VELUMVe"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.
VELUREVel"ure, n. Etym: [F. velours, OF. velous, from L. villosus hairy.See Velvet.]
Defn: Velvet. [Obs.] "A woman's crupper of velure." Shak.
VELUTINAVel`u*ti"na, n. Etym: [NL. See Velvet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of marine gastropods belonging toVelutina and allied genera.
VELUTINOUSVe*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.
VELVERDVel"verd, n.
Defn: The veltfare. [Prov. Eng.]
VELVERETVel`ver*et", n.
Defn: A kind of velvet having cotton back.
VELVETVel"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 afleece, 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.
VELVETVel"vet, a.
Defn: Made of velvet; soft and delicate, like velvet; velvety. " The cowslip's velvet head." Milton.
VELVETVel"vet, v. i.
Defn: To pain velvet. [R.] Peacham.
VELVETVel"vet, v. t.
Defn: To make like, or cover with, velvet. [R.]
VELVETBREASTVel"vet*breast`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The goosander. [Local, U. S.]
VELVETEENVel`vet*een", n. Etym: [Cf. F. velvetine. See Velvet.]
Defn: A kind of cloth, usually cotton, made in imitation of velvet; cotton velvet.
VELVETINGVel"vet*ing, n.
Defn: The fine shag or nap of velvet; a piece of velvet; velvet goods.
VELVETLEAFVel"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.
VELVETYVel"vet*y, a.
Defn: Made of velvet, or like velvet; soft; smooth; delicate.
VENAVe"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.
VENADAVe*na"da, N. Etym: [Cf. Sp. venado a does, stag.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pudu.
VENALVe"nal, a. Etym: [L. vena a vein.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to veins; venous; as, venal blood. [R.]
VENALVe"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.
VENALITYVe*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.
VENALLYVe"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.
VENATICAVe*nat"i*ca, n.
Defn: See Vinatico.
VENATIONVe*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.
VENATIONVe*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.
VENATORIALVen`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.
VENDVend, n.
1. The act of vending or selling; a sale.
2. The total sales of coal from a colliery. [Eng.]
VENDACEVen"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.
VENDEEVend*ee", n.
Defn: The person to whom a thing is vended, or sold; — the correlative of vendor.
VENDEMIAIREVen`dé`miaire", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. vindemia vintage.]
Defn: The first month of the French republican calendar, dating fromSeptember 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.
VENDERVend"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.
VENDETTAVen*det"ta, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A blood feud; private revenge for the murder of a kinsman.
VENDIBILITYVend`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being vendible, or salable.
VENDIBLEVend"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.
VENDIBLEVend"i*ble, n.
Defn: Something to be sold, or offered for sale.— Vend"i*ble*ness, n.— Vend"i*bly, adv.
VENDITATEVen"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.
VENDITIONVen*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. venditio: cf. F. vendition.]
Defn: The act of vending, or selling; sale.
VENDORVend"or , n. Etym: [See Vender.]
Defn: A vender; a seller; the correlative of vendee.
VENDOR'S LIENVend"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.
VENDSVends, 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.]
VENEERVe*neer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veneered; p. pr. & vb. n. Veneering.]Etym: [G. furnieren, fourniren, fr. F. fournir to furnish. SeeFurnish.]
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.
VENEERVe*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.
VENEERINGVe*neer"ing, n.
1. The act or art of one who veneers.
2. Thin wood or other material used as a veneer.
VENEFICALVe*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; VENEFICIOUSVen`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.]
VENEMOUSVen"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.
VENENATEVen"e*nate, a.
Defn: Poisoned. Woodward.
VENENATIONVen`en*na"tion, n.
1. The act of poisoning.
2. Poison; venom. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
VENENEVe*nene", a.
Defn: Poisonous; venomous. [Obs.]
VENENOSEVen"e*nose`, a. Etym: [L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. Cf.Venomous.]
Defn: Poisonous. [Obs.]
VENERABILITYVen`er*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being venerable; venerableness. Dr. H.More.
VENERABLEVen"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.
VENERACEAVen`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.
