Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Vouch'er, n. p. 1485One who vouches, or gives witness or full attestation to any thing. Will his vouchers vouch him no more? Shak. The great writers of that age stand up together as vouchers for each other's reputation.…Vouch'er or Vouch'or, n. p. 1485(Law.) The tenant in a writ of right; one who calls in another to establish his warranty of title. In common recoveries, there may be a single voucher or double vouchers. Blackstone.Vouch-sāfe′, v. t. p. 1485To permit to be done without danger. 2. To condescend to grant. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? Shak. It is not said by the apostle that God vouchsafed to the heathen the means of…Vouch-sāfe', v. i. p. 1485To condescend; to deign; to yield; to descend or stoop. Vouchsafe, illustrious Ormond, to behold What power the charms of beauty had of old. Dryden.Vouch-sāfe'ment, n. p. 1485The act of vouchsafing, or that which is vouchsafed; a gift or grant in condescension. “God’s...greatest communicated vouch-sāfe'ments.”Vōuzsoir, n. p. 1485(Arch.) One of the wedge-like stones forming part of an arch. Gwilt.Vow, n. p. 1485A solemn promise made to God, or to some deity; an act by which one consecrates or devotes himself wholly or in part, for a longer or shorter time, to some act or service; a devotion of one's self.…Vow, v. t. p. 1485To give, consecrate, or dedicate to God by a solemn promise; to devote. When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay it. Eccles. v. 4. That vows a long and weary pilgrimage. Shak. 2. To assert solemnly…Vow, v. i. p. 1485To make a vow, or solemn promise. Henceforth I vow it shall be so. Shak.Vow'el, n. p. 1485(Gram.) A voice-sound; a constituent of the spoken alphabet other than a consonant; also, a letter or character which represents such a sound; an utterance of the human voice made through a more open…Vow'el, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, a vowel; vocal.Vow'eled, a. p. 1485Furnished with vowels. [Written also vowelled.]Vow'el-ish, a. p. 1485Of the nature of a vowel. [Rare.] The power [of w] is always vowelish, even where it leads the vowel in any syllable. B. Jonson.Vow'el-ism, n. p. 1485The use of vowels. [Rare.]Vow'er, n. p. 1485One who makes a vow.Vow'-fĕl'low, n. p. 1485One bound by the same vow. [Rare.]Voy'age, n. p. 1485Originally, a passage on the way; a journey in general; but now chiefly confined to a passing by sea or water from one place, port, or country, to another; especially, a passing or journey by water…Voy'age, v. i. p. 1485To take a voyage or journey; especially, to sail or pass by water. A mind forever Voyaging through strange seas of thought alone. Wordsworth.Voy'age, v. t. p. 1485To travel; to pass over. I with pain Voyaged the unreal, vast, unbounded deep. Milton.Voy'age-a-ble, a. p. 1485Capable of being sailed over; navigable.Voy'a-ger, n. p. 1485One who sails or passes by sea or water.Voyageur, n. p. 1485A traveler;—the Canadian name of a class of men employed by the fur companies, &c., in transporting goods by the rivers and across the land, to and from the remote stations at the north-west.Voy'ol, n. p. 1485(Naut.) (a.) A large rope used in raising an anchor, when the common method by the messenger is found insufficient. (b.) The block through which the messenger passes. [Written also viol and voyal.]…Vōx, n. p. 1485A voice.Vraisemblance, n. p. 1485The appearance of truth.Vug or Vugh, n. p. 1485A cavity in a lode. [Written also vogle.]Vŭl'can p. 1485(Rom. Myth.) The god of fire, who presided over the working of metals; the husband of Venus.Vul-cā’nĭ-an, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, Vulcan, or to works in iron or other metals. “Ingenious allusions to the Vulcanian panoply which Achilles lent to his feeble friend.” Macaulay. 