V

1. V, the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. V and U are only varieties of the same character, U being the cursive form, while V is better adapted for engraving, as in stone. The two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, and till a comparatively recent date words containing them were often classed together in dictionaries and other books of reference (see U). The letter V is from the Latin alphabet, where it was used both as a consonant (about like English w) and as a vowel. The Latin derives it from it from a form (V) of the Greek vowel UPSILON (see Y), this Greek letter being either from the same Semitic letter as the digamma F (see F), or else added by the Greeks to the alphabet which they took from the Semitic. Etymologically v is most nearly related to u, w, f, b, p; as in vine, wine; avoirdupois, habit, have; safe, save; trover, troubadour, trope. See U, F, etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 265; also §§ 155, 169, 178-179, etc.

2. As a numeral, V stands for five, in English and Latin.

VAAGMER Vaag"mer, n. Etym: [Icel. vagmeri a kind of flounder, literally, wave mare.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dealfish. [Written also vaagmær, and vaagmar.]

VACANCY Va"can*cy, n.; pl. Vacancies. Etym: [Cf. F. vacance.]

1. The quality or state of being vacant; emptiness; hence, freedom from employment; intermission; leisure; idleness; listlessness. All dispositions to idleness or vacancy, even before they are habits, are dangerous. Sir H. Wotton.

2. That which is vacant. Specifically: — (a) Empty space; vacuity; vacuum. How is't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy Shak.

(b) An open or unoccupied space between bodies or things; an interruption of continuity; chasm; gap; as, a vacancy between buildings; a vacancy between sentences or thoughts. (c) Unemployed time; interval of leisure; time of intermission; vacation. Time lost partly in too oft idle vacancies given both to schools and universities. Milton. No interim, not a minute's vacancy. Shak. Those little vacancies from toil are sweet. Dryden.

(d) A place or post unfilled; an unoccupied office; as, a vacancy in the senate, in a school, etc.

VACANT Va"cant, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. vacans, -antis, p. pr. of vacare to be empty, to be free or unoccupied, to have leisure, also vocare; akin to vacuus empty, and probably to E. void. Cf. Evacuate, Void, a.]

1. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as, a vacant room. Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form. Shak. Being of those virtues vacant. Shak. There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair. Longfellow.

2. Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free; as, vacant hours. Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those . . . at leisure, and vacant from the affairs of the world. Dr. H. More. There was not a minute of the day which he left vacant. Bp. Fell.

3. Not filled or occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer; as, a vacant throne; a vacant parish. Special dignities which vacant lie For thy best use and wearing. Shak.

4. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as, a vacant mind. The duke had a pleasant and vacant face. Sir H. Wotton. When on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood. Wordsworth.

5. (Law)

Defn: Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier; as, a vacant estate. Bouvier. Vacant succession (Law), one that is claimed by no person, or where all the heirs are unknown, or where all the known heirs to it have renounced it. Burrill.

Syn. — Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle. — Vacant, Empty. A thing is empty when there is nothing in it; as, an empty room, or an empty noddle. Vacant adds the idea of having been previously filled, or intended to be filled or occupied; as, a vacant seat at table; a vacant office; vacant hours. When we speak of a vacant look or a vacant mind, we imply the absence of the intelligence naturally to be expected there.

VACANTLY Va"cant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a vacant manner; inanely.

VACATE Va"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vacated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vacating.] Etym: [L. vacare, vacatum, to be empty. See Vacant.]

1. To make vacant; to leave empty; to cease from filling or occupying; as, it was resolved by Parliament that James had vacated the throne of England; the tenant vacated the house.

2. To annul; to make void; to deprive of force; to make of no authority or validity; as, to vacate a commission or a charter; to vacate proceedings in a cause. That after act vacating the authority of the precedent. Eikon Basilike. The necessity of observing the Jewish Sabbath was Vacated by the apostolical institution of the Lord's Day. R. Nelson.

3. To defeat; to put an end to. [R.] He vacates my revenge. Dryden.

VACATION Va*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. vacatio a being free from a duty, service, etc., fr. vacare. See Vacate.]

1. The act of vacating; a making void or of no force; as, the vacation of an office or a charter.

2. Intermission of a stated employment, procedure, or office; a period of intermission; rest; leisure. It was not in his nature, however, at least till years had chastened it, to take any vacation from controversy. Palfrey. Hence, specifically: -(a) (Law)

Defn: Intermission of judicial proceedings; the space of time between the end of one term and the beginning of the next; nonterm; recess. "With lawyers in the vacation." Shak. (b) The intermission of the regular studies and exercises of an educational institution between terms; holidays; as, the spring vacation. (c) The time when an office is vacant; esp. (Eccl.), the time when a see, or other spiritual dignity, is vacant.

VACATUR Va*ca"tur, n. [NL., it is made void, fr. L. vacare to be empty. See Vacant.] (Law)

Defn: An order of court by which a proceeding is set aside or annulled.

VACCARY Vac"ca*ry, n. Etym: [LL. vaccarium, from L. vacca cow. Cf. Vachery.]

Defn: A cow house, dairy house, or cow pasture. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Wright.

VACCINA Vac*ci"na, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)

Defn: Vaccinia.

VACCINAL Vac"ci*nal, a. (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to vaccinia or vaccination.

VACCINATE Vac"ci*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vaccinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaccinating.] Etym: [See Vaccine.]

Defn: To inoculate with the cowpox by means of a virus, called vaccine, taken either directly or indirectly from cows.

VACCINATION Vac`ci*na"tion, n.

Defn: The act, art, or practice of vaccinating, or inoculating with the cowpox, in order to prevent or mitigate an attack of smallpox. Cf. Inoculation.

Note: In recent use, vaccination sometimes includes inoculation with any virus as a preventive measure; as, vaccination of cholera.

VACCINATOR Vac"ci*na`tor, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, vaccinates.

VACCINE Vac"cine, a. Etym: [L. vaccinus, fr. vacca a cow; cf. Skr. vac to bellow, to groan.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to cows; pertaining to, derived from, or caused by, vaccinia; as, vaccine virus; the vaccine disease. — n.

Defn: The virus of vaccinia used in vaccination.

VACCINE POINT Vac"cine point`. (Med.)

Defn: See Point, n., 26.

VACCINIA Vac*cin"i*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Vaccine.] (Med.)

Defn: Cowpox; vaccina. See Cowpox.

VACCINIST Vac"ci*nist, n.

Defn: A vaccinator.

VACCINIUM Vac*cin"i*um, n. Etym: [L., the blueberry, or whortleberry.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of ericaceous shrubs including the various kinds of blueberries and the true cranberries.

VACHER Va`cher", n. Etym: [F., from vache a cow. Cf. Vaquero.]

Defn: A keeper of stock or cattle; a herdsman. [Southwestern U. S.] Bartlett.

VACHERY Vach"er*y, n. Etym: [F. vacherie, from vache a cow, L. vacca. Cf. Vaccary.]

1. An inclosure for cows.

2. A dairy. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Prompt. Parv.

VACHETTE CLASP Va`chette" clasp. [Cf. F. vachette cowhide leather used for ligatures.] (Veter.)

Defn: A piece of strong steel wire with the ends curved and pointed, used on toe or quarter cracks to bind the edges together and prevent motion. It is clasped into two notches, one on each side of the crack, burned into the wall with a cautery iron.

VACILLANCY Vac"il*lan*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vacillant, or wavering. [R.] Dr. H. More.

VACILLANT Vac"il*lant, a. Etym: [L. vacillans, p. pr. of vacillare: cf. F. vacillant. See Vacillate.]

Defn: Vacillating; wavering; fluctuating; irresolute.

VACILLATE Vac"il*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vacillated; p. pr. & vb. n. Vacillating.] Etym: [L. vacillare, vacillatum; cf. Skr. vañc.]

1. To move one way and the other; to reel or stagger; to waver. [A spheroid] is always liable to shift and vacillatefrom one axis to another. Paley.

2. To fluctuate in mind or opinion; to be unsteady or inconstant; to waver.

Syn. — See Fluctuate.

VACILLATING Vac"il*la`ting, a.

Defn: Inclined to fluctuate; wavering. Tennyson. — Vac"il*la`ting*ly, adv.

VACILLATION Vac`il*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. vacillatio: cf. F. vacillation.]

1. The act of vacillating; a moving one way and the other; a wavering. His vacillations, or an alternation of knowledge and doubt. Jer. Taylor.

VACILLATORY Vac"il*la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Inclined to vacillate; wavering; irresolute. Hawthorne.

VACUATE Vac"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. vacuatus, p. p. of vacuare to empty, from vacuus empty. See Vacant.]

Defn: To make void, or empty. [R.]

VACUATION Vac`u*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of emptying; evacuation. [R.]

VACUIST Vac"u*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vacuiste.]

Defn: One who holds the doctrine that the space between the bodies of the universe, or the molecules and atoms of matter., is a vacuum; — opposed to plenist.

VACUITY Va*cu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. vacuitas. See Vacuous.]

1. The quality or state of being vacuous, or not filled; emptiness; vacancy; as, vacuity of mind; vacuity of countenance. Hunger is such a state of vacuity as to require a fresh supply of aliment. Arbuthnot.

2. Space unfilled or unoccupied, or occupied with an invisible fluid only; emptiness; void; vacuum. A vacuity is interspersed among the particles of matter. Bentley. God . . . alone can answer all our longings and fill every vacuity of our soul. Rogers.

3. Want of reality; inanity; nihility. [R.] Their expectations will meet with vacuity. Glanvill.

VACUNA Va*cu"na, n. Etym: [L. vacuus unoccupied.] (Rom. Myth.)

