandria vitis) whose larva feeds upon the leaves of the grapevine. The larvæ stand side by side in clusters while feeding. -- Vine slug (Zoöl.), the larva of the vine sawfly. -- Vine sorrel (Bot.), a climbing plant (Cissus acida) related to the grapevine, and having acid leaves. It is found in Florida and the West Indies. -- Vine sphinx (Zoöl.), any one of several species of hawk moths. The larvæ feed on grapevine leaves. -- Vine weevil. (Zoöl.) See Vine borer (a) above, and Wound gall, under Wound.

VINEAL Vi"ne*al, a. Etym: [L. vinealis.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to vines; containing vines. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

VINE-CLAD Vine"-clad`, a.

Defn: Covered with vines.

VINED Vined, a.

Defn: Having leaves like those of the vine; ornamented with vine leaves. "Vined and figured columns." Sir H. Wotton.

VINEDRESSER Vine"dress`er, n.

Defn: One who cultivates, prunes, or cares for, grapevines; a laborer in a vineyard. The sons of the shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. Isa. lxi. 5.

VINEGAR Vin"e*gar, n. Etym: [OE. vinegre, F. vinaigre; vin wine (L. vinum) + aigre sour. See Wine, and Eager, a.]

1. A sour liquid used as a condiment, or as a preservative, and obtained by the spontaneous (acetous) fermentation, or by the artificial oxidation, of wine, cider, beer, or the like.

Note: The characteristic sourness of vinegar is due to acetic acid, of which it contains from three to five per cent. Wine vinegar contains also tartaric acid, citric acid, etc.

2. Hence, anything sour; -- used also metaphorically. Here's the challenge: . . . I warrant there's vinegar and pepper in't. Shak. Aromatic vinegar, strong acetic acid highly flavored with aromatic substances. -- Mother of vinegar. See 4th Mother. -- Radical vinegar, acetic acid. -- Thieves' vinegar. See under Thief. -- Vinegar eel (Zoöl.), a minute nematode worm (Leptodera oxophila, or Anguillula acetiglutinis), commonly found in great numbers in vinegar, sour paste, and other fermenting vegetable substances; -- called also vinegar worm. -- Vinegar lamp (Chem.), a fanciful name of an apparatus designed to oxidize alcohol to acetic acid by means of platinum. -- Vinegar plant. See 4th Mother. -- Vinegar tree (Bot.), the stag-horn sumac (Rhus typhina), whose acid berries have been used to intensify the sourness of vinegar. -- Wood vinegar. See under Wood.

VINEGAR Vin"e*gar, v. t.

Defn: To convert into vinegar; to make like vinegar; to render sour or sharp. [Obs.] Hoping that he hath vinegared his senses As he was bid. B. Jonson.

VINEGARETTE Vin`e*gar*ette", n.

Defn: See Vinaigrette, n., 2.

VINEGAR FLY Vin"e*gar fly.

Defn: Any of several fruit flies, esp. Drosophila ampelopophila, which breed in imperfectly sealed preserves and in pickles.

VINEGARROON Vin`e*gar*roon", n. [Cf. Sp. vinagre vinegar.]

Defn: A whip scorpion, esp. a large Mexican species (Thelyphonus giganteus) popularly supposed to be very venomous; -- from the odor that it emits when alarmed.

VINEGARY Vin"e*gar*y, a.

Defn: Having the nature of vinegar; sour; unamiable.

VINER Vin"er, n.

Defn: A vinedresser. [Obs.]

VINERY Vin"er*y, n.

1. A vineyard. [Obs.] "The vinery of Ramer." Fabyan.

2. A structure, usually inclosed with glass, for rearing and protecting vines; a grapery.

VINETTE Vi*nette", n. Etym: [Cf. Vignette.]

Defn: A sprig or branch. [Archaic] Halliwell.

VINEWED Vin"ewed, a.

Defn: Same as Vinnewed.

VINEYARD Vine"yard, n. Etym: [For OE. winyard, AS. wingeard; influenced by E. vine. See Wine, and Yard an inclosure.]

Defn: An inclosure or yard for grapevines; a plantation of vines producing grapes.

VINEYARDIST Vine"yard*ist, n.

Defn: One who cultivates a vineyard.

VINGT ET UN Vingt` et` un". Etym: [F., twenty and one.]

Defn: A game at cards, played by two or more persons. The fortune of each player depends upon obtaining from the dealer such cards that the sum of their pips, or spots, is twenty-one, or a number near to it.

VINGTUN Vingt`un", n.

Defn: Contraction for Vingt et un.

VINIC Vin"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to wine; as, vinic alcohol.

VINICULTURE Vin"i*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. vinum wine + cultura culture.]

Defn: The cultivation of the vine, esp. for making wine; viticulture.

VINIFICATION Vin`i*fi*ca"tion, n. [L. vinum wine + E. -fication.]

Defn: The conversion of a fruit juice or other saccharine solution into alcohol by fermentation.

VINNEWED Vin"newed, a. Etym: [See Fenowed.]

Defn: Moldy; musty. [Written also vinewed.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] -- Vin"newed*ness, n. [Obs.] Many of Chaucer's words are become, as it were, vinnewed and hoary with over-long lying. F. Beaumont.

VINNY Vin"ny, a.

Defn: Vinnewed. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

VINOLENCY Vin"o*len*cy, n. Etym: [L. vinolentina. See Vinolent.]

Defn: Drunkennes. [Obs.]

VINOLENT Vin"o*lent, a. Etym: [L. vinolentus, fr. vinum wine.]

Defn: Given to wine; drunken; intemperate. [Obs.] Chaucer.

VINOMETER Vin*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. vinum vine + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for determining the strength or purity of wine by measuring its density.