VENERATEVen"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Venerated; p. pr. & vb. n.Venerating.] Etym: [L. veneratus, p. p. of venerari to venerate; akinto Venus Venus, Skr. van to like, to wish, and E. winsome. SeeWinsome.]
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.
VENERATIONVen`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.
VENERATORVen"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who venerates. Jer. Taylor
VENEREALVe*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 sexualintercourse.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.
VENEREALVe*ne"re*al, n. (Med.)
Defn: The venereal disease; syphilis.
VENEREANVe*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.
VENEREOUSVe*ne"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. venereus.]
1. Venereal; exciting lust; aphrodisiac. [Obs.]
2. Lustful; lascivious; libidinous. [R.] Derham.
VENEROUSVen"er*ous, a.
Defn: Venereous. [Obs.] Burton.
VENERYVen"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.
VENERYVen"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.
VENETIANVe*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.
VENETIANVe*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.
VENEYVen"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.
VENGEVenge, v. t. Etym: [F. venger. See Vengeance.]
Defn: To avenge; to punish; to revenge. [Obs.] See Avenge, andRevenge. Chaucer. "To venge me, as I may." Shak.
VENGEABLEVenge"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.]
VENGEANCELYVenge"ance*ly, adv.
Defn: Extremely; excessively. [Obs.] "He loves that vengeancely."Beau. & Fl.
VENGEFULVenge"ful, a.
Defn: Vindictive; retributive; revengeful. "Vengeful ire." Milton.— Venge"ful*ly, adv.
VENGEMENTVenge"ment, n. Etym: [OF. vengement.]
Defn: Avengement; penal retribution; vengeance. [Obs.] Spenser.
VENGERVen"ger, n.
Defn: An avenger. [Obs.] Spenser.
VENIABLEVe"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.
VENIALITYVe`ni*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being venial; venialness. Jer. Taylor.
VENINVen"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.
VENOMVen"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.
VENOMVen"om, v. t. Etym: [OE. venimen, OF. venimer, L. venenare. SeeVenom, 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.
VENOSEVe*nose", a. Etym: [See Venous.]
Defn: Having numerous or conspicuous veins; veiny; as, a venose frond.
VENOSITYVe*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.
VENOUSVen"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.
VENTVent, v. t.
Defn: To sell; to vend. [Obs.]Therefore did those nations vent such spice. Sir W. Raleigh.
VENTVent, 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.
VENTVent, n. Etym: [OE. fent, fente, a slit, F. fente a slit, cleft,fissure, from fendre to split, L. findere; but probably confused withF. 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 breechblock.
VENTVent, 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.
VENTAGEVent"age, n.
Defn: A small hole, as the stop in a flute; a vent. Shak.
VENTAILVent"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.
VENTERVent"er, n.
Defn: One who vents; one who utters, reports, or publishes. [R.]Barrow.
VENTERVent"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.
VENTHOLEVent"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.
VENTILATIONVen`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.
VENTILATIVEVen"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.
VENTOSEVen*tose", n.
Defn: A ventouse. [Obs.] Holland.
VENTOSEVen*tose", a. Etym: [L. ventosus windy. See Ventilate.]
Defn: Windy; flatulent. Richardson (Dict.).
VENTOSEVen`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.
VENTOUSEVen"touse, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A cupping glass. [Obs.] Chaucer.
VENTOUSEVen"touse, v. t. & i.
Defn: To cup; to use a cupping glass. [Obs.] [Written also ventuse.]Chaucer.
VENTRADVen"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.
VENTRICULARVen*tric"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ventriculaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a ventricle; bellied.
VENTRICULITEVen*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.
VENTRICULOUSVen*tric"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. ventriculosus of the belly.]
Defn: Somewhat distended in the middle; ventricular.
VENTRICULUS Ven*tric"u*lus, n.; pl. Ventriculi. Etym: [L., belly, dim. fr. venter belly.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the stomachs of certain insects. (b) The body cavity of a sponge.
VENTRILOCUTIONVen`tri*lo*cu"tion, n. Etym: [See Ventriloquous.]
Defn: Ventriloquism.
VENTRILOQUIALVen`tri*lo"qui*al, a.