Defn: The goddess of rural leisure, to whom the husbandmen sacrificed at the close of the harvest. She was especially honored by the Sabines.

VACUOLATED Vac"u*o*la`ted, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Full of vacuoles, or small air cavities; as, vacuolated cells.

VACUOLATION Vac"u*o*la"tion, n. (Biol.)

Defn: Formation into, or multiplication of, vacuoles.

VACUOLE Vac"u*ole, n. Etym: [L. vacuus empty: cf. F. vacuole.] (Biol.)

Defn: A small air cell, or globular space, in the interior of organic cells, either containing air, or a pellucid watery liquid, or some special chemical secretions of the cell protoplasm. Contractile vacuole. (Zoöl.) See under Contractile, and see Illusts. of Infusoria, and Lobosa. — Food vacuole. (Zoöl.) See under Food, and see Illust. of Infusoria.

VACUOMETER Vac`u*om"e*ter, n. [Vacuum + -meter.] (Physics) (a) An instrument for the comparison of barometers. (b) An apparatus for the measurement of low pressures.

VACUOUS Vac"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. vacuus. See Vacant.]

Defn: Empty; unfilled; void; vacant. Boundless the deep, because I am who fill Infinitude; nor vacuous the space. Milton. That the few may lead selfish and vacuous days. J. Morley.

VACUOUSNESS Vac"u*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vacuous; emptiness; vacuity. W. Montagu.

VACUUM Vac"u*um, n.; pl. E. Vacuums, L. Vacua. Etym: [L., fr. vacuus empty. See Vacuous.]

1. (Physics)

Defn: A space entirely devoid of matter (called also, by way of distinction, absolute vacuum); hence, in a more general sense, a space, as the interior of a closed vessel, which has been exhausted to a high or the highest degree by an air pump or other artificial means; as, water boils at a reduced temperature in a vacuum.

2. The condition of rarefaction, or reduction of pressure below that of the atmosphere, in a vessel, as the condenser of a steam engine, which is nearly exhausted of air or steam, etc.; as, a vacuum of 26 inches of mercury, or 13 pounds per square inch. Vacuum brake, a kind of continuous brake operated by exhausting the air from some appliance under each car, and so causing the pressure of the atmosphere to apply the brakes. — Vacuum pan (Technol.), a kind of large closed metallic retort used in sugar making for boiling down sirup. It is so connected with an exhausting apparatus that a partial vacuum is formed within. This allows the evaporation and concentration to take place at a lower atmospheric pressure and hence also at a lower temperature, which largely obviates the danger of burning the sugar, and shortens the process. — Vacuum pump. Same as Pulsometer, 1. — Vacuum tube (Phys.), a glass tube provided with platinum electrodes and exhausted, for the passage of the electrical discharge; a Geissler tube. — Vacuum valve, a safety valve opening inward to admit air to a vessel in which the pressure is less than that of the atmosphere, in order to prevent collapse. — Torricellian vacuum. See under Torricellian.

VACUUM CLEANER Vac"u*um clean"er.

Defn: A machine for cleaning carpets, tapestry, upholstered work, etc., by suction.

VADANTES Va*dan"tes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. vadans, p. pr. of vadare to wade, to ford.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive artificial group of birds including the wading, swimming, and cursorial birds.

VADE Vade, v. i. Etym: [For fade.]

Defn: To fade; hence, to vanish. [Obs.] " Summer leaves all vaded." Shak. They into dust shall vade. Spenser.

VADE MECUM Va`de me"cum. Etym: [L., go with me.]

Defn: A book or other thing that a person carries with him as a constant companion; a manual; a handbook.

VADIMONY Vad"i*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. vadimonium.] (Law)

Defn: A bond or pledge for appearance before a judge on a certain day. [Obs.]

VADIUM Va"di*um, n. Etym: [LL., from L. vas, vadis, bail.] (Law)

Defn: Pledge; security; bail. See Mortgage. Vadium vivum Etym: [LL.] (Law), a living pledge, which exists where an estate is granted until a debt is paid out of its proceeds.

VAE Vae, n.

Defn: See Voe. [Scot.]

VAFROUS Va"frous, a. Etym: [L. vafer.]

Defn: Crafty; cunning; sly; as, vafrous tricks. [Obs.] Feltham.

VAGABOND Vag"a*bond, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. vagabundus, from vagari to stroll about, from vagus strolling. See Vague.]

1. Moving from place to place without a settled habitation; wandering. "Vagabond exile." Shak.

2. Floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro. To heaven their prayers Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds Blown vagabond or frustrate. Milton.

3. Being a vagabond; strolling and idle or vicious.

VAGABOND Vag"a*bond, n.

Defn: One who wanders from place to place, having no fixed dwelling, or not abiding in it, and usually without the means of honest livelihood; a vagrant; a tramp; hence, a worthless person; a rascal. A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be. Gen. iv. 12.

Note: In English and American law, vagabond is used in bad sense, denoting one who is without a home; a strolling, idle, worthless person. Vagabonds are described in old English statutes as "such as wake on the night and sleep on the day, and haunt customable taverns and alehouses, and routs about; and no man wot from whence they came, nor whither they go." In American law, the term vagrant is employed in the same sense. Cf Rogue, n., 1. Burrill. Bouvier.

VAGABOND Vag"a*bond, v. i.

Defn: To play the vagabond; to wander like a vagabond; to stroll. On every part my vagabonding sight Did cast, and drown mine eyes in sweet delight. Drummond.

VAGABONDAGE Vag"a*bond`age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vagabondage.]

Defn: The condition of a vagabond; a state or habit of wandering about in idleness; vagrancy.

VAGABONDISM Vag"a*bond`ism, n.

Defn: Vagabondage.

VAGABONDIZE Vag"a*bond`ize, v. i.

Defn: To play the vagabond; to wander about in idleness.

VAGABONDRY Vag"a*bond`ry, n.

Defn: Vagabondage.

VAGAL Va"gal, a. Etym: [See Vagus.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the vagus, or pneumogastric nerves; pneumogastric.

VAGANCY Va"gan*cy, n. Etym: [From L. vagans, p. pr. See Vagantes.]

Defn: A wandering; vagrancy. [Obs.] A thousand vagancies of glory and desight. Milton.

VAGANTES Va*gan"tes, p. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. vagans, p. pr. of vagari to stroll or wander.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of spiders, comprising some of those which take their prey in a web, but which also frequently run with agility, and chase and seize their prey.

VAGARIOUS Va*ga"ri*ous, a.

Defn: Given to, or characterized by, vagaries; capricious; whimsical; crochety.

VAGARY Va*ga"ry, n.; pl. Vagaries. Etym: [L. vagari to stroll about. See Vague.]

1. A wandering or strolling. [Obs.]

2. Hence, a wandering of the thoughts; a wild or fanciful freak; a whim; a whimsical purpose. "The vagaries of a child." Spectator. They changed their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell. Milton.

VAGIENT Va"gi*ent, a. Etym: [L. vagiens, p. pr. of vagire to cry like a young child.]

Defn: Crying like a child. [Obs.]

VAGINA Va*gi"na, n.; pl. Vaginæ. Etym: [L. vagina a scabbard or sheath.]

1. (Anat.) (a) A sheath; a theca; as, the vagina of the portal vein. (b) Specifically, the canal which leads from the uterus to the external orifice if the genital canal, or to the cloaca.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The terminal part of the oviduct in insects and various other invertebrates. See Illust., of Spermatheca.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The basal expansion of certain leaves, which inwraps the stem; a sheath.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: The shaft of a terminus, from which the bust of figure seems to issue or arise.

VAGINAL Vag"i*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. vaginal.]

1. Of or pertaining to a vagina; resembling a vagina, or sheath; thecal; as, a vaginal synovial membrane; the vaginal process of the temporal bone.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the vagina of the genital canal; as, the vaginal artery.

VAGINANT Vag"i*nant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. vaginant. See Vagina.]

Defn: Serving to in invest, or sheathe; sheathing. Vaginant leaf (Bot.), a leaf investing the stem or branch by its base, which has the form of a tube.

VAGINATE; VAGINATED Vag"i*nate, Vag"i*na`ted, a. Etym: [See Vagina.]

Defn: Invested with, or as if with, a sheath; as, a vaginate stem, or one invested by the tubular base of a leaf.

VAGINATI Vag`i*na"ti, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of birds comprising the sheathbills.

VAGINERVOSE Vag`i*ner*vose", a. Etym: [L. vagus wandering + E. nervose.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the nerves, or veins, placed in apparent disorder.

VAGINICOLA Vag`i*nic"o*la, n. Etym: [NL., from L. vagina sheath + colere to in habit.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of Infusoria which form minute vaselike or tubular cases in which they dwell.

VAGINISMUS Vag`i*nis"mus, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)

Defn: A painful spasmodic contraction of the vagina, often rendering copulation impossible.

VAGINITIS Vag`i*ni"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Vagina, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the vagina, or the genital canal, usually of its mucous living membrane.

VAGINOPENNOUS Vag`i*no*pen"nous, a. Etym: [L. vagina a sheath + penna a feather, pl. pennae a wing.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having elytra; sheath-winged. [R.]

VAGINULA Va*gin"u*la, n. Etym: [L., dim. of vagina sheath.] (Bot.) (a) A little sheath, as that about the base of the pedicel of most mosses. (b) One of the tubular florets in composite flowers. Henslow.

VAGINULE Vag"i*nule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A vaginula.

VAGISSATE Vag"is*sate, v. i. Etym: [L. vagari to stroll or wander.]

Defn: To caper or frolic. [Obs.]