VIN ORDINAIRE Vin` or`di`naire". Etym: [F., lit., common wine.]

Defn: A cheap claret, used as a table wine in France.

VINOSE Vi*nose", a.

Defn: Vinous.

VINOSITY Vi*nos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. vinositas: cf. F. vinosité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being vinous.

VINOUS Vi"nous, a. Etym: [L. vinosus, fr. vinum wine: cf. F. vineux. See Wine.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to wine; having the qualities of wine; as, a vinous taste.

VINQUISH Vin"quish, n. (Far.)

Defn: See Vanquish, n.

VINTAGE Vint"age (; 48), n. Etym: [Corrupted by influence of vintner, vintry, from OE. vindage, vendage, for vendange, OF. vendenge, F. vendange, from L. vindemia; vinum wine, grapes + demere to take off; de + emere, originally, to take. See Wine, Redeem, and cf. Vindemial.]

1. The produce of the vine for one season, in grapes or in wine; as, the vintage is abundant; the vintage of 1840.

2. The act or time of gathering the crop of grapes, or making the wine for a season. Vintage spring, a wine fount. -- Vintage time, the time of gathering grapes and making wine. Milton.

VINTAGER Vint"a*ger, n. Etym: [From Vintage: cf. F. vendangeur.]

Defn: One who gathers the vintage.

VINTAGING Vint"a*ging, n.

Defn: The act of gathering the vintage, or crop of grapes.

VINTNER Vint"ner, n. Etym: [OE. vintener, viniter, OF. vinetier, vinotier, LL. vinetarius, fr. L. vinetum a vineyard, fr. vinum wine. See Wine.]

Defn: One who deals in wine; a wine seller, or wine merchant.

VINTRY Vint"ry, n. Etym: [OE. viniterie, from OF. vinotier, vinetier, wine merchant. See Vintner.]

Defn: A place where wine is sold. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

VINUM Vi"num, n.; pl. Vina (#). [L. See Wine.]

Defn: Wine, --chiefly used in Pharmacy in the name of solutions of some medicinal substance in wine; as: vina medicata, medicated wines; vinum opii, wine of opium.

VINY Vin"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to vines; producing, or abounding in, vines. P. Fletcher.

VINYL Vi"nyl, n. Etym: [L. vinum wine + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical C2H3, regarded as the characteristic residue of ethylene and that related series of unsaturated hydrocarbons with which the allyl compounds are homologous.

VIOL Vi"ol, n. Etym: [F. viole; cf. Pr. viola, viula, Sp., Pg., & It. viola, LL. vitula; of uncertain origin; perhaps from L. vitulari to celebrate a festival, keep holiday, be joyful, perhaps originally, to sacrifice a calf (vitulus; cf. Veal). Cf. Fiddle, Vielle, 2d Viola, Violin.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: A stringed musical instrument formerly in use, of the same form as the violin, but larger, and having six strings, to be struck with a bow, and the neck furnished with frets for stopping the strings. Me softer airs befit, and softer strings Of lute, or viol still, more apt for mournful things. Milton.

Note: The name is now applied as a general term to designate instruments of the violin kind, as tenor viol, bass viol, etc.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A large rope sometimes used in weighing anchor. [Written also voyal, and voyal.] Totten.

VIOLA Vi"o*la, n. Etym: [L., a violet. See Violet.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of polypetalous herbaceous plants, including all kinds of violets.

VIOLA Vi"o*la, n. Etym: [It. See Viol.] (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument in form and use resembling the violin, but larger, and a fifth lower in compass. Viola da braccio Etym: [It., viol for the arm], the tenor viol, or viola, a fifth lower than the violin. Its part is written in the alto clef, hence it is sometimes called the alto. -- Viola da gamba Etym: [It., viol for the leg], an instrument resembling the viola, but larger, and held between the knees. It is now rarely used. -- Viola da spalla Etym: [It., viol for the shoulder], an instrument formerly used, resembling the viola, and intermediate in size between the viola and the viola da gamba. -- Viola di amore Etym: [It., viol of love: cf. F. viole d'amour], a viol, larger than the viola, having catgut strings upon, and brass or steel wires under, the keyboard. These, sounding sympathetically with the strings, yield a peculiarly soft and silvery sound. It is now seldom used.

VIOLABLE Vi"o*la*ble, a. Etym: [L. violabilis: cf. F. violable. See Violate.]

Defn: Capable of being violated, broken, or injured. -- Vi"o*la*bly, adv.

VIOLACEOUS Vi`o*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. violaceus, fr. viola a violet.]

1. Resembling violets in color; bluish purple.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants, of which the violet is the type. It contains about twenty genera and two hundred and fifty species.

VIOLANILINE Vi`o*lan"i*line, n. Etym: [Violet + aniline.] (Chem.)

Defn: A dyestuff of the induline group, made from aniline, and used as a substitute for indigo in dyeing wool and silk a violet-blue or a gray-blue color.

VIOLANTIN Vi`o*lan"tin, n. Etym: [See Violuric.] (Chem.)

Defn: A complex nitrogenous substance, produced as a yellow crystalline substance, and regarded as a complex derivative of barbituric acid.

VIOLAQUERCITRIN Vi`o*la*quer"cit*rin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline glucoside obtained from the pansy (Viola tricolor), and decomposing into glucose and quercitrin.

VIOLASCENT Vi`o*las"cent, a.

Defn: Violescent. [R.]

VIOLATE Vi"o*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Violates; p. pr. & vb. n. Violating.] Etym: [L. violatus, p. p. of violare to violate, fr. vis strength, force. See Violent.]