Defn: Ventriloquous.
VENTRILOQUISMVen*tril"o*quism, n. Etym: [See Ventriloquous.]
Defn: The act, art, or practice of speaking in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the person speaking, but from some other source, as from the opposite side of the room, from the cellar, etc.
VENTRILOQUISTVen*tril"o*quist, n.
Defn: One who practices, or is skilled in, ventriloquism. Ventriloquist monkey (Zoöl.), the onappo; — so called from the character of its cry.
VENTRILOQUIZEVen*tril"o*quize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ventriloquized; p. pr. & vb. n.Ventriloquizing .]
Defn: To practice ventriloquism; to speak like a ventriloquist.
VENTRILOQUOUSVen*tril"o*quous, a. Etym: [L. ventriloquus a ventriloquist; venterthe belly + loqui, p. p. locutus, to speak. See Ventral, andLoquacious.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a ventriloquist or ventriloquism.
VENTRILOQUYVen*tril"o*quy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ventriloquie.]
Defn: Same as Ventriloquism.
VENTRIMESONVen`tri*mes"on, n. Etym: [NL. See Venter, and Meson.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Meson.
VENTRO-Ven"tro- (. Etym: [L. venter belly.]
Defn: A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the abdomen; also, connection with, relation to, or direction toward, the ventral side; as, ventrolateral; ventro- inguinal.
VENTRO-INGUINALVen`tro-in"gui*nal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining both to the abdomen and groin, or to the abdomen and inguinal canal; as, ventro-inguinal hernia.
VENTUREVen"ture, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of OE. aventure. See Adventure.]
1. An undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event which can not be foreseen with certainty; a hazard; a risk; a speculation. I, in this venture, double gains pursue. Dryden.
2. An event that is not, or can not be, foreseen; an accident; chance; hap; contingency; luck. Bacon.
3. The thing put to hazard; a stake; a risk; especially, something sent to sea in trade. My ventures are not in one bottom trusted. Shak. At a venture, at hazard; without seeing the end or mark; without foreseeing the issue; at random. A certain man drew a bow at a venture. 1 Kings xxii. 34. A bargain at a venture made. Hudibras.
Note: The phrase at a venture was originally at aventure, that is, at adventure.
VENTUREVen"ture, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ventured; p. pr. & vb. n. Venturing.]
1. To hazard one's self; to have the courage or presumption to do, undertake, or say something; to dare. Bunyan.
2. To make a venture; to run a hazard or risk; to take the chances. Who freights a ship to venture on the seas. J. Dryden, Jr. To venture at, or To venture on or upon, to dare to engage in; to attempt without any certainty of success; as, it is rash to venture upon such a project. "When I venture at the comic style." Waller.
VENTUREVen"ture, v. t.
1. To expose to hazard; to risk; to hazard; as, to venture one's person in a balloon. I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. Shak.
2. To put or send on a venture or chance; as, to venture a horse to the West Indies.
3. To confide in; to rely on; to trust. [R.] A man would be well enough pleased to buy silks of one whom he would not venture to feel his pulse. Addison.
VENTURERVen"tur*er, n.
1. One who ventures, or puts to hazard; an adventurer. Beau. & Fl.
2. A strumpet; a prostitute. [R.] J. Webster (1607).
VENTURESOMEVen"ture*some, a.
Defn: Inclined to venture; not loth to run risk or danger; venturous;bold; daring; adventurous; as, a venturesome boy or act.— Ven"ture*some*ly, adv.— Ven"ture*some*ness, n.
VENTURINEVen"tur*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. Aventurine.] (Japanning)
Defn: Gold powder for covering varnished surfaces.
VENTUROUSVen"tur*ous, a. Etym: [Aphetic form of OE. aventurous. SeeAdventurous, Venture, n.]
Defn: Daring; bold; hardy; fearless; venturesome; adveturous; as, aventurous soldier. Spenser.This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm He plucked, hetasted. Milton.— Ven"tur*ous*ly, adv.— Ven"tur*ous*ness, n.
VENTUSEVen"tuse, v. t. & i.