2. (Geol.) The same as PLUTONIAN…Vŭl'can-ist, n. p. 1485A volcanist. See VOLCANIST.Vŭl'can-i-zā'tion, n. p. 1485The art or process of imparting new properties to caoutchouc by causing it to combine with sulphur through the agency of a high temperature, a method discovered by C. Goodyear, of New York. This may…Vŭl'can-īze, v. t. p. 1485To change the properties of, as caoutchouc, or India rubber, by the process of vulcanization.Vŭl'gar, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, the mass or multitude of people; common; general; ordinary; public; hence, in general use; vernacular. “As any the most vulgar thing to sense.” Shak. “Had brought the New…Vŭl'gar, n. p. 1485The common people. “To show us what a miserable, credulous, deluded thing that creature is, called the vulgar.” Milton. These vile vulgars are extremely proud. Chapman. The vulgar imagine the…Vul-gāʹri-an, n. p. 1485A vulgar person; one who has vulgar ideas. [Rare.]Vŭlʹgar-ism, n. p. 1485Grossness of manners; vulgarity. “The vulgarism of ordinary life in any country.” Reynolds. 2. A vulgar phrase or expression. A fastidious taste will find offense in the occasional vulgarisms, or…Vul-gär'ity, n. p. 1485The quality of being vulgar; mean condition of life; the state of the lower classes of society. 2. Grossness or clownishness of manners or language. “The reprobate vulgarity of the frequenters of…Vŭl'gar-ize, v. t. p. 1485To make vulgar. “Exhortation vulgarized by low wit.” Knox.Vŭl'gar-ly, adv. p. 1485In a vulgar manner; in the ordinary manner among the common people; commonly. Such an one we call vulgarly a desperate person. Hammond. 2. Meanly; rudely; clownishly.Vŭl'gar-ness, n. p. 1485The state or quality of being vulgar; vulgarity.Vŭl'gate, n. p. 1485A very ancient Latin version of the Scriptures, and the only one which the Roman Catholic church admits to be authentic;—so called from its common use in the Latin church.Vŭl'gate, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, the old Latin version of the Scriptures.Vŭl'ner-a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 1485State of being vulnerable.Vŭl'ner-a-ble, a. p. 1485Capable of being wounded; susceptible of wounds or external injuries; as, a vulnerable body. Achilles was vulnerable in his heel; and there will never be wanting a Paris to infix the dart. Dwight. 2.…Vŭl'ner-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1485The state or quality of being vulnerable; vulnerability.Vŭl'ner-a-ry, a. p. 1485Useful in healing wounds; adapted to the cure of external injuries; as, vulnerary plants or potions. “Such vulnerary remedies.” W. Scott.Vŭl'ner-a-ry, n. p. 1485(Med.) Any plant, drug, or composition, useful in the cure of wounds; as, certain unguents and balsams are used as vulneraries.Vŭl'ner-āte, v. t. p. 1485To wound; to hurt. [Obs.]Vŭl'ner-ā'tion, n. p. 1485The act of wounding. [Obs.] Pearson.Vŭl'ner-ōse', a. p. 1485Full of wounds.Vul-nĭf'ic or Vul-nĭf'ic-al, a. p. 1485Causing wounds; inflicting wounds; wounding.Vul-nōse', a. p. 1485Vulnerose.Vŭl’pine, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, the fox; resembling the fox; cunning; crafty; artful.Vŭl′pi-nite, n. p. 1485(Min.) A variety of anhydrite, containing some silica, and presenting a grayish-white color, and high luster. Dana.Vält'äre, n. p. 1485(Ornith.) An accipitrine bird of the genus Vultur; any species of the vulture family. Vultures have a large and strong beak, the nostrils pierced transversely to its base, the head and neck without…Vŭlt’ūr-ine, a. p. 1485Of, or pertaining to, the vulture; having the qualities of the vulture; resembling the vulture; rapacious. The vulturine nose, which smells nothing but corruption, is no credit to its possessor. C.…Vŭlt'ūr-ish, a. p. 1485Like a vulture.Vŭlt'ūr-ōŭs, a. p. 1485Like a vulture; rapacious.Vŭl'vi-fōrm, a. p. 1485(Bot.) Like a cleft with projecting edges. Craig.Vȳ'ing, p. pr. p. 1485of vie. See VIE.W p. 1486W, the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, takes its written form and its name from the repetition of a V, this being the form of the Roman capital letter which we call U. Most of the modern…