1. To treat in a violent manner; to abuse. His wife Boadicea violated with stripes, his daughters with rape. Milton.

2. To do violence to, as to anything that should be held sacred or respected; to profane; to desecrate; to break forcibly; to trench upon; to infringe. Violated vows 'Twixt the souls of friend and friend. Shak. Oft have they violated The temple, oft the law, with foul affronts. Milton.

3. To disturb; to interrupt. "Employed, it seems, to violate sleep." Milton.

4. To commit rape on; to ravish; to outrage.

Syn. -- To injure; disturb; interrupt; infringe; transgress; profane; deflour; debauch; dishonor.

VIOLATION Vi`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. violatio: cf. F. violation.]

Defn: The act of violating, treating with violence, or injuring; the state of being violated. Specifically: -- (a) Infringement; transgression; nonobservance; as, the violation of law or positive command, of covenants, promises, etc. "The violation of my faith." Shak. (b) An act of irreverence or desecration; profanation or contemptuous treatment of sacred things; as, the violation of a church. Udall. (c) Interruption, as of sleep or peace; disturbance. (d) Ravishment; rape; outrage. Shak.

VIOLATIVE Vi"o*la*tive, a.

Defn: Violating, or tending to violate.

VIOLATOR Vi"o*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who violates; an infringer; a profaner; a ravisher.

VIOLE Vi"ole, n.

Defn: A vial. [Obs.] Chaucer.

VIOLENCE Vi"o*lence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. violentia. See Violent.]

1. The quality or state of being violent; highly excited action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity; force. That seal You ask with such a violence, the king, Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me. Shak. All the elements At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn With the violence of this conflict. Milton.

2. Injury done to that which is entitled to respect, reverence, or observance; profanation; infringement; unjust force; outrage; assault. Do violence to do man. Luke iii. 14. We can not, without offering violence to all records, divine and human, deny an universal deluge. T. Burnet. Looking down, he saw The whole earth filled with violence. Milton.

3. Ravishment; rape; constupration. To do violence on, to attack; to murder. "She . . . did violence on herself." Shak. -- To do violence to, to outrage; to injure; as, he does violence to his own opinions.

Syn. -- Vehemence; outrage; fierceness; eagerness; violation; infraction; infringement; transgression; oppression.

VIOLENCE Vi"o*lence, v. t.

Defn: To assault; to injure; also, to bring by violence; to compel. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

VIOLENT Vi"o*lent, a. Etym: [F., from L. violentus, from vis strength, force; probably akin to Gr.

1. Moving or acting with physical strength; urged or impelled with force; excited by strong feeling or passion; forcible; vehement; impetuous; fierce; furious; severe; as, a violent blow; the violent attack of a disease. Float upon a wild and violent sea. Shak. A violent cross wind from either coast. Milton.

2. Acting, characterized, or produced by unjust or improper force; outrageous; unauthorized; as, a violent attack on the right of free speech. To bring forth more violent deeds. Milton. Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life. Shak.

3. Produced or effected by force; not spontaneous; unnatural; abnormal. These violent delights have violent ends. Shak. No violent state can be perpetual. T. Burnet. Ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. Milton. Violent presumption (Law), presumption of a fact that arises from proof of circumstances which necessarily attend such facts. -- Violent profits (Scots Law), rents or profits of an estate obtained by a tenant wrongfully holding over after warning. They are recoverable in a process of removing.

Syn. -- Fierce; vehement; outrageous; boisterous; turbulent; impetuous; passionate; severe; extreme.

VIOLENT Vi"o*lent, n.

Defn: An assailant. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

VIOLENT Vi"o*lent, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. violenter.]

Defn: To urge with violence. [Obs.] Fuller.

VIOLENT Vi"o*lent, v. i.

Defn: To be violent; to act violently. [Obs.] The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste, An violenteth in a sense as strong As that which causeth it. Shak.

VIOLENTLY Vi"o*lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a violent manner.

VIOLESCENT Vi`o*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. viola a violet.]

Defn: Tending to a violet color; violascent.

VIOLET Vi"o*let, n. Etym: [F. violette a violet (cf. violet violet-colored), dim. of OF. viole a violet, L. viola; akin to Gr. Iodine.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant or flower of the genus Viola, of many species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while others are white or yellow, or of several colors, as the pansy (Viola tricolor).

Note: The cultivated sweet violet is Viola odorata of Europe. The common blue violet of the eastern United States is V. cucullata; the sand, or bird-foot, violet is V. pedata.

2. The color of a violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the spectrum.

3. In art, a color produced by a combination of red and blue in equal proportions; a bluish purple color. Mollett.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small violet-colored butterflies belonging to Lycæna, or Rusticus, and allied genera.

Corn violet. See under Corn. -- Dame's violet. (Bot.) See Damewort. -- Dogtooth violet. (Bot.) See under Dogtooth. -- Water violet (Bot.), an aquatic European herb (Hottonia palustris) with pale purplish flowers and pinnatifid leaves.

VIOLET Vi"o*let, a. Etym: [Cf. F. violet. See Violet, n.]

Defn: Dark blue, inclining to red; bluish purple; having a color produced by red and blue combined. Violet shell (Zoöl.), any species of Ianthina; -- called also violet snail. See Lanthina. -- Violet wood, a name given to several kinds of hard purplish or reddish woods, as king wood, myall wood, and the wood of the Andira violacea, a tree of Guiana.

VIOLET-EAR Vi"o*let-ear`, n.

Defn: Any tropical humming bird of the genus Petasophora, having violet or purplish ear tufts.

VIOLET-TIP Vi"o*let-tip", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very handsome American butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Its wings are mottled with various shades of red and brown and have violet tips.

VIOLIN Vi`o*lin", n. Etym: [It. violino, dim. of viola. See Viol.] (Mus.)