Defn: See Ventouse. [Obs.]
VENUE Ven"ue, n. Etym: [F. venue a coming, arrival, fr. venir to come, L. venire; hence, in English, the place whither the jury are summoned to come. See Come, and cf. Venew, Veney.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A neighborhood or near place; the place or county in which anything is alleged to have happened; also, the place where an action is laid. The twelve men who are to try the cause must be of the same venue where the demand is made. Blackstone.
Note: In certain cases, the court has power to change the venue, which is to direct the trial to be had in a different county from that where the venue is laid.
2. A bout; a hit; a turn. See Venew. [R.] To lay a venue (Law), to allege a place.
VENULEVen"ule, n. Etym: [L. venula, dim. from vena vein.]
Defn: A small vein; a veinlet; specifically (Zoöl.), one of the small branches of the veins of the wings in insects.
VENULOSEVen"u*lose`, a.
Defn: Full of venules, or small veins.
VENUSVe"nus, n. Etym: [L. Venus, -eris, the goddess of love, the planetVenus.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit lying between that of Mercury and that of the Earth, at a mean distance from the sun of about 67,000,000 miles. Its diameter is 7,700 miles, and its sidereal period 224.7 days. As the morning star, it was called by the ancients Lucifer; as the evening star, Hesperus.
3. (Alchem.)
Defn: The metal copper; — probably so designated from the ancient use of the metal in making mirrors, a mirror being still the astronomical symbol of the planet Venus. [Archaic]
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Venus or family Veneridæ. Many of these shells are large, and ornamented with beautiful frills; others are smooth, glossy, and handsomely colored. Some of the larger species, as the round clam, or quahog, are valued for food. Venus's basin (Bot.), the wild teasel; - - so called because the connate leaf bases form a kind of receptacle for water, which was formerly gathered for use in the toilet. Also called Venus's bath. — Venus's basket (Zoöl.), an elegant, cornucopia-shaped, hexactinellid sponge (Euplectella speciosa) native of the East Indies. It consists of glassy, transparent, siliceous fibers interwoven and soldered together so as to form a firm network, and has long, slender, divergent anchoring fibers at the base by means of which it stands erect in the soft mud at the bottom of the sea. Called also Venus's flower basket, and Venus's purse. — Venus's comb. (a) (Bot.) Same as Lady's comb. (b) (Zoöl.) A species of Murex (M. tenuispinus). It has a long, tubular canal, with a row of long, slender spines along both of its borders, and rows of similar spines covering the body of the shell. Called also Venus's shell. — Venus's fan (Zoöl.), a common reticulated, fanshaped gorgonia (Gorgonia flabellum) native of Florida and the West Indies. When fresh the color is purple or yellow, or a mixture of the two. — Venus's flytrap. (Bot.) See Flytrap, 2. — Venus's girdle (Zoöl.), a long, flat, ribbonlike, very delicate, transparent and iridescent ctenophore (Cestum Veneris) which swims in the open sea. Its form is due to the enormous development of two spheromeres. See Illust. in Appendix. — Venus's hair (Bot.), a delicate and graceful fern (Adiantum Capillus-Veneris) having a slender, black and shining stem and branches. — Venus's hair stone (Min.), quartz penetrated by acicular crystals of rutile. — Venus's looking-glass (Bot.), an annual plant of the genus Specularia allied to the bellflower; — also called lady's looking- glass. — Venus's navelwort (Bot.), any one of several species of Omphalodes, low boraginaceous herbs with small blue or white flowers. — Venus's pride (Bot.), an old name for Quaker ladies. See under Quaker. — Venus's purse. (Zoöl.) Same as Venus's basket, above. — Venus's shell. (Zoöl.) (a) Any species of Cypræa; a cowrie. (b) Same as Venus's comb, above. (c) Same as Venus, 4. — Venus's slipper. (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Cypripedium. See Lady's slipper. (b) (Zoöl.) Any heteropod shell of the genus Carinaria. See Carinaria.
VENUSTVe*nust", a. Etym: [L. venustus, from Venus the goddess of love.]
Defn: Beautiful. [R.] E. Waterhouse.