VAGOUS Va"gous, a. Etym: [L. vagus. See Vague.]

Defn: Wandering; unsettled. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

VAGRANCY Va"gran*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being a vagrant; a wandering without a settled home; an unsettled condition; vagabondism. Threatened away into banishment and vagrancy. Barrow.

VAGRANT Va"grant, a. Etym: [Probably fr. OF. waucrant, wacrant, p. p. of waucrer, wacrer, walcrer, to wander (probably of Teutonic origin), but influenced by F. vagant, p. pr. of vaguer to stray, L. vagari. Cf. Vagary.]

1. Moving without certain direction; wandering; erratic; unsettled. That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took. Prior. While leading this vagrant and miserable life, Johnson fell in live. Macaulay.

2. Wandering from place to place without any settled habitation; as, a vagrant beggar.

VAGRANT Va"grant, n.

Defn: One who strolls from place to place; one who has no settled habitation; an idle wanderer; a sturdy beggar; an incorrigible rogue; a vagabond. Vagrants and outlaws shall offend thy view. Prior.

VAGRANTLY Va"grant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a vagrant manner.

VAGRANTNESS Va"grant*ness, n.

Defn: State of being vagrant; vagrancy.

VAGUE Vague, a. [Compar. Vaguer; superl. Vaguest.] Etym: [F. vague, or L. vagus. See Vague, v. i.]

1. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond. [Archaic] "To set upon the vague villains." Hayward. She danced along with vague, regardless eyes. Keats.

2. Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as, a vague idea; a vague proposition. This faith is neither a mere fantasy of future glory, nor a vague ebullition of feeling. I. Taylor. The poet turned away, and gave himself up to a sort of vague revery, which he called thought. Hawthorne.

3. Proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as, a vague report. Some legend strange and value. Longfellow. Vague year. See Sothiac year, under Sothiac.

Syn. — Unsettled; indefinite; unfixed; ill-defined; ambiguous; hazy; loose; lax; uncertain.

VAGUE Vague, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vague.]

Defn: An indefinite expanse. [R.] The gray vague of unsympathizing sea. Lowell.

VAGUE Vague, v. i. Etym: [F. vaguer, L. vagari, fr. vagus roaming.]

Defn: To wander; to roam; to stray. [Obs.] "[The soul] doth vague and wander." Holland.

VAGUE Vague, n.

Defn: A wandering; a vagary. [Obs.] Holinshed.

VAGUELY Vague"ly, adv.

Defn: In a vague manner. What he vaguely hinted at, but dared not speak. Hawthorne.

VAGUENESS Vague"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vague.

VAGUS Va"gus, a. Etym: [L., wandering.] (Anat.)

Defn: Wandering; — applied especially to the pneumogastric nerve. — n.

Defn: The vagus, ore pneumogastric, nerve.

VAIL Vail, n. & v. t.

Defn: Same as Veil.

VAIL Vail, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of avail, n.]

1. Avails; profit; return; proceeds. [Obs.] My house is as were the cave where the young outlaw hoards the stolen vails of his occupation. Chapman.

2. An unexpected gain or acquisition; a casual advantage or benefit; a windfall. [Obs.]

3. Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; — usually in the plural. [Written also vale.] Dryden.

VAIL Vail, v. t. Etym: [Aphetic form of avale. See Avale, Vale.] [Written also vale, and veil.]

1. To let fail; to allow or cause to sink. [Obs.] Vail your regard Upon a wronged, I would fain have said, a maid! Shak.

2. To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like. France must vail her lofty-plumed crest! Shak. Without vailing his bonnet or testifying any reverence for the alleged sanctity of the relic. Sir. W. Scott.

VAIL Vail, v. i.

Defn: To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like. [Written also vale, and veil.] [Obs.] Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity. South.

VAIL Vail, n.

Defn: Submission; decline; descent. [Obs.]

VAILER Vail"er, n.

Defn: One who vails. [Obs.] Overbury.

VAIMURE Vai"mure, n.

Defn: An outer, or exterior. wall. See Vauntmure. [Obs.] Hakluyt.

VAIN Vain, a. [Compar. Vainer; superl. Vainest.] Etym: [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. Vanish, Vanity, Vaunt to boast.]

1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. "Thy vain excuse." Shak. Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. xxxix. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v. 6. Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak. Vain visdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.

2. Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt. Bring no more vain oblations. Isa. i. 13. Vain is the force of man To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden.

3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason; conceited; puffed up; inflated. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.). The minstrels played on every side, Vain of their art. Dryden.

4. Showy; ostentatious. Load some vain church with old theatric state. Pope.

Syn. — Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal; shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant; deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling.

VAIN Vain, n.

Defn: Vanity; emptiness; — now used only in the phrase in vain. For vain. See In vain. [Obs.] Shak. — In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectually. " In vain doth valor bleed." Milton. " In vain they do worship me." Matt. xv. 9. — To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.

VAINGLORIOUS Vain`glo"ri*ous, a.

Defn: Feeling or indicating vainglory; elated by vanity; boastful. "Arrogant and vainglorious expression." Sir M. Hale. — Vain`glo"ri*ous*ly, adv. — Vain`glo"ri*ous*ness, n.

VAINGLORY Vain`glo"ry, n. Etym: [Vain + glory.]

Defn: Excessive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind; vain show; boastfulness. He had nothing of vainglory. Bacon. The man's undone forever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break't himself in vainglory. Shak.

VAINLY Vain"ly, adv.

Defn: In a vain manner; in vain.

VAINNESS Vain"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vain.

VAIR Vair, n. Etym: [F. vair, from OF. vair, a., L. varius various, variegated. See Various, and cf. Menivel.]

Defn: The skin of the squirrel, much used in the fourteenth century as fur for garments, and frequently mentioned by writers of that period in describing the costly dresses of kings, nobles, and prelates. It is represented in heraldry by a series of small shields placed close together, and alternately white and blue. Fairholt. No vair or ermine decked his garment. Sir W. Scott. Counter vair (Her.), a fur resembling vair, except in the arrangement of the patches or figures.

VAIRY Vair"y, a. Etym: [F. vairé. See Vair, n.] (Her.)

Defn: Charged with vair; variegated with shield-shaped figures. See Vair.

VAISHNAVA Vaish"na*va (vish"na*va), n. Etym: [Skr. vaishnsava.] (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: A worshiper of the god Vishnu in any of his incarnations.

VAISHNAVISM Vaish"na*vism, n.

Defn: The worship of Vishnu.

VAISYA Vais"ya, n. Etym: [Skr. vaiçya.]

Defn: The third of the four great original castes among the Hindoos, now either extinct or partially represented by the mercantile class of Banyas. See the Note under Caste, 1.

VAIVODE Vai"vode, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vayvode. See Waywode.]

Defn: See Waywode.

VAKEEL Va*keel", n. Etym: [Ar. wakil.]

Defn: A native attorney or agent; also, an ambassador. [India]

VALANCE Val"ance, n. Etym: [Perhaps fr. OF. avalant descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler to go down, let down, descent (cf. Avalanche); but probably from the town of Valence in France.]

1. Hanging drapery for a bed, couch, window, or the like, especially that which hangs around a bedstead, from the bed to the floor. [Written also valence.] Valance of Venice gold in needlework. Shak.

2. The drooping edging of the lid of a trunk. which covers the joint when the lid is closed.

VALANCE Val"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Valanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Valancing.]

Defn: To furnish with a valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery. His old fringed chair valanced around with party-colored worsted bobs. Sterne.

VALE Vale, n. Etym: [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. Avalanche, Vail to lower, Valley.]

Defn: A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. " Make me a cottage in the vale." Tennyson. Beyond this vale of tears there is a life above. Montgomery. In those fair vales, by nature formed to please. Harte.

Note: Vale is more commonly used in poetry, and valley in prose and common discourse.

Syn. — Valley; dingle; dell; dale.

VALE Vale, n.

Defn: See 2d Vail, 3.

VALEDICTION Val`e*dic"tion, n. Etym: [L., valedicere, valedictum, to say farewell; vale farewell (imperative of valere to be strong or well) + dicere to say. See Valiant, Diction.]

Defn: A farewell; a bidding farewell. Donne.

VALEDICTORIAN Val`e*dic*to"ri*an, n.

Defn: One who pronounces a valedictory address; especially, in American colleges, the student who pronounces the valedictory of the graduating class at the annual commencement, usually the student who ranks first in scholarship.

VALEDICTORY Val`e*dic"to*ry, a.

Defn: Bidding farewell; suitable or designed for an occasion of leave-taking; as, a valedictory oration.

VALEDICTORY Val`e*dic"to*ry, n.; pl. Valedictories (.

Defn: A valedictory oration or address spoken at commencement in American colleges or seminaries by one of the graduating class, usually by the leading scholar.

VALENCE Va"lence, n. Etym: [From L. valens, -entis, p. pr. of valere to have power, to be strong. See Valiant.] (Chem.)

Defn: The degree of combining power of an atom (or radical) as shown by the number of atoms of hydrogen (or of other monads, as chlorine, sodium, etc.) with which it will combine, or for which it can be substituted, or with which it can be compared; thus, an atom of hydrogen is a monad, and has a valence of one; the atoms of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon are respectively dyads, triads, and tetrads, and have a valence respectively of two, three, and four.

Note: The valence of certain elements varies in different compounds. Valence in degree may extend as high as seven or eight, as in the cases of iodine and osmium respectively. The doctrine of valence has been of fundamental importance in distinguishing the equivalence from the atomic weight, and is an essential factor in explaining the chemical structures of compounds.