Defn: A small instrument with four strings, played with a bow; a fiddle.

Note: The violin is distinguished for the brilliancy and gayety, as well as the power and variety, of its tones, and in the orchestra it is the leading and most important instrument.

VIOLINE Vi"o*line, n. (Chem.) (a) A pale yellow amorphous substance of alkaloidal nature and emetic properties, said to have been extracted from the root and foliage of the violet (Viola). (b) Mauve aniline. See under Mauve.

VIOLINIST Vi`o*lin"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. violiniste, violoniste, It. violonista.]

Defn: A player on the violin.

VIOLIST Vi"ol*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. violiste.]

Defn: A player on the viol.

VIOLONCELLIST Vi`o*lon*cel"list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. violoncelliste, It. violoncellista.]

Defn: A player on the violoncello.

VIOLONCELLO Vi`o*lon*cel"lo, n. Etym: [It. violoncello, dim. of violone a bass viol. See Violone.] (Mus.)

Defn: A stringed instrument of music; a bass viol of four strings, or a bass violin with long, large strings, giving sounds an octave lower than the viola, or tenor or alto violin.

VIOLONE Vi`o*lo"ne, n. Etym: [It. violone, augment. of viola a viol. See Viol.] (Mus.)

Defn: The largest instrument of the bass-viol kind, having strings tuned an octave below those of the violoncello; the contrabasso; -- called also double bass. [Written also violono.]

VIOLOUS Vi"o*lous, a.

Defn: Violent. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.

VIOLURIC Vi`o*lu"ric, a. Etym: [Violet + barbituric.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitroso derivative of barbituric acid. It is obtained as a white or yellow crystalline substance, and forms characteristic yellow, blue, and violet salts.

VIPER Vi"per, n. Etym: [F. vipère, L. vipera, probably contr. fr. vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that brings forth living young. Cf. Quick, a., Parent, Viviparous, Wivern, Weever.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous makes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and other genera of the family Viperidæ. There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. Acts xxviii. 3.

Note: Among the best-known species are the European adder (Pelias berus), the European asp (Vipera aspis), the African horned viper (V. cerastes), and the Indian viper (Daboia Russellii).

2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person. Who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secrecy. Milton. Horned viper. (Zoöl.) See Cerastes. -- Red viper (Zoöl.), the copperhead. -- Viper fish (Zoöl.), a small, slender, phosphorescent deep-sea fish (Chauliodus Sloanii). It has long ventral and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth. -- Viper's bugloss (Bot.), a rough-leaved biennial herb (Echium vulgare) having showy purplish blue flowers. It is sometimes cultivated, but has become a pestilent weed in fields from New York to Virginia. Also called blue weed. -- Viper's grass (Bot.), a perennial composite herb (Scorzonera Hispanica) with narrow, entire leaves, and solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white, carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some other countries. Called also viper grass.

VIPERINA Vi`per*i"na, n. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Viperoidea.

VIPERINE Vi"per*ine, a. Etym: [L. viperinus: cf. F. vipérin.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a viper or vipers; resembling a viper. Viperine snake. (Zoöl.) (a) Any venomous snake of the family Viperidæ. (b) A harmless snake resembling a viper in form or color, esp. Tropidonotus viperinus, a small European species which resembles the viper in color.

VIPERISH Vi"per*ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat like a viper; viperous.

VIPEROID Vi"per*oid, a. [Viper + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the vipers.

VIPEROIDEA; VIPEROIDES Vi`per*oi"de*a, Vi`per*oi"des, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Viper, and - oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of serpents which includes the true vipers of the Old World and the rattlesnakes and moccasin snakes of America; -- called also Viperina.

VIPEROUS Vi"per*ous, a.

Defn: Having the qualities of a viper; malignant; venomous; as, a viperous tongue. "This viperous slander." Shak. -- Vi"per*ous*ly, adv.

VIRAGINIAN Vi`ra*gin"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a virago; having the qualities of a virago. Milton.

VIRAGINITY Vi`ra*gin"i*ty, n.

Defn: The qualities or characteristics of a virago.

VIRAGO Vi*ra"go, n.; pl. Viragoes. Etym: [L. virago, -intis, from vir a man. See Virile.]

1. A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a woman who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a female warrior. To arms! to arms! the fierce virago cries. Pope.

2. Hence, a mannish woman; a bold, turbulent woman; a termagant; a vixen. Virago . . . serpent under femininity. Chaucer.

VIRE Vire, n. Etym: [OF. vire, fr. virer to turn. Cf. Veer, Vireton.]

Defn: An arrow, having a rotary motion, formerly used with the crossbow. Cf. Vireton. Gower.

VIRELAY Vir"e*lay, n. Etym: [F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay.]

Defn: An ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain. Of such matter made he many lays, Songs, complains, roundels, virelayes. Chaucer. To which a lady sung a virelay. Dryden.

Note: "The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for some time, the poet was virer, or to turn, to the other." Nares.

VIRENT Vi"rent, a. Etym: [L. virens, p. pr. of virere to be green.]

Defn: Green; not withered. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

VIREO Vir"e*o, n. Etym: [L., a species of bird.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of American singing birds belonging to Vireo and allied genera of the family Vireonidæ. In many of the species the back is greenish, or olive-colored. Called also greenlet.

Note: In the Eastern United States the most common species are the white-eyed vireo (Vireo Noveboracensis), the redeyed vireo (V. olivaceus), the blue-headed, or solitary, vireo (V. solitarius), the warbling vireo (V. gilvus), and the yellow-throated vireo (V. flavifrons). All these are noted for the sweetness of their songs.

VIRESCENCE Vi*res"cence, (Bot.)

Defn: The act or state of becoming green through the formation of chlorophyll.