VERACIOUSVe*ra"cious, a. Etym: [L. verax, -acis, fr. verus true. See Very.]
1. Observant of truth; habitually speaking truth; truthful; as, veracious historian. The Spirit is most perfectly and absolutely veracious. Barrow.
2. Characterized by truth; not false; as, a veracious account or narrative. The young, ardent soul that enters on this world with heroic purpose, with veracious insight, will find it a mad one. Carlyle.
VERACIOUSLYVe*ra"cious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a veracious manner.
VERACITYVe*rac"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. véracité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being veracious; habitual observance of truth; truthfulness; truth; as, a man of veracity.
VERANDA Ve*ran"da, n. Etym: [A word brought by the English from India; of uncertain origin; cf. Skr. vara, Pg. varanda, Sp. baranda, Malay baranda.] (Arch.)
Defn: An open, roofed gallery or portico, adjoining a dwelling house, forming an out-of-door sitting room. See Loggia. The house was of adobe, low, with a wide veranda on the three sides of the inner court. Mrs. H. H. Jackson.
VERATRALBINEVer`a*tral"bine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellowish amorphous alkaloid extracted from the rootstock ofVeratrum album.
VERATRATEVe*ra"trate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of veratric acid.
VERATRIAVe*ra"tri*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: Veratrine.
VERATRICVe*ra"tric, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, plants of the genus Veratrum. Veratric acid (Chem.), an acid occurring, together with veratrine, in the root of white hellebore (Veratrum album), and in sabadilla seed; — extracted as a white crystalline substance which is related to protocatechuic acid.
VERATRINAVer`a*tri"na, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Veratrine.
VERATRINEVe*ra"trine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vératrine. See Veratrum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous alkaloid obtained from the root hellebore (Veratrum) and from sabadilla seeds as a white crystalline powder, having an acrid, burning taste. It is sometimes used externally, as in ointments, in the local treatment of neuralgia and rheumatism. Called also veratria, and veratrina.
VERATROLVe*ra"trol, n. Etym: [Veratric + ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon obtained by the decomposition of veratric acid, and constituting the dimethyl ether of pyrocatechin.
VERATRUMVe*ra"trum, n. Etym: [L. veratrum hellebore.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of coarse liliaceous herbs having very poisonous qualities.
Note: Veratrum album of Europe, and Veratrum viride of America, are both called hellebore. They grow in wet land, have large, elliptical, plicate leaves in three vertical ranks, and bear panicles of greenish flowers.
VERBVerb, n. Etym: [F. verbe, L. verbum a word, verb. See Word.]
1. A word; a vocable. [Obs.] South.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A word which affirms or predicates something of some person or thing; a part of speech expressing being, action, or the suffering of action.
Note: A verb is a word whereby the chief action of the mind [theassertion or the denial of a proposition] finds expression. Earle.Active verb, Auxiliary verb, Neuter verb, etc. See Active, Auxiliary,Neuter, etc.
VERBALVer"bal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. verbalis. See Verb.]
1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony. Made she no verbal question Shak. We subjoin an engraving . . . which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind. Mayhew.
2. Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing with words rather than with the ideas intended to be conveyed; as, a verbal critic; a verbal change. And loses, though but verbal, his reward. Milton. Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial knowledge. Whewell.
3. Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as, a verbal translation.
4. Abounding with words; verbose. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Gram.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a verb; as, a verbal group; derived directly from a verb; as, a verbal noun; used in forming verbs; as, a verbal prefix. Verbal inspiration. See under Inspiration. — Verbal noun (Gram.), a noun derived directly from a verb or verb stem; a verbal. The term is specifically applied to infinitives, and nouns ending in -ing, esp. to the latter. See Gerund, and -ing, 2. See also, Infinitive mood, under Infinitive.
VERBALVer"bal, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A noun derived from a verb.
VERBALISMVer"bal*ism, n.
Defn: Something expressed verbally; a verbal remark or expression.
VERBALISTVer"bal*ist, n.
Defn: A literal adherent to, or a minute critic of, words; a literalist.