VALENCIA Va*len"ci*a, n. Etym: [Perhaps fr. Valence in France.]

Defn: A kind of woven fabric for waistcoats, having the weft of wool and the warp of silk or cotton. [Written also valentia.]

VALENCIENNES LACE Va*len`ci*ennes" lace". Etym: [F.; — so called after the town of Valenciennes.]

Defn: A rich kind of lace made at Valenciennes, in France. Each piece is made throughout, ground and pattern, by the same person and with the same thread, the pattern being worked in the net.

VALENCY Val"en*cy, n.; pl. Valencies (. (Chem.) (a) See Valence. (b) A unit of combining power; a so-called bond of affinity.

VALENTIA Va*len"ti*a, n.

Defn: See Valencia.

VALENTINE Val"en*tine, n.

1. A sweetheart chosen on St. Valentine's Day.

2. A letter containing professions of love, or a missive of a sentimental, comic, or burlesque character, sent on St. Valentine's Day. St. Valentine's Day, a day sacred to St. Valentine; the 14th of February. It was a very old notion, alluded to by Shakespeare, that on this day birds begin to mate. Hence, perhaps, arose the custom of sending love tokens at that time.

VALENTINIAN Val`en*tin"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a school of Judaizing Gnostics in the second century; — so called from Valentinus, the founder.

VALERAMIDE Val`er*am"ide, n. Etym: [Valeric + amide.] (Chem.)

Defn: The acid amide derivative of valeric acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.

VALERATE Val"er*ate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of valeric acid.

VALERIAN Va*le"ri*an, n. Etym: [LL. valeriana, perhaps from some person named Valerius, or fr. L. valere to be strong. powerful, on account of its medicinal virtues: cf. F. valériane.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Valeriana. The root of the officinal valerian (V. officinalis) has a strong smell, and is much used in medicine as an antispasmodic. Greek valerian (Bot.), a plant (Polemonium cæruleum) with blue or white flowers, and leaves resembling those of the officinal valerian.

VALERIANACEOUS Va*le`ri*an*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of a natural order (Valerianaccæ) of which the valerian is the type. The order includes also the corn salads and the oriental spikenard.

VALERIANATE Va*le"ri*an*ate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A valerate.

VALERIANIC Va*le`ri*an"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Performance to, or obtained from, valerian root; specifically, designating an acid which is usually called valeric acid.

VALERIC Va*ler"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Valerianic; specifically, designating any one of three metameric acids, of which the typical one (called also inactive valeric acid), C4H9CO2H, is obtained from valerian root and other sources, as a corrosive, mobile, oily liquid, having a strong acid taste, and an odor of old cheese. Active valeric acid, a metameric variety which turns the plane of polarization to the right, although formed by the oxidation of a levorotatory amyl alcohol.

VALERIDINE Va*ler"i*dine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A base, C10H19N, produced by heating valeric aldehyde with ammonia. It is probably related to the conine alkaloids.

VALERIN Val"er*in, n. Etym: [Valeric + glycerin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of valeric acid with glycerin, occurring in butter, dolphin oil., and forming an forming an oily liquid with a slightly unpleasant odor.

VALERITRINE Va*ler"i*trine, n. Etym: [Valeric + iropine + -ine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A base, C15H27N, produced together with valeridine, which it resembles.

VALERO- Val"er*o-. (Chem.)

Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively) indicating derivation from, or relation to, valerian or some of its products, as valeric acid; as in valerolactone, a colorless oily liquid produced as the anhydride of an hydroxy valeric acid.

VALERONE Val"er*one, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A ketone of valeric acid obtained as an oily liquid.

VALERYL Val"er*yl, n. Etym: [Valeric + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical C5H9O, regarded as the essential nucleus of certain valeric acid derivatives.

VALERYLENE Val`er*yl*ene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C5H8; — called also pentine.

VALET Val"et, n. Etym: [F. valet, OF. vallet, varlet, vaslet. See Varlet, and Vassal.]

1. A male waiting servant; a servant who attends on gentleman's person; a body servant.

2. (Man.)

Defn: A kind of goad or stick with a point of iron. Valet de chambre ( Etym: [F.], a body servant, or personal attendant.

VALETUDINARIAN Val`e*tu`di*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. valetudinarius, from valetudo state of health, health, ill health, fr. valere to be strong or well: cf. F. valétudinaire. See Valiant.]

Defn: Of infirm health; seeking to recover health; sickly; weakly; infirm. My feeble health and valetudinarian stomach. Coleridge. The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a valetudinarian virtue. Macaulay.

VALETUDINARIAN Val`e*tu`di*na"ri*an, n.

Defn: A person of a weak or sickly constitution; one who is seeking to recover health. Valetudinarians must live where they can command and scold. Swift.

VALETUDINARIANISM Val`e*tu`di*na"ri*an*ism, n.

Defn: The condition of a valetudinarian; a state of feeble health; infirmity.

VALETUDINARY Val`e*tu"di*na*ry, a.

Defn: Infirm; sickly; valetudinarian. — Val`e*tu"di*na*ri*ness, n. It renders the habit of society dangerously. Burke.

VALETUDINARY Val`e*tu"di*na*ry, n.

Defn: A valetudinarian.

VALETUDINOUS Val`e*tu"di*nous, a.

Defn: Valetudinarian. [Obs.] "The valetudinous condition of King Edward." Fuller.

VALHALLA Val*hal"la, n. Etym: [Icel. valhöll, literally, hall of the slain; valr the slain (akin to AS. wæl, OHG. wal battlefield, wuol defeat, slaughter, AS. wol pestilence) + höll a royal hall. See Hall, and cf. Walhalla.] [Written also walhalla.]

1. (Scand. Myth.)

Defn: The palace of immortality, inhabited by the souls of heroes slain in battle.

2. Fig.: A hall or temple adorned with statues and memorials of a nation's heroes; specifically, the Pantheon near Ratisbon, in Bavaria, consecrated to the illustrious dead of all Germany.

VALIANCE; VALIANCY Val"iance, Val"ian*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vaillance. See Valiant.]

Defn: The quality or state of being valiant; bravery; valor. [Obs.] "His doughty valiance." Spenser.

VALIANT Val"iant, a. Etym: [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, Equivalent, Prevail, Valid.]

1. Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [Obs.] Walton.

2. Intrepid in danger; courageous; brave. A valiant and most expert gentleman. Shak. And Saul said to David . . . be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. 1 Sam. xviii. 17.

3. Performed with valor or bravery; heroic. "Thou bearest the highest name for valiant acts." Milton. [The saints] have made such valiant confessions. J. H. Newman. — Val"iant*ly, adv. — Val"iant*ness, n.

VALID Val"id, a. Etym: [F. valide, F. validus strong, from valere to be strong. See Valiant.]

1. Strong; powerful; efficient. [Obs.] "Perhaps more valid arms . . . may serve to better us." Milton.

2. Having sufficient strength or force; founded in truth; capable of being justified, defended, or supported; not weak or defective; sound; good; efficacious; as, a valid argument; a valid objection. An answer that is open to no valid exception. I. Taylor.

3. (Law)

Defn: Having legal strength or force; executed with the proper formalities; incapable of being rightfully overthrown or set aside; as, a valid deed; a valid covenant; a valid instrument of any kind; a valid claim or title; a valid marriage.

Syn. — Prevalent; available; efficacious; just; good; weighty; sufficient; sound; well-grounded.

VALIDATE Val"i*date, v. t. Etym: [See Valid.]

Defn: To confirm; to render valid; to give legal force to. The chamber of deputies . . . refusing to validate at once the election of an official candidate. London Spectator.

VALIDATION Val`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. validation.]

Defn: The act of giving validity. [R.] Knowles.

VALIDITY Va*lid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. validité, L. validitas strength.]

1. The quality or state of being valid; strength; force; especially, power to convince; justness; soundness; as, the validity of an argument or proof; the validity of an objection.

2. (Law)

Defn: Legal strength, force, or authority; that quality of a thing which renders it supportable in law, or equity; as, the validity of a will; the validity of a contract, claim, or title.

3. Value. [Obs.] "Rich validity." Shak.

VALIDLY Val"id*ly, adv.

Defn: In a valid manner; so as to be valid.

VALIDNESS Val"id*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being valid.

VALINCH Val"inch, n. Etym: [Cf. F. avaler to let down, drink up. Cf. Avalanche.]

Defn: A tube for drawing liquors from a cask by the bunghole. [Written also velinche.]

VALISE Va*lise", n. Etym: [F. valise; cf. It. valigia, Sp. balija, LL. valisia, valesia; of uncertain origin, perhaps through (assumed) LL. vidulitia, from L. vidulus a leathern trunk; a knapsack.]

Defn: A small sack or case, usually of leather, but sometimes of other material, for containing the clothes, toilet articles, etc., of a traveler; a traveling bag; a portmanteau.

VALKYRIA Val*kyr"i*a, n. Etym: [Icel. valkyrja (akin to AS. wælcyrie); valr the slain + kjosa to choose. See Valhalla, and Choose.] (Scand. Myth.)

Defn: One of the maidens of Odin, represented as awful and beautiful, who presided over battle and marked out those who were to be slain, and who also ministered at the feasts of heroes in Valhalla. [Written also Valkyr, and Walkyr.]

VALKYRIAN Val*kyr"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Valkyrias; hence, relating to battle. "Ourself have often tried Valkyrian hymns." Tennyson.

VALLANCY Val*lan"cy, n. Etym: [From Valance.]

Defn: A large wig that shades the face. [Obs.]

VALLAR Val"lar, a. Etym: [L.vallaris.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a rampart. Vallar crown (Rom. Antiq.), a circular gold crown with palisades, bestowed upon the soldier who first surmounted the rampart and broke into the enemy's camp.