VIRESCENT Vi*res"cent, a. Etym: [L. virescens, p. pr. of virescere to grow green, verb incho. fr. virere to be green.]

Defn: Beginning to be green; slightly green; greenish.

VIRETON Vir"e*ton, n. Etym: [F. See Vire.]

Defn: An arrow or bolt for a crossbow having feathers or brass placed at an angle with the shaft to make it spin in flying.

VIRGALIEU Vir"ga*lieu, n. Etym: [Cf. Virgouleuse.] (Bot.)

Defn: A valuable kind of pear, of an obovate shape and with melting flesh of delicious flavor; -- more properly called White Doyenné. [Written also virgaloo, vergalieu, vergaloo, etc.]

VIRGATE Vir"gate, a. Etym: [L. virgatus made of twigs, fr. virga a twig, rod. See Verge a rod.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a straight rod; wand-shaped; straight and slender.

VIRGATE Vir"gate, n. Etym: [LL. virgata, virgata terrae, so much land as virga terrae, a land measure, contains, fr. L. virga a twig, rod.]

Defn: A yardland, or measure of land varying from fifteen to forty acres. [Obs.] T. Warton.

VIRGATED Vir"ga*ted, a. Etym: [L. virgatus striped. See Virgate, a.]

Defn: Striped; streaked. [Obs.]

VIRGE Virge, n.

Defn: A wand. See Verge. [Obs.]

VIRGER Vir"ger, n.

Defn: See Verger. [Obs.]

VIRGILIAN Vir*gil"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Virgilianus, better Vergilianus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Virgil, the Roman poet; resembling the style of Virgil. [Spelt also Vergilian.] The rich Virgilian rustic measure Of Lari Maxume. Tennyson.

VIRGIN Vir"gin, n. Etym: [L. virgo, -inis: cf. OF. virgine, virgene, virge, vierge, F. vierge.]

1. A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man; a maid.

2. A person of the male sex who has not known sexual indulgence. [Archaic] Wyclif. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. Rev. xiv. 4. He his flesh hath overcome; He was a virgin, as he said. Gower.

3. (Astron.)

Defn: See Virgo.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of gossamer-winged butterflies of the family Lycænidæ.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect. The Virgin, or The Blessed Virgin, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord. -- Virgin's bower (Bot.), a name given to several climbing plants of the genus Clematis, as C. Vitalba of Europe, and C. Virginiana of North America.

VIRGIN Vir"gin, a.

1. Being a virgin; chaste; of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin; maidenly; modest; indicating modesty; as, a virgin blush. "Virgin shame." Cowley. Innocence and virgin modesty . . . That would be wooed, and unsought be won. Milton.

2. Pure; undefiled; unmixed; fresh; new; as, virgin soil; virgin gold. "Virgin Dutch." G. W. Cable. The white cold virgin snow upon my heart. Shak. A few ounces of mutton, with a little virgin oil. Landor.

3. Not yet pregnant; impregnant. Milton.

VIRGIN Vir"gin, v. i.

Defn: To act the virgin; to be or keep chaste; -- followed by it. See It, 5. [Obs.] "My true lip hath virgined it e'er since [that kiss]." Shak.

VIRGINAL Vir"gin*al, a. Etym: [L. virginalis: cf. F. virginal.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin; maidenly. "Chastity and honor virginal." Spenser. Virginal generation (Biol.), parthenogenesis. -- Virginal membrane (Anat.), the hymen.

VIRGINAL Vir"gin*al, n. Etym: [Cf. F. virginale; -- probably so called from being used by young girls, or virgins.] (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument somewhat resembling the spinet, but having a rectangular form, like the small piano. It had strings and keys, but only one wire to a note. The instrument was used in the sixteenth century, but is now wholly obsolete. It was sometimes called a pair of virginals.

VIRGINAL Vir"gin*al, v. i.

Defn: To play with the fingers, as if on a virginal; to tap or pat. [Obs.] "Still virginaling upon his palm!" Shak.

VIRGINHOOD Vir"gin*hood, n.

Defn: Virginity; maidenhood.

VIRGINIA Vir*gin"i*a, n.

Defn: One of the States of the United States of America. -- a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the State of Virginia. Virginia cowslip (Bot.), the American lungwort (Mertensia Virginica). -- Virginia creeper (Bot.), a common ornamental North American woody vine (Ampelopsis quinquefolia), climbing extensively by means of tendrils; -- called also woodbine, and American ivy. [U.S.] -- Virginia fence. See Worm fence, under Fence. -- Virginia nightingale (Zoöl.), the cardinal bird. See under Cardinal. -- Virginia quail (Zoöl.), the bobwhite. -- Virginia reel, an old English contradance; -- so called in the United States. Bartlett. -- Virginia stock. (Bot.) See Mahon stock.

VIRGINITY Vir*gin"i*ty, n. Etym: [OE. virgintee, F. virginité, L. virginitas.]

1. The quality or state of being a virgin; undefiled purity or chastity; maidenhood.

2. The unmarried life; celibacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

VIRGO Vir"go, n. Etym: [L. virgo a virgin, the constellation Virgo in the zodiac. See Virgin.] (Astron.) (a) A sign of the zodiac which the sun enters about the 21st of August, marked thus [ (b) A constellation of the zodiac, now occupying chiefly the sign Libra, and containing the bright star Spica.

VIRGOULEUSE Vir"gou*leuse, n. Etym: [F. virgouleuse, from the village of Virgoulée, near Limoges.] (Bot.)

Defn: An old French variety of pear, of little value.