VERBALITYVer*bal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being verbal; mere words; bare literal expression. [R.] "More verbality than matter." Bp. Hall.
VERBALIZATIONVer`bal*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of verbalizing, or the state of being verbalized.
VERBALIZEVer"bal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Verbalized; p. pr. & vb. n.Verbalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. verbaliser.]
Defn: To convert into a verb; to verbify.
VERBALIZEVer"bal*ize, v. i.
Defn: To be verbose.
VERBALLYVer"bal*ly, adv.
1. In a verbal manner; orally.
2. Word for word; verbatim. Dryden.
VERBARIANVer*ba"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to words; verbal. [R.] Coleridge.
VERBARIANVer*ba"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who coins words. [R.]Southey gives himself free scope as a verbarian. Fitzed. Hall.
VERBARIUMVer*ba"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. verbum word.]
Defn: A game in word making. See Logomachy, 2.
VERBATIMVer*ba"tim, adv. Etym: [LL., fr. L. verbum word.]
Defn: Word for word; in the same words; verbally; as, to tell a story verbatim as another has related it. Verbatim et literatim Etym: [LL.], word for word, and letter for letter.
VERBENAVer*be"na, n. Etym: [L. See Vervain.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants of which several species are extensively cultivated for the great beauty of their flowers; vervain.
Note: Verbena, or vervain, was used by the Greeks, the Romans, and the Druids, in their sacred rites. Brewer. Essence of verbena, Oil of verbena, a perfume prepared from the lemon verbena; also, a similar perfume properly called grass oil. See Grass oil, under Grass. — Lemon, or Sweet, verbena, a shrubby verbenaceous plant (Lippia citriodora), with narrow leaves which exhale a pleasant, lemonlike fragrance when crushed.
VERBENACEOUSVer`be*na"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order (Verbenaceæ) of gamopetalous plants of which Verbena is the type. The order includes also the black and white mangroves, and many plants noted for medicinal use or for beauty of bloom.
VERBENATEVer"be*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Verbenated; p. pr. & vb. n.Verbenating.] Etym: [L. verbenatus crowned with a wreath of sacredboughs. See Verbena.]
Defn: To strew with verbena, or vervain, as in ancient sacrifices and rites.
VERBERATE Ver"ber*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. verberatus, p. p. of verberare to beat, from verber a lash, a whip.]
Defn: To beat; to strike. [Obs.] "The sound . . . rebounds again and verberates the skies." Mir. for Mag.
VERBERATIONVer`ber*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. verberatio: cf. F. verbération.]
1. The act of verberating; a beating or striking. Arbuthnot.
2. The impulse of a body; which causes sound. [R.]
VERBIAGEVer"bi*age (; 48), n. Etym: [F. verbiage, from OF. verbe a word. SeeVerb.]
Defn: The use of many words without necessity, or with little sense;a superabundance of words; verbosity; wordiness.Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. W. Irving.This barren verbiage current among men. Tennyson.
VERBIFYVer"bi*fy, v. t. Etym: [Verb + -fy.]
Defn: To make into a verb; to use as a verb; to verbalize. [R.]Earle.
VERBIGERATEVer*big"er*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -ated; p. pr. & vb. n. -ating.][L. verbigerate, -atum, to talk.]
1. To talk; chat. [Obs.]
2. (Med.) To repeat a word or sentence, in speaking or writing, without wishing to do so or in spite of efforts to cease. — Ver*big`er*a"tion (#), n.
VERBOSEVer*bose", a. Etym: [L. verbosus, from verbum a word. See Verb.]
Defn: Abounding in words; using or containing more words than are necessary; tedious by a multiplicity of words; prolix; wordy; as, a verbose speaker; a verbose argument. Too verbose in their way of speaking. Ayliffe. — Ver*bose"ly, adv. — Ver*bose"ness, n.
VERBOSITY Ver*bos"i*ty n.; pl. Verbosities. Etym: [L. verbositas: cf. F. verbosité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being verbose; the use of more words than are necessary; prolixity; wordiness; verbiage. The worst fault, by far, is the extreme diffuseness and verbosity of his style. Jeffrey.