VALLAR Val"lar, n.

Defn: A vallar crown.

VALLARY Val"la*ry, a.

Defn: Same as Vallar.

VALLATION Val*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. vallatio, fr. vallare to surround with a rampart, fr. vallum rampart. See Wall, n.]

Defn: A rampart or intrenchment.

VALLATORY Val"la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a vallation; used for a vallation; as, vallatory reads. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

VALLECULA Val*lec"u*la, n.; pl. Valleculæ. Etym: [NL., dim. fr. L. vallis, valles, a valley.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A groove; a fossa; as, the vallecula, or fossa, which separates the hemispheres of the cerebellum.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the grooves, or hollows, between the ribs of the fruit of umbelliferous plants.

VALLET'S PILLS Val`let's pills". Etym: [From Dr. Vallet of Paris.] (Med.)

Defn: Pills containing sulphate of iron and carbonate of sodium, mixed with saccharine matter; — called also Vallet's mass.

VALLEY Val"ley, n.; pl. Valleys. Etym: [OE. vale, valeie, OF. valée, valede, F. vallée, LL. vallata, L. vallis, valles. See Vale.]

1. The space inclosed between ranges of hills or mountains; the strip of land at the bottom of the depressions intersecting a country, including usually the bed of a stream, with frequently broad alluvial plains on one or both sides of the stream. Also used figuratively. The valley of the shadow of death. Ps. xxiii. 4. Sweet interchange Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains. Milton.

Note: Deep and narrow valleys with abrupt sides are usually the results of erosion by water, and are called gorges, ravines, cañons, gulches, etc.

2. (Arch.) (a) The place of meeting of two slopes of a roof, which have their plates running in different directions, and form on the plan a reëntrant angle. (b) The depression formed by the meeting of two slopes on a flat roof. Valley board (Arch.), a board for the reception of the lead gutter in the valley of a roof. The valley board and lead gutter are not usual in the United States. — Valley rafter, or Valley piece (Arch.), the rafter which supports the valley. — Valley roof (Arch.), a roof having one or more valleys. See Valley, 2, above.

VALLUM Val"lum, n.; pl. L. Valla, E. Vallums. Etym: [L. See Wall.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A rampart; a wall, as in a fortification.

VALONIA Va*lo"ni*a, n. Etym: [It. vallonia, vallonea, fr. NGr. balania`, balanidia`, the holm oak, bala`ni, balani`di, an acorn, Gr. ba`lanos.]

1. The acorn cup of two kinds of oak (Quercus macrolepis, and Q. vallonea) found in Eastern Europe. It contains abundance of tannin, and is much used by tanners and dyers.

2. Etym: [Perhaps named from its resemblance to an acorn.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of marine green algæ, in which the whole frond consists of a single oval or cylindrical cell, often an inch in length.

VALOR Val"or, n. Etym: [OE. valour, OF. valor, valur, valour, F. valeur, LL. valor, fr. L. valere to be strong, or worth. See Valiant.] [Written also valour.]

1. Value; worth. [Obs.] "The valor of a penny." Sir T. More.

2. Strength of mind in regard to danger; that quality which enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery; courage; prowess; intrepidity. For contemplation he and valor formed. Milton. When valor preys on reason, It eats the sword it fights with. Shak. Fear to do base, unworthy things is valor. B. Jonson.

3. A brave man; a man of valor. [R.] Ld. Lytton.

Syn. — Courage; heroism; bravery; gallantry; boldness; fearlessness. See Courage, and Heroism.

VALORIZATION Val`or*i*za"tion, n. [Pg. valorizacão.]

Defn: Act or process of attempting to give an arbitrary market value or price to a commodity by governmental interference, as by maintaining a purchasing fund, making loans to producers to enable them to hold their products, etc.; — used chiefly of such action by Brazil.

VALOROUS Val"or*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. valeureux, LL. valorosus.]

Defn: Possessing or exhibiting valor; brave; courageous; valiant; intrepid. — Val"or*ous*ly, adv.

VALSALVIAN Val*sal"vi*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Valsalva, an Italian anatomist of the 17th century. Valsalvian experiment (Med.), the process of inflating the middle ear by closing the mouth and nostrils, and blowing so as to puff out the cheeks.

VALUABLE Val"u*a*ble, a.

1. Having value or worth; possessing qualities which are useful and esteemed; precious; costly; as, a valuable horse; valuable land; a valuable cargo.

2. Worthy; estimable; deserving esteem; as, a valuable friend; a valuable companion. Valuable consideration (Law), an equivalent or compensation having value given for a thing purchased, as money, marriage, services, etc. Blackstone. Bouvier.

VALUABLE Val"u*a*ble, n.

Defn: A precious possession; a thing of value, especially a small thing, as an article of jewelry; — used mostly in the plural. The food and valuables they offer to the gods. Tylor.

VALUABLENESS Val"u*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being valuable.

VALUABLY Val"u*a*bly, adv.

Defn: So as to be of value.

VALUATION Val`u*a"tion, n.

1. The act of valuing, or of estimating value or worth; the act of setting a price; estimation; appraisement; as, a valuation of lands for the purpose of taxation.

2. Value set upon a thing; estimated value or worth; as, the goods sold for more than their valuation. Since of your lives you set So slight a valuation. Shak.

VALUATOR Val"u*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who assesses, or sets a value on, anything; an appraiser. Swift.

VALUE Val"ue, n. Etym: [OF. value, fr. valoir, p. p. valu, to be worth, fr. L. valere to be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]

1. The property or aggregate properties of a thing by which it is rendered useful or desirable, or the degree of such property or sum of properties; worth; excellence; utility; importance.

Ye are all physicians of no value. Job xiii. 4. Ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matt. x. 31. Cæsar is well acquainted with your virtue, And therefore sets this value on your life. Addison. Before events shall have decided on the value of the measures. Marshall.

2. (Trade & Polit. Econ.)

Defn: Worth estimated by any standard of purchasing power, especially by the market price, or the amount of money agreed upon as an equivalent to the utility and cost of anything. An article may be possessed of the highest degree of utility, or power to minister to our wants and enjoyments, and may be universally made use of, without possessing exchangeable value. M'Culloch. Value is the power to command commodities generally. A. L. Chapin (Johnson's Cys.). Value is the generic term which expresses power in exchange. F. A. Walker. His design was not to pay him the value of his pictures, because they were above any price. Dryden.

Note: In political economy, value is often distinguished as intrinsic and exchangeable. Intrinsic value is the same as utility or adaptation to satisfy the desires or wants of men. Exchangeable value is that in an article or product which disposes individuals to give for it some quantity of labor, or some other article or product obtainable by labor; as, pure air has an intrinsic value, but generally not an exchangeable value.

3. Precise signification; import; as, the value of a word; the value of a legal instrument Mitford.

4. Esteem; regard. Dryden. My relation to the person was so near, and my value for him so great Bp. Burnet.

5. (Mus.)

Defn: The relative length or duration of a tone or note, answering to quantity in prosody; thus, a quarter note [value of two eighth notes [

6. In an artistical composition, the character of any one part in its relation to other parts and to the whole; — often used in the plural; as, the values are well given, or well maintained.

7. Valor. [Written also valew.] [Obs.] Spenser. Value received, a phrase usually employed in a bill of exchange or a promissory note, to denote that a consideration has been given for it. Bouvier.

VALUE Val"ue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Valued; p. pr. & vb. n. Valuing.]

1. To estimate the value, or worth, of; to rate at a certain price; to appraise; to reckon with respect to number, power, importance, etc. The mind doth value every moment. Bacon. The queen is valued thirty thousand strong. Shak. The king must take it ill, That he's so slightly valued in his messenger. Shak. Neither of them valued their promises according to rules of honor or integrity. Clarendon.

2. To rate highly; to have in high esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; to appreciate; to prize; as, to value one for his works or his virtues. Which of the dukes he values most. Shak.

3. To raise to estimation; to cause to have value, either real or apparent; to enhance in value. [Obs.] Some value themselves to their country by jealousies of the crown. Sir W. Temple.

4. To be worth; to be equal to in value. [Obs.] The peace between the French and us not values The cost that did conclude it. Shak.

Syn. — To compute; rate; appraise; esteem; respect; regard; estimate; prize; appreciate.

VALUED Val"ued, a.

Defn: Highly regarded; esteemed; prized; as, a valued contributor; a valued friend. Valued policy. See under Policy.

VALUED POLICY Val"ued pol"i*cy. (Fire Insurance)

Defn: A policy in which the value of the goods, property, or interest insured is specified; — opposed to open policy.

VALUED-POLICY LAW Valued-policy law. (Fire Insurance)

Defn: A law requiring insurance companies to pay to the insured, in case of total loss, the full amount of the insurance, regardless of the actual value of the property at the time of the loss.

VALUELESS Val"ue*less, a.

Defn: Being of no value; having no worth.

VALUER Val"u*er, n.

Defn: One who values; an appraiser.

VALURE Val"ure, n.

Defn: Value. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.

VALVAL; VALVAR Valv"al, Valv"ar, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Valvular.

VALVASOR Val"va*sor, n. (Feud. Law)

Defn: See Vavasor.

VALVATA Val*va"ta, n. Etym: [NL.; cf. L. valvatus having folding doors. See Valve.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of small spiral fresh-water gastropods having an operculum.

VALVATE Valv"ate, a. Etym: [L. valvatus having folding doors.]