VIRGULARIAN Vir`gu*la"ri*an, n. Etym: [From. L. virgula a small rod.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of long, slender Alcyonaria belonging to Virgularia and allied genera of the family Virgularidæ. These corals are allied to the sea-pens, but have a long rodlike rhachis inclosing a slender, round or square, calcareous axis. The polyps are arranged in transverse rows or clusters along each side of the rhachis.

VIRGULATE Vir"gu*late, a.

Defn: Shaped like a little twig or rod.

VIRGULE Vir"gule, n. Etym: [F. virgule, fr. L. virgula, dim. of virga. See Verge a rod.]

Defn: A comma. [R.] In the MSS. of Chaucer, the line is always broken by a cæsura in the middle, which is pointed by a virgule. Hallam.

VIRIAL Vir"i*al, n. Etym: [L. vis, viris, force.] (Physics)

Defn: A certain function relating to a system of forces and their points of application, -- first used by Clausius in the investigation of problems in molecular physics.

VIRID Vir"id, a. Etym: [L. viridis green. See Verdant.]

Defn: Green. [Obs.] The virid marjoram Her sparkling beauty did but see. Crompton.

VIRIDESCENCE Vir`i*des"cence, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being viridescent.

VIRIDESCENT Vir`i*des"cent, a. Etym: [L. viridescens, p. pr. of viridescere to grow green.]

Defn: Slightly green; greenish.

VIRIDINE Vir"i*dine, n. Etym: [L. viridis green.] (Chem.)

Defn: A greenish, oily, nitrogenous hydrocarbon, C12H19N7, obtained from coal tar, and probably consisting of a mixture of several metameric compounds which are higher derivatives of the base pyridine.

VIRIDITE Vir"i*dite, n. Etym: [L. viridis green.] (Min.)

Defn: A greenish chloritic mineral common in certain igneous rocks, as diabase, as a result of alternation.

VIRIDITY Vi*rid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. viriditas, fr. viridis green: cf. F. viridité. See Verdant.]

1. Greenness; verdure; the color of grass and foliage.

2. Freshness; soundness. [Obs.] Evelyn.

VIRIDNESS Vir"id*ness, n.

Defn: Viridity; greenness.

VIRILE Vi"rile, a. Etym: [L. virilis, fr. vir a man; akin to AS. wer: cf. F. viril. See Werewolf, World, and cf. Decemvir, Virago, Virtue.]

Defn: Having the nature, properties, or qualities, of an adult man; characteristic of developed manhood; hence, masterful; forceful; specifically, capable of begetting; -- opposed to womanly, feminine, and puerile; as, virile age, virile power, virile organs.

VIRILITY Vi*ril"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. virilitas: cf. F. virilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being virile; developed manhood; manliness; specif., the power of procreation; as, exhaustion. "Virility of visage." Holland.

VIRIPOTENT Vi*rip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. vir man + potens fit for.]

Defn: Developed in manhood; hence, able to beget; marriageable. [Obs.] Being not of ripe years, not viripotent. Holinshed.

VIRMILION Vir*mil"ion, n.

Defn: See Vermilion. [R.]

VIROLE Vi*role", n. Etym: [F., a ferrule. See Ferrule.] (Her.)

Defn: A ring surrounding a bugle or hunting horn.

VIROLED Vi*roled", a. (Her.)

Defn: Furnished with a virole or viroles; -- said of a horn or a bugle when the rings are of different tincture from the rest of the horn.

VIROSE Vi*rose", a. Etym: [L. virosus. See Virus.]

Defn: Having a nauseous odor; fetid; poisonous. [R.]

VIRTU Vir*tu", n. Etym: [It. virtù virtue, excellence, from L. virtus. See Virtue.]

Defn: A love of the fine arts; a taste for curiosities. J. Spence. An article, or piece, of virtu, an object of art or antiquity; a curiosity, such as those found in museums or private collections. I had thoughts, in my chambers to place it in view, To be shown to my friends as a piece of virtù. Goldsmith.

VIRTUAL Vir"tu*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. virtuel. See Virtue.]

1. Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or sensible part; potential; energizing. Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance. Bacon. Every kind that lives, Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed. Milton.

2. Being in essence or effect, not in fact; as, the virtual presence of a man in his agent or substitute. A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence. Fleming. To mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance. De Quincey. Principle of virtual velocities (Mech.), the law that when several forces are in equilibrium, the algebraic sum of their virtual moments is equal to zero. -- Virtual focus (Opt.), the point from which rays, having been rendered divergent by reflection of refraction, appear to issue; the point at which converging rays would meet if not reflected or refracted before they reach it. -- Virtual image. (Optics) See under Image. -- Virtual moment (of a force) (Mech.), the product of the intensity of the force multiplied by the virtual velocity of its point of application; -- sometimes called virtual work. -- Virtual velocity (Mech.), a minute hypothetical displacement, assumed in analysis to facilitate the investigation of statical problems. With respect to any given force of a number of forces holding a material system in equilibrium, it is the projection, upon the direction of the force, of a line joining its point of application with a new position of that point indefinitely near to the first, to which the point is conceived to have been moved, without disturbing the equilibrium of the system, or the connections of its parts with each other. Strictly speaking, it is not a velocity but a length. -- Virtual work. (Mech.) See Virtual moment, above.

VIRTUALITY Vir`tu*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. virtualité.]

1. The quality or state of being virtual.

2. Potentiality; efficacy; potential existence. [Obs.] In one grain of corn, there lieth dormant a virtuality of many other. Sir T. Browne.

VIRTUALLY Vir"tu*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a virtual manner; in efficacy or effect only, and not actually; to all intents and purposes; practically.

VIRTUATE Vir"tu*ate, v. t.

Defn: To make efficacious; to give virtue of efficacy. [Obs.] Harvey.

