V

the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, represents a uniform consonant sound, as heard in vain, eve, vow, and move. It is the vocal or sonant correspondent of f. Its form is only a variety of the character by which the vowel U is denoted, the latter being in its origin the cursive character employed with soft materials, while V is better adapted for writing on stone. The two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, the one for the other, and in some dictionaries and other works of reference they are still interchanged and confounded, though they have now as distinct uses as any other two letters in the alphabet. In etymology, v is interchangeable with f, b, and m, and also with w, gu, and du. See W. See also Principles of Pronunciation, § 101.