1. Resembling, or serving as, a valve; consisting of, or opening by, a valve or valves; valvular.

2. (Bot.) (a) Meeting at the edges without overlapping; — said of the sepals or the petals of flowers in æstivation, and of leaves in vernation. (b) Opening as if by doors or valves, as most kinds of capsules and some anthers.

VALVE Valve, n. Etym: [L. valva the leaf, fold, or valve of a door: cf. F. valve.]

1. A door; especially, one of a pair of folding doors, or one of the leaves of such a door. Swift through the valves the visionary fair Repassed. Pope. Heavily closed, . . . the valves of the barn doors. Longfellow.

2. A lid, plug, or cover, applied to an aperture so that by its movement, as by swinging, lifting and falling, sliding, turning, or the like, it will open or close the aperture to permit or prevent passage, as of a fluid.

Note: A valve may act automatically so as to be opened by the effort of a fluid to pass in one direction, and closed by the effort to pass in the other direction, as a clack valve; or it may be opened or closed by hand or by mechanism, as a screw valve, or a slide valve.

3. (Anat.)

Defn: One or more membranous partitions, flaps, or folds, which permit the passage of the contents of a vessel or cavity in one direction, but stop or retard the flow in the opposite direction; as, the ileocolic, mitral, and semilunar valves.

4. (Bot.) (a) One of the pieces into which a capsule naturally separates when it bursts. (b) One of the two similar portions of the shell of a diatom. (c) A small portion of certain anthers, which opens like a trapdoor to allow the pollen to escape, as in the barberry.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or multivalve shells. Air valve, Ball valve, Check valve, etc. See under Air. Ball, Check, etc. — Double-beat valve, a kind of balance valve usually consisting of a movable, open-ended, turban-shaped shell provided with two faces of nearly equal diameters, one above another, which rest upon two corresponding seats when the valve is closed. — Equilibrium valve. (a) A balance valve. See under Balance. (b) A valve for permitting air, steam, water, etc., to pass into or out of a chamber so as to establish or maintain equal pressure within and without. — Valve chest (Mach.), a chamber in which a valve works; especially (Steam Engine), the steam chest; — called in England valve box, and valve casing. See Steam chest, under Steam. — Valve face (Mach.), that part of the surface of a valve which comes in contact with the valve seat. — Valve gear, or Valve motion (Steam Engine), the system of parts by which motion is given to the valve or valves for the distribution of steam in the cylinder. For an illustration of one form of valve gear, see Link motion. — Valve seat. (Mach.) (a) The fixed surface on which a valve rests or against which it presses. (b) A part or piece on which such a surface is formed. — Valve stem (Mach.), a rod attached to a valve, for moving it. — Valve yoke (Mach.), a strap embracing a slide valve and connecting it to the valve stem.

VALVED Valved, a.

Defn: Having a valve or valve; valvate.

VALVELET Valve"let, n.

Defn: A little valve; a valvule; especially, one of the pieces which compose the outer covering of a pericarp.

VALVE-SHELL Valve"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fresh-water gastropod of the genus Valvata.

VALVULA Val"vu*la, n.; pl. Valvulæ. Etym: [NL., dim. fr. L. valva fold, valve of a door.] (Anat.)

Defn: A little valve or fold; a valvelet; a valvule.

VALVULAR Valv"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. valvulaire.]

1. Of or pertaining to a valve or valves; specifically (Med.), of or pertaining to the valves of the heart; as, valvular disease.

2. Containing valves; serving as a valve; opening by valves; valvate; as, a valvular capsule.

VALVULE Valv"ule, n. Etym: [Cf. F. valvule.]

1. A little valve; a valvelet.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small valvelike process.

VALYLENE Val"yl*ene, n. Etym: [Valerian + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: A volatile liquid hydrocarbon, C5H6, related to ethylene and acetylene, but possessing the property of unsaturation in the third degree. It is the only known member of a distinct series of compounds. It has a garlic odor.

VAMBRACE Vam"brace, n. Etym: [See Vantbrass.] (Anc. Armor)

Defn: The piece designed to protect the arm from the elbow to the wrist.

VAMOSE Va*mose", v. i. & t. Etym: [Sp. vamos let us go.]

Defn: To depart quickly; to depart from. [Written also vamos, and vamoose.] [Slang, Eng. & U. S.]

VAMP Vamp v. i.

Defn: To advance; to travel. [Obs.]

VAMP Vamp, n. Etym: [OE. vampe, vaumpe, vauntpe, F. avantpied the forefoot, vamp; anat before, fore + pied foot, L. pes. See Advance, Van of an army, and Foot.]

1. The part of a boot or shoe above the sole and welt, and in front of the ankle seam; an upper.

2. Any piece added to an old thing to give it a new appearance. See Vamp, v. t.

VAMP Vamp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vamped; p. pr. & vb. n. Vamping.]

Defn: To provide, as a shoe, with new upper leather; hence, to piece, as any old thing, with a new part; to repair; to patch; — often followed by up. I had never much hopes of your vamped play. Swift.

VAMPER Vamp"er, n.

Defn: One who vamps; one who pieces an old thing with something new; a cobbler.

VAMPER Vamp"er, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Vaunt.]

Defn: To swagger; to make an ostentatious show. [Prov. eng. & Scot.] Jamieson.

VAMPIRE Vam"pire, n. Etym: [F. vampire (cf. It. vampiro, G. & D. vampir), fr. Servian vampir.] [Written also vampyre.]

1. A blood-sucking ghost; a soul of a dead person superstitiously believed to come from the grave and wander about by night sucking the blood of persons asleep, thus causing their death. This superstition is now prevalent in parts of Eastern Europe, and was especially current in Hungary about the year 1730. The persons who turn vampires are generally wizards, witches, suicides, and persons who have come to a violent end, or have been cursed by their parents or by the church, Encyc. Brit.

2. Fig.: One who lives by preying on others; an extortioner; a bloodsucker.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Either one of two or more species of South American blood- sucking bats belonging to the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. These bats are destitute of molar teeth, but have strong, sharp cutting incisors with which they make punctured wounds from which they suck the blood of horses, cattle, and other animals, as well as man, chiefly during sleep. They have a cæcal appendage to the stomach, in which the blood with which they gorge themselves is stored.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of harmless tropical American bats of the genus Vampyrus, especially V. spectrum. These bats feed upon insects and fruit, but were formerly erroneously supposed to suck the blood of man and animals. Called also false vampire. Vampire bat (Zoöl.), a vampire, 3.

VAMPIRISM Vam"pir*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vampirisme.]

1. Belief in the existence of vampires.

2. The actions of a vampire; the practice of bloodsucking.

3. Fig.: The practice of extortion. Carlyle.

VAMPLATE Vam"plate`, n. Etym: [F. avant fore, fore + E. plate.]

Defn: A round of iron on the shaft of a tilting spear, to protect the hand. [Written also vamplet.]

VAMURE Va"mure, n.

Defn: See Vauntmure. [Obs.]

VAN Van, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. vanguard.]

Defn: The front of an army; the first line or leading column; also, the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle. Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear, Stream in the air. Milton.

VAN Van, n. Etym: [Cornish.] (Mining)

Defn: A shovel used in cleansing ore.

VAN Van, v. t. (Mining)

Defn: To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel. Raymond.

VAN Van, n. Etym: [Abbreviated from caravan.]

1. A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others fore the transportation of goods. [Eng.]

2. A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition.

3. A close railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car, 2. [Eng.]

VAN Van, n. Etym: [L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow.]

1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain.

2. Etym: [OF. vanne, F. vanneau beam feather (cf. It. vanno a wing) fr. L. vannus. See Etymology above.]

Defn: A wing with which the air is beaten. [Archaic] "[/Angels] on the air plumy vans received him. " Milton. He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain; His vans no longer could his flight sustain. Dryden.

VAN Van, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. vanner to winnow, to fan. See Van a winnowing machine.]

Defn: To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [Obs.] Bacon.

VANADATE Van"a*date, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vanadate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of vanadic acid. [Formerly also vanadiate.]

VANADIC Va*nad"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, vanadium; containing vanadium; specifically distinguished those compounds in which vanadium has a relatively higher valence as contrasted with the vanadious compounds; as, vanadic oxide. Vanadic acid (Chem.), an acid analogous to phosphoric acid, not known in the free state but forming a well-known series of salts.

VANADINITE Va*nad"i*nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral occurring in yellowish, and ruby-red hexagonal crystals. It consist of lead vanadate with a small proportion of lead chloride.

VANADIOUS Va*na"di*ous, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a lower valence as contrasted with the vanadic compounds; as, vanadious acid. [Sometimes written also vanadous.]

VANADITE Van"a*dite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of vanadious acid, analogous to a nitrite or a phosphite.

VANADIUM Va*na"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Icel. Vanadis, a surname of the Scandinavian goddess Freya.] (Chem.)

Defn: A rare element of the nitrogen-phosphorus group, found combined, in vanadates, in certain minerals, and reduced as an infusible, grayish-white metallic powder. It is intermediate between the metals and the non-metals, having both basic and acid properties. Sumbol V (or Vd, rarely). Atomic weight 51.2.

VANADIUM BRONZE Va*na"di*um bronze`. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow pigment consisting of a compound of vanadium.

VANADOUS Van"a*dous, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to vanadium; obtained from vanadium; — said of an acid containing one equivalent of vanadium and two of oxygen.

VANADYL Van"a*dyl, n. Etym: [Vanadium + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical VO, regarded as a characterized residue of certain vanadium compounds.

VAN-COURIER Van"-cou`ri*er, n. Etym: [F. avant-courrier.See Avant, Van of an army, and Courier, and cf. Avant-courier, Vaunt-courier.]