VIRTUE Vir"tue, n. Etym: [OE. vertu, F. vertu, L. virtus strength, courage, excellence, virtue, fr. vir a man. See Virile, and cf. Virtu.]

1. Manly strength or courage; bravery; daring; spirit; valor. [Obs.] Shak. Built too strong For force or virtue ever to expugn. Chapman.

2. Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency; efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine. Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about. Mark v. 30. A man was driven to depend for his security against misunderstanding, upon the pure virtue of his syntax. De Quincey. The virtue of his midnight agony. Keble.

3. Energy or influence operating without contact of the material or sensible substance. She moves the body which she doth possess, Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch. Sir. J. Davies.

4. Excellence; value; merit; meritoriousness; worth. I made virtue of necessity. Chaucer. In the Greek poets, . . . the economy of poems is better observed than in Terence, who thought the sole grace and virtue of their fable the sticking in of sentences. B. Jonson.

5. Specifically, moral excellence; integrity of character; purity of soul; performance of duty. Virtue only makes our bliss below. Pope. If there's Power above us, And that there is all nature cries aloud Through all her works, he must delight in virtue. Addison.

6. A particular moral excellence; as, the virtue of temperance, of charity, etc. "The very virtue of compassion." Shak. "Remember all his virtues." Addison.

7. Specifically: Chastity; purity; especially, the chastity of women; virginity. H. I believe the girl has virtue. M. And if she has, I should be the last man in the world to attempt to corrupt it. Goldsmith.

8. pl.

Defn: One of the orders of the celestial hierarchy. Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers. Milton. Cardinal virtues. See under Cardinal, a. -- In, or By, virtue of, through the force of; by authority of. "He used to travel through Greece by virtue of this fable, which procured him reception in all the towns." Addison. "This they shall attain, partly in virtue of the promise made by God, and partly in virtue of piety." Atterbury. -- Theological virtues, the three virtues, faith, hope, and charity. See 1 Cor. xiii. 13.

VIRTUELESS Vir"tue*less, a.

Defn: Destitute of virtue; without efficacy or operating qualities; powerless. Virtueless she wished all herbs and charms. Fairfax.

VIRTUOSITY Vir`tu*os"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or state of being a virtuoso; in a bad sense, the character of one in whom mere artistic feeling or æsthetic cultivation takes the place of religious character; sentimentalism. This famous passage . . . over which the virtuosity of modern times, rejoicing in evil, has hung so fondly. C. Kingsley.

2. Virtuosos, collectively. Carlyle.

3. An art or study affected by virtuosos.

VIRTUOSO Vir`tu*o"so, n.; pl. Virtuosos; It. Virtuosi. Etym: [It. See Virtuous.]

1. One devoted to virtu; one skilled in the fine arts, in antiquities, and the like; a collector or ardent admirer of curiosities, etc. Virtuoso the Italians call a man who loves the noble arts, and is a critic in them. Dryden.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A performer on some instrument, as the violin or the piano, who excels in the technical part of his art; a brilliant concert player.

VIRTUOSOSHIP Vir`tu*o"so*ship, n.

Defn: The condition, pursuits, or occupation of a virtuoso. Bp. Hurd.

VIRTUOUS Vir"tu*ous, a. Etym: [OE. vertuous, OF. vertuos, vertuous, F. vertueux, fr. L. Virtuous. See Virtue, and cf. Virtuoso.]

1. Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: -- (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.] Old Priam's son, amongst them all, was chiefly virtuous. Chapman.

(b) Having power or efficacy; powerfully operative; efficacious; potent. [Obs.] Chaucer. Lifting up his virtuous staff on high, He smote the sea, which calméd was with speed. Spenser. Every virtuous plant and healing herb. Milton.

(c) Having moral excellence; characterized by morality; upright; righteous; pure; as, a virtuous action. The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. Milton.

2. Chaste; pure; -- applied especially to women. Mistress Ford . . . the virtuous creature, that hath the jealous fool to her husband. Shak. -- Vir"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Vir"tu*ous*ness, n.

VIRULENCE; VIRULENCY Vir"u*lence, Vir"u*len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. virulence, L. virulentia an offensive odor, a stench.]

1. The quality or state of being virulent or venomous; poisonousness; malignancy.

2. Extreme bitterness or malignity of disposition. "Refuted without satirical virulency." Barrow. The virulence of one declaimer, or the profundities and sublimities of the other. I. Taylor.

VIRULENT Vir"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. virulentus, fr. virus poison: cf. F. virulent. See Virus.]

1. Extremely poisonous or venomous; very active in doing injury. A contagious disorder rendered more virulent by uncleanness. Sir W. Scott.

2. Very bitter in enmity; actuated by a desire to injure; malignant; as, a virulent invective.

VIRULENTED Vir"u*lent*ed, a.

Defn: Made virulent; poisoned. [Obs.]

VIRULENTLY Vir"u*lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a virulent manner.

VIRUS Vi"rus, n. Etym: [L., a slimy liquid, a poisonous liquid, poison, stench; akin to Gr. visha. Cf. Wizen, v. i.]

1. (Med.) (a) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; -- applied to organic poisons. (b) The special contagion, inappreciable to the senses and acting in exceedingly minute quantities, by which a disease is introduced into the organism and maintained there.

Note: The specific virus of diseases is now regarded as a microscopic living vegetable organism which multiplies within the body, and, either by its own action or by the associated development of a chemical poison, causes the phenomena of the special disease.

2. Fig.: Any morbid corrupting quality in intellectual or moral conditions; something that poisons the mind or the soul; as, the virus of obscene books.

VIS Vis, n.

1. Force; power.

2. (Law) (a) Physical force. (b) Moral power. Principle of vis viva (Mech.), the principle that the difference between the aggregate work of the accelerating forces of a system and that of the retarding forces is equal to one half the vis viva accumulated or lost in the system while the work is being done. -- Vis impressa Etym: [L.] (Mech.), force exerted, as in moving a body, or changing the direction of its motion; impressed force. -- Vis inertiæ. Etym: [L.] (a) The resistance of matter, as when a body at rest is set in motion, or a body in motion is brought to rest, or has its motion changed, either in direction or in velocity. (b) Inertness; inactivity. Vis intertiæ and inertia are not strictly synonymous. The former implies the resistance itself which is given, while the latter implies merely the property by which it is given. -- Vis mortua Etym: [L.] (Mech.), dead force; force doing no active work, but only producing pressure. -- Vis vitæ, or Vis vitalis Etym: [L.] (Physiol.), vital force. -- Vis viva Etym: [L.] (Mech.), living force; the force of a body moving against resistance, or doing work, in distinction from vis mortua, or dead force; the kinetic energy of a moving body; the capacity of a moving body to do work by reason of its being in motion. See Kinetic energy, in the Note under Energy. The term vis viva is not usually understood to include that part of the kinetic energy of the body which is due to the vibrations of its molecules.

VISA Vi"sa, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Vis.

VISA Vi"sa, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Visaed; p. pr. & vb. n. Visaing.]

Defn: To indorse, after examination, with the word visé, as a passport; to visé.

VISAGE Vis"age (; 48), n. Etym: [F. visage, from L. visus a seeing, a look, fr. videre, visum, to see. See Vision.]

Defn: The face, countenance, or look of a person or an animal; -- chiefly applied to the human face. Chaucer. "A visage of demand." Shak. His visage was so marred more than any man. Isa. lii. 14. Love and beauty still that visage grace. Waller.

VISAGE Vis"age (; 48), v. t.

Defn: To face. [Obs.] Chaucer.

VISAGED Vis"aged, a.

Defn: Having a visage. Shak.

VISARD Vis"ard, n.

Defn: A mask. See Visor.

VISARD Vis"ard, v. t.

Defn: To mask.

VIS-A-VIS Vis`-a-vis", n. Etym: [F., opposite, face to face.]

1. One who, or that which, is face to face with another; esp., one who faces another in dancing.

2. A carriage in which two persons sit face to face. Also, a form of sofa with seats for two persons, so arranged that the occupants are face to face while sitting on opposite sides.

VIS-A-VIS Vis`-a-vis", adv.

Defn: Face to face.

VISAYAN Vi*sa"yan, n. [Cf. Sp. Bisayo a Visayan.]

Defn: A member of the most numerous of the native races of the Philippines, occupying the Visayan Islands and the northern coast Mindanao; also, their language. The Visayans possessed a native culture and alphabet.

VISCACHA; VIZ-CACHA Vis*ca"cha, Viz-ca"cha (, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large burrowing South American rodent (Lagostomus trichodactylus) allied to the chinchillas, but much larger. Its fur is soft and rather long, mottled gray above, white or yellowish white beneath. There is a white band across the muzzle, and a dark band on each cheek. It inhabits grassy plains, and is noted for its extensive burrows and for heaping up miscellaneous articles at the mouth of its burrows. Called also biscacha, bizcacha, vischacha, vishatscha.

VISCERA Vis"ce*ra, n.,

Defn: pl. of Viscus.

VISCERAL Vis"cer*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. viscéral, LL. visceralis.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the viscera; splanchnic.

2. Fig.: Having deep sensibility. [R.] Bp. Reynolds. Visceral arches (Anat.), the bars or ridges between the visceral clefts. -- Visceral cavity or tube (Anat.), the ventral cavity of a vertebrate, which contains the alimentary canal, as distinguished from the dorsal, or cerebro-spinal, canal. -- Visceral clefts (Anat.), transverse clefts on the sides just back of the mouth in the vertebrate embryo, which open into the pharyngeal portion of the alimentary canal, and correspond to the branchial clefts in adult fishes.

VISCERATE Vis"cer*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Viscerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Viscerating.]

Defn: To deprive of the viscera, or entrails; to eviscerate; to disembowel.

VISCEROSKELETAL Vis`cer*o*skel"e*tal, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the framework, or skeleton, or skeleton, of the viscera; as, the visceroskeletal system of muscles. Mivart.

VISCID Vis"cid, a. Etym: [L. viscidus, fr. viscum the mistletoe, birdlime made from the berries of the mistletoe; akin to Gr. viscide.]

Defn: Sticking or adhering, and having a ropy or glutinous consistency; viscous; glutinous; sticky; tenacious; clammy; as, turpentine, tar, gums, etc., are more or less viscid.

VISCIDITY Vis*cid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. viscidité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being viscid; also, that which is viscid; glutinous concretion; stickiness.

VISCIN Vis"cin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A clear, viscous, tasteless substance extracted from the mucilaginous sap of the mistletoe (Viscum album), holly, etc., and constituting an essential ingredient of birdlime.

VISCOIDAL Vis*coid"al, a.

Defn: Somewhat viscous. Cf. Mobile, a., 2.

VISCOSIMETER Vis`co*sim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Viscosity + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the degree of viscosity of liquids, as solutions of gum.

VISCOSITY Vis*cos"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. viscosité, LL. viscositas.]

1. The quality or state of being viscous.

2. (Physics)

Defn: A quality analogous to that of a viscous fluid, supposed to be caused by internal friction, especially in the case of gases.

VISCOUNT Vis"count`, n. Etym: [OE. vicounte, OF. visconte, vescunte, F. vicomte, LL. vicecomes; L. vice (see Vice, a.) + comes a companion, LL., a count. See Count.]

1. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: An officer who formerly supplied the place of the count, or earl; the sheriff of the county.