Defn: One sent in advance; an avant-courier; a precursor.

VANDAL Van"dal, n. Etym: [L. Vandalus, Vandalius; of Teutonic origin, and probably originally signifying, a wanderer. Cf. Wander.]

1. (Anc. Hist.)

Defn: One of a Teutonic race, formerly dwelling on the south shore of the Baltic, the most barbarous and fierce of the northern nations that plundered Rome in the 5th century, notorious for destroying the monuments of art and literature.

2. Hence, one who willfully destroys or defaces any work of art or literature. The Vandals of our isle, Sworn foes to sense and law. Cowper.

VANDAL; VANDALIC Van"dal, Van*dal"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Vandals; resembling the Vandals in barbarism and destructiveness.

VANDALISM Van"dal*ism, n.

Defn: The spirit or conduct of the Vandals; ferocious cruelty; hostility to the arts and literature, or willful destruction or defacement of their monuments.

VANDYKE Van*dyke", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the style of Vandyke the painter; used or represented by Vandyke. "His Vandyke dress." Macaulay. [Written also Vandyck.] Vandyke brown (Paint.), a pigment of a deep semitranssparent brown color, supposed to be the color used by Vandyke in his pictures. — Vandyke collar or cape, a broad collar or cape of linen and lace with a deep pointed or scalloped edge, worn lying on the shoulders; - - so called from its appearance in pictures by Vandyke. — Vandyke edge, an edge having ornamental triangular points.

VANDYKE Van*dyke", n.

Defn: A picture by Vandyke. Also, a Vandyke collar, or a Vandyke edge. [Written also Vandyck.]

VANDYKE Van*dyke", v. t.

Defn: fit or furnish with a Vandyke; to form with points or scallops like a Vandyke. [R.] [Written also Vandyck.]

VANDYKE BEARD Van*dyke" beard`.

Defn: A trim, pointed beard, such as those often seen in pictures by Vandyke.

VANE Vane, n. Etym: [OE. & E. Prov. E. fane weathercock, banner, AS. fana a banner, flag; akin to D. vaan, G. fahne, OHG. fano cloth, gund fano flag, Icel. fani, Sw. fana, Dan. fane, Goth. fana cloth, L. pannus, and perhaps to Gr.Fanon, Pane a compartment, panel.]

1. A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely. Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane. Chaucer.

2. Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The rhachis and web of a feather taken together.

4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling staff. (Surv.) Same as Target, 3.

VANESSA Van*es"sa, n. Etym: [Probably from Swift's poem of Cadenus and Vanessa. See Vanessa, in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of handsomely colored butterflies belonging to Vanessa and allied genera. Many of these species have the edges of the wings irregularly scalloped.

VANESSIAN Van*es"si*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A vanessa.

VANFESS Van"fess`, n. Etym: [F. avant-fossé; avant before + fossé ditch. Cf. Fosse.] (Fort.)

Defn: A ditch on the outside of the counterscarp, usually full of water.

VANG Vang, n. Etym: [D. vangen to catch, seize. See Fang.] (Naut.)

Defn: A rope to steady the peak of a gaff.

VANGLO Van"glo, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Benne (Sesamum orientale); also, its seeds; — so called in the West Indies.

VANGUARD Van"guard`, n. Etym: [For vantguard, avantguard, F. avant-garde; avant before, fore + garde guard. See Avant, Ab-,Ante-, and Guard, and cf. Advance, Vamp, Van of an army, Vaward.] (Mil.)

Defn: The troops who march in front of an army; the advance guard; the van.

VANILLA Va*nil"la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Sp. vainilla, dim. of Sp. vaina a sheath, a pod, L. vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants natives of tropical America.

2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and V. claviculata, remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odor, for the volatile, odoriferous oil extracted from them; also, the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc.

Note: As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful. Cuban vanilla, a sweet-scented West Indian composite shrub (Eupatorium Dalea). — Vanilla bean, the long capsule of the vanilla plant. — Vanilla grass. Same as Holy grass, under Holy.

VANILLATE Va*nil"late, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of vanillic acid.

VANILLIC Va*nil"lic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, vanilla or vanillin; resembling vanillin; specifically, designating an alcohol and an acid respectively, vanillin being the intermediate aldehyde.

VANILLIN Va*nil"lin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline aldehyde having a burning taste and characteristic odor of vanilla. It is extracted from vanilla pods, and is also obtained by the decomposition of coniferin, and by the oxidation of eugenol.

VANILLOES Va*nil"loes, n. pl.

Defn: An inferior kind of vanilla, the pods of Vanilla Pompona.

VANILLYL Va*nil"lyl, n. Etym: [Vanillic + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical characteristic of vanillic alcohol.

VANILOQUENCE Va*nil"o*quence, n. Etym: [L. vaniloquentia; vanus vain + loquentia talk, loqui to speak.]

Defn: Vain or foolish talk. [Obs.]

VANISH Van"ish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vanished; p. pr. & vb. n. Vanishing.] Etym: [OE. vanissen, OF. vanir (in comp.): cf. OF. envanir, esvanir, esvanuïr, F. s'évanouir; fr. L. vanus empty, vain; cf. L. vanescere, evanescere, to vanish. See Vain, and cf. Evanescent,-ish.]

1. To pass from a visible to an invisible state; to go out of sight; to disappear; to fade; as, vapor vanishes from the sight by being dissipated; a ship vanishes from the sight of spectators on land. The horse vanished . . . out of sight. Chaucer. Go; vanish into air; away! Shak. The champions vanished from their posts with the speed of lightning. Sir W. Scott. Gliding from the twilight past to vanish among realities. Hawthorne.

2. To be annihilated or lost; to pass away. "All these delights will vanish." Milton.

VANISH Van"ish, n. (Phon.)

Defn: The brief terminal part of vowel or vocal element, differing more or less in quality from the main part; as, a as in ale ordinarily ends with a vanish of i as in ill, o as in old with a vanish of oo as in foot. Rush.

Note: The vanish is included by Mr. Bell under the general term glide.

VANISHING Van"ish*ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Vanish, v. Vanishing fraction (Math.), a fraction which reduces to the form Math. Dict. — Vanishing line (Persp.), the intersection of the parallel of any original plane and picture; one of the lines converging to the vanishing point. — Vanishing point (Persp.), the point to which all parallel lines in the same plane tend in the representation. Gwilt. — Vanishing stress (Phon.), stress of voice upon the closing portion of a syllable. Rush.

VANISHMENT Van"ish*ment, n.

Defn: A vanishing. [Obs.]

VANITY Van"i*ty, n.; pl. Vanities. Etym: [OE. vanite, vanité, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

1. The quality or state of being vain; want of substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Eccl. i. 2. Here I may well show the vanity of that which is reported in the story of Walsingham. Sir J. Davies.

2. An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride; ostentation; conceit. The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was galled. Macaulay.

3. That which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher. Eccl. i. 2. Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come. Sir P. Sidney. [Sin] with vanity had filled the works of men. Milton. Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled, That all her vanities at once are dead; Succeeding vanities she still regards. Pope.

4. One of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n., 5. You . . . take vanity the puppet's part. Shak.

Syn. — Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness; self-sufficiency. See Egotism, and Pride.

VANITY BOX Van"i*ty box.

Defn: A small box, usually jeweled or of precious metal and worn on a chain, containing a mirror, powder puff, and other small toilet articles for a woman.

VANJAS Van"jas, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Australian pied crow shrike (Strepera graculina). It is glossy bluish black, with the under tail coverts and the tips and bases of the tail feathers white.

VANNER Van"ner, n. (Mining)

Defn: A machine for concentrating ore. See Frue vanner.

VANNER HAWK Van"ner hawk`.

Defn: The kestrel. [Prov. Eng.]

VANNING Van"ning, n. (Mining)

Defn: A process by which ores are washed on a shovel, or in a vanner.

VANQUISH Van"quish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vanquished; p. pr. & vb. n. Vanquishing.] Etym: [OE. venquishen, venquissen, venkisen,F. vaincre, pret. vainquis, OF. veintre, pret. venqui, venquis (cf. an OF. infin. vainquir), fr. L. vincere; akin to AS. wig war, battle, wigant a warrior, wigan to fight, Icel. vig battle, Goth. weihan to fight, contend. Cf. Convince, Evict, Invincible, Victor.]

1. To conquer, overcome, or subdue in battle, as an enemy. Hakluyt. They . . . Vanquished the rebels in all encounters. Clarendon.

2. Hence, to defeat in any contest; to get the better of; to put down; to refute. This bold assertion has been fully vanquished in a late reply to the Bishop of Meaux's treatise. Atterbury. For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still. Goldsmith.

Syn. — To conquer; surmount; overcome; confute; silence. See Conquer.

VANQUISH Van"quish, n. (Far.)

Defn: A disease in sheep, in which they pine away. [Written also vinquish.]

VANQUISHABLE Van"quish*a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be vanquished.

VANQUISHER Van"quish*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, vanquishes. Milton.

VANQUISHMENT Van"quish*ment, n.

Defn: The act of vanquishing, or the state of being vanquished. Bp. Hall.

VANSIRE Van"sire, n. Etym: [The native name: cf. F. vansire.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An ichneumon (Herpestes galera) native of Southern Africa and Madagascar. It is reddish brown or dark brown, grizzled with white. Called also vondsira, and marsh ichneumon.

VANT Vant, v. i.

Defn: See Vaunt. [Obs.]

VANTAGE Van"tage (; 48), n. Etym: [Aphetic form of OE. avantage,fr. F. avantage. See Advantage.]

1. superior or more favorable situation or opportunity; gain; profit; advantage. [R.] O happy vantage of a kneeling knee! Shak.

2. (Lawn Tennis)

Defn: The first point after deuce.

Note: When the server wins this point, it is called vantage in; when the receiver, or striker out, wins, it is called vantage out. To have at vantage, to have the advantage of; to be in a more favorable condition than. "He had them at vantage, being tired and harassed with a long march." Bacon. — Vantage ground, superiority of state or place; the place or condition which gives one an advantage over another. "The vantage ground of truth. Bacon. It is these things that give him his actual standing, and it is from this vantage ground that he looks around him. I. Taylor.

VANTAGE Van"tage, v. t.

Defn: To profit; to aid. [Obs.] Spenser.

VANTAGE GAME Van"tage game. (Lawn Tennis)

Defn: The first game after the set is deuce. See Set, n., 9.

VANTAGE POINT Vantage point.

Defn: A point giving advantage; vantage ground.

VANTBRACE; VANTBRASS Vant"brace, Vant"brass, n. Etym: [F. avant fore + bras arm: cf. F. brassard armor for the arm, brace, forearm. Cf. Vambrace.] (Anc. Armor)

Defn: Armor for the arm; vambrace. Milton.

VANT-COURIER Vant"-cou`ri*er, n.

Defn: An avant-courier. See Van-courier. [Obs.] Holland.

VAN'T HOFF'S LAW Van't Hoff's law. [After J.H. van't Hoff, Dutch physical chemist.] (Phys. Chem.)

Defn: The generalization that: when a system is in equilibrium, of the two opposed interactions the endothermic is promoted by raising the temperature, the exothermic by lowering it.

VANWARD Van"ward, a.

Defn: Being on, or towards, the van, or front. "The vanward frontier." De Quincey.

VAP Vap, n. Etym: [See Vapid.]

Defn: That which is vapid, insipid, or lifeless; especially, the lifeless part of liquor or wine. [Obs.] In vain it is to wash a goblet, if you mean to put it nothing but the dead lees and vap of wine. Jer. Taylor.

VAPID Vap"id, a. Etym: [L. vapidus having lost its lire and spirit, vapid; akin to vappa vapid wine, vapor vapor. See Vapor.]

Defn: Having lost its life and spirit; dead; spiritless; insipid; flat; dull; unanimated; as, vapid beer; a vapid speech; a vapid state of the blood. A cheap, bloodless reformation, a guiltless liberty, appear flat and vapid to their taste. Burke. — Vap"id*ly, adv. — Vap"id*ness, n.

VAPIDITY Va*pid"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vapid; vapidness.

VAPOR Va"por, n. Etym: [OE. vapour, OF. vapour, vapor, vapeur, F. vapeur, L. vapor; probably for cvapor, and akin to Gr. kvepti to breathe, smell, Russ. kopote fine soot. Cf. Vapid.] [Written also vapour.]

1. (Physics)

Defn: Any substance in the gaseous, or aëriform, state, the condition of which is ordinarily that of a liquid or solid.

Note: The term vapor is sometimes used in a more extended sense, as identical with gas; and the difference between the two is not so much one of kind as of degree, the latter being applied to all permanently elastic fluids except atmospheric air, the former to those elastic fluids which lose that condition at ordinary temperatures. The atmosphere contains more or less vapor of water, a portion of which, on a reduction of temperature, becomes condensed into liquid water in the form of rain or dew. The vapor of water produced by boiling, especially in its economic relations, is called steam. Vapor is any substance in the gaseous condition at the maximum of density consistent with that condition. This is the strict and proper meaning of the word vapor. Nichol.

2. In a loose and popular sense, any visible diffused substance floating in the atmosphere and impairing its transparency, as smoke, fog, etc. The vapour which that fro the earth glood [glided]. Chaucer. Fire and hail; snow and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word. Ps. cxlviii. 8.

3. Wind; flatulence. [Obs.] Bacon.

4. Something unsubstantial, fleeting, or transitory; unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting. For what is your life It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James iv. 14.

5. pl.

Defn: An old name for hypochondria, or melancholy; the blues. "A fit of vapors." Pope.

6. (Pharm.)

Defn: A medicinal agent designed for administration in the form of inhaled vapor. Brit. Pharm. Vapor bath. (a) A bath in vapor; the application of vapor to the body, or part of it, in a close place; also, the place itself. (b) (Chem.) A small metallic drying oven, usually of copper, for drying and heating filter papers, precipitates, etc.; — called also air bath. A modified form is provided with a jacket in the outside partition for holding water, or other volatile liquid, by which the temperature may be limited exactly to the required degree. — Vapor burner, a burner for burning a vaporized hydrocarbon. — Vapor density (Chem.), the relative weight of gases and vapors as compared with some specific standard, usually hydrogen, but sometimes air. The vapor density of gases and vaporizable substances as compared with hydrogen, when multiplied by two, or when compared with air and multiplied by 28.8, gives the molecular weight. — Vapor engine, an engine worked by the expansive force of a vapor, esp. a vapor other than steam.

VAPOR Va"por, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vapored; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaporing.] Etym: [From Vapor, n.: cf. L. vaporare.] [Written also vapour.]

1. To pass off in fumes, or as a moist, floating substance, whether visible or invisible, to steam; to be exhaled; to evaporate.

2. To emit vapor or fumes. [R.] Running waters vapor not so much as standing waters. Bacon.

3. To talk idly; to boast or vaunt; to brag. Poets used to vapor much after this manner. Milton. We vapor and say, By this time Matthews has beaten them. Walpole.

VAPOR Va"por, v. t.

Defn: To send off in vapor, or as if in vapor; as, to vapor away a heated fluid. [Written also vapour.] He'd laugh to see one throw his heart away, Another, sighing, vapor forth his soul. B. Jonson.

VAPORABILITY Vap`o*ra*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being vaporable.

VAPORABLE Vap"o*ra*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being converted into vapor by the agency of heat; vaporizable.

VAPORATE Vap"o*rate, v. i. Etym: [L. vaporare, vaporatum. See Vapor.]

Defn: To emit vapor; to evaporate. [R.]

VAPORATION Vap`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. vaporation, L. vaporatio.]

Defn: The act or process of converting into vapor, or of passing off in vapor; evaporation. [R.]

VAPORED Va"pored, a.

1. Wet with vapors; moist.

2. Affected with the vapors. See Vapor, n., 5.

VAPORER Va"por*er, n.

Defn: One who vapors; a braggart. Vaporer moth. (Zoöl.) See Orgyia.

VAPOR GALVANIZING Va"por gal"va*niz`ing. (Metal.)

Defn: A process for coating metal (usually iron or steel) surfaces with zinc by exposing them to the vapor of zinc instead of, as in ordinary galvanizing, to molten zinc; — called also Sherardizing. Vapor galvanizing is accomplished by heating the articles to be galvanized together with zinc dust in an air tight receptacle to a temperature of about 600º F., which is 188º below the melting point of zinc, or by exposing the articles to vapor from molten zinc in a separate receptacle, using hydrogen or other reducing gas to prevent oxidation.

VAPORIFEROUS Vap`o*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. vaporifer; vapor + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Conveying or producing vapor.

VAPORIFIC Vap`o*rif"ic, a. Etym: [L. vapor vapor + facere to make.] (Chem.)

Defn: Producing vapor; tending to pass, or to cause to pass, into vapor; thus, volatile fluids are vaporific; heat is a vaporific agent.

VAPORIFORM Va*por"i*form, a.

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

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

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

VAPORING Va"por*ing, a.

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

VAPORISH Va"por*ish, a.

1. Full of vapors; vaporous.

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

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

Defn: Capable of being vaporized into vapor.

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

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

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

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

VAPORIZE Vap"o*rize, v. i.

Defn: To pass off in vapor.

VAPORIZER Vap"o*ri`zer, n.

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

VAPOROSE Va"por*ose`, a.

Defn: Full of vapor; vaporous.

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

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

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

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

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

VAPOROUSNESS Va"por*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being vaporous.

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

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

VAPORY Va"por*y, a.

1. Full of vapors; vaporous.

2. Hypochondriacal; splenetic; peevish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

VARAN Va"ran, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The monitor. See Monitor, 3.

VARANGIAN Va*ran"gi*an, n.

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

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

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

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

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

VARE Vare, n. (Zoöl.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. (Biol.)

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

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

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

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

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

VARIABLE Va"ri*a*ble, n.

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

2. (Math.)

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

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

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

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

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

VARIABLY Va"ri*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a variable manner.

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

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

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

3. (Law)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. (Gram.)

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

4. (Mus.)

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

5. (Alg.)

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

Syn. — Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.

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

Defn: Chicken pox.

VARICES Var"i*ces, n. pl.

Defn: See Varix.

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

Defn: Resembling a varix.

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

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

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

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

2. (Med.)

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

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

Defn: The formation of varices; varicosity.

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

1. The quality or state of being varicose.

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

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

Defn: Excision of a varicosity.

VARICOUS Var"i*cous, a.

Defn: Varicose. [Obs.]

VARIED Va"ried, a.

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

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

Defn: To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; to dapple; to streak; as, to variegate a floor with marble of different colors. The shells are filled with a white spar, which variegates and adds to the beauty of the stone. Woodward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

VARIETAL Va*ri"e*tal, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VARIETY SHOW Variety show.

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

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

Defn: Having different shapes or forms.

VARIFORMED Va"ri*formed, a.

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

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

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

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

Defn: The smallpox.

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

Defn: Variolous.

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

Defn: Inoculation with smallpox.

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

1. A foveola.

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

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

Defn: Variolous.

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

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

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

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

2. (Geol.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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