Thomas Davidson

“ Victoria, vik-tō′ri-a, n. a genus of gigantic aquatic plants of the water-lily family, native to South America, its one species, Victoria regia, named after Queen Victoria: a low, light, four-wheeled carriage, seating two, having a calash top.—adj. Victō′rian, relating to the reign of Queen Victoria, which began in 1837: relating to the colony of Victoria in Australia.—Victoria cross, a decoration, consisting of a bronze Maltese cross, founded by Queen Victoria in 1856, and awarded for conspicuous bravery on the field. ”

“ Volunteer, vol-un-tēr′, n. one who enters any service, esp. military, voluntarily or of his own free choice: a soldier belonging to any body other than the regular army.—adj. entering into service voluntarily.—v.t. to offer voluntarily.—v.i. to enter into any service of one's own free-will or without being asked. [Fr. volontaire—L. voluntarius.]
Voluptuary, vō-lup′tū-a-ri, n. a voluptuous person, or one excessively given to bodily enjoyments or luxury: a sensualist.—adj. promoting sensual pleasure. ”

“ Viscos′ity, the property of being viscous: (phys.) that property of matter which is seen when the relative motion of parts of any body or substance decays on its being left to itself. [Low L. viscosus, sticky—L. viscum, bird-lime, mistletoe; cog. with Gr. ixos, mistletoe.]
Viscum, vis′kum, n. a genus of parasitic plants, including the mistletoe. ”

“ Vī′talise, to make vital or alive: to give life to or furnish with the vital principle.—ns. Vī′talism, the doctrine that there is a vital principle distinct from the organisation of living bodies, which directs all their actions and functions; Vī′talist, one who holds this doctrine.—adj. Vītalis′tic.—n. Vītal′ity, quality of being vital: principle or power of life: capacity to endure and flourish.—adv. Vī′tally.—n.pl. Vī′tals, the interior organs essential for life: the part of any whole necessary for its existence.—n. ”

“ Volt, vōlt, n. a turn or bound: a sudden movement or leap to avoid a thrust: a gait of two treads made by a horse going sideways round a centre.—n. Vol′tage. [Fr. volte—It. volta—L. volvĕre, volutum, to turn.]
Volt, vōlt, n. the unit of electro-motive force now in universal use among electricians, defined legally in terms of the ohm and ampere.—adj. Vol′ta-elec′tric, of or pertaining to galvanism.—n. Vol′ta-electrom′eter, an instrument for measuring electric currents.—adj. Vol′ta-electromō′tive.—n. Vōl′tage, electro-motive force reckoned in volts.—adj. ”

“ Ves′ting, cloth for men's waistcoats.—Vest in interest, to devolve as matter of right without reference to immediate right of possession. [Fr. veste—L. vestis.]
Vesta, ves′ta, n. among the Romans, the chaste goddess that presided over the family, in whose temple the sacred fire was continually kept burning: the fourth planetoid discovered in 1807: a match or waxlight:—pl. Ves′tas.—adj. ”

“ Volvox, vol′voks, n. a genus of simple organisms found in ponds, canals, &c., being fresh-water algæ, consisting of green flagellate cells, united by protoplasmic bridges in a hollow spherical colony. ”

“ Ves′tal, pertaining to or consecrated to the service of Vesta: chaste: pure.—n. in the ancient Roman religion, one of the six patrician virgins consecrated to Vesta: a virgin, a nun, a woman of spotless chastity.
Vestibule, ves′ti-būl, n. an open court or porch before a house: a hall next the entrance to a house: (anat.) a small bony cavity forming part of the ear—also Vestib′-ūlum.—v.t. ”

“ Victim, vik′tim, n. a living being offered as a sacrifice: some thing or person destroyed in the pursuit of an object: a person suffering injury: a dupe.—n. Victimīsā′tion.—v.t. Vic′timīse, to make a victim of: to cheat.—n. Vic′timīser, a swindler. [Fr.,—L. victima, a beast for sacrifice, adorned with the fillet—vincīre, to bind.] ”

“ Vielle, vi-el′, n. an old form of viol. [Fr.]
Viennese, vi-e-nēs′, or -nēz′, adj. pertaining to Vienna.—n. an inhabitant, or the inhabitants, of Vienna.
View, vū, n. a seeing: sight: reach of the sight: whole extent seen: that which is seen: inspection, as by a jury, of the place of a crime, of the corpse, &c.: direction in which a thing is seen: the picture of a scene: a sketch: mental survey: mode of looking at or receiving: opinion: intention: (Shak.) show, appearance.—v.t. to see: to look at attentively: to examine intellectually.—adj. ”

“ Volucrine, vol′ū-krin, adj. pertaining to birds, bird-like. [L. volucris, a bird—volāre, to fly.]
Volume, vol′ūm, n. a roll or scroll, which was the form of ancient books: a book, whether complete in itself or part of a work: a rounded mass, convolution: cubical content: a quantity: dimensions: fullness of voice.—v.i. to swell.—adj. Vol′umed, having the form of a volume or roll: of volume or bulk.—ns. Volumenom′eter, an instrument for measuring the volume of a solid body by the quantity of fluid it displaces; Vol′umēter, an instrument for measuring the volumes of gases.—adjs. ”

“ Vit′rify, to make into glass.—v.i. to become glass.—ns. Vitrī′na, a genus of land molluscs forming a connecting-link between the slugs and true snails—the glass-snail; Vit′rine, a show-case made of glass and used to protect delicate articles. [L. vitrum, glass—vidēre, to see.]
Vitriol, vit′ri-ol, n. the popular name of sulphuric acid: a soluble sulphate of a metal—green vitriol=sulphate of iron, blue vitriol=sulphate of copper, white vitriol=sulphate of zinc.—v.t. Vit′riolāte, to convert into vitriol.—n. Vitriolā′tion, the act or process of converting into vitriol.—adjs. ”

“ Voc′ular (rare) , vocal.—Vocal chords, two elastic membraneous folds of the larynx capable of being stretched or relaxed; Vocal music, music produced by the human voice alone, as opposed to Instrumental music. ”

“ Vī′olence, the state or quality of being violent: force, physical or moral: unjust force: outrage: profanation: injury: rape.—adv. Vī′olently.—Do violence on (Shak.) , to attack, murder; Do violence to, to outrage, injure. [Fr.,—L. violentus—vis, force.]
Violet, vī′ō-let, n. any plant of genus Viola, of many species, with a flower generally of some shade of blue, but also white and yellow, and most often fragrant: the colour of the violet, a bluish or light purple.—adj. ”

“ Vital principle, that principle on which the life of an organism is thought to depend; Vital statistics, a division of statistics dealing with the facts and problems concerning population. [L. vitalis—vita, life—vivĕre, to live; cog. with Gr. bios, life.]
Vitellus, vī-tel′us, n. the yolk of an egg.—adjs. Vit′ellary, Vitell′ine, pertaining to the vitellus, or forming such.—n. Vitell′icle, a yolk-sac.—adj. Vitelligenous (-ij′-) , producing yolk. [L., 'a yolk,' a transferred use of vitellus—vitulus, a calf.]
Vitex, vī′teks, n. a genus of trees or shrubs of the natural order Verbenaceæ. ”

“ Viburnum, vī-bur′num, n. a genus of plants of the order Caprifoliaceæ, the species being shrubs with simple leaves, natives chiefly of the northern parts of the world.—Viburnum opulus is the Guelder Rose or Snowball Tree; Viburnum tinus, the Laurustinus. [L., 'the wayfaring tree.']
Vicar, vik′ar, n. one who holds authority as the delegate or substitute of another: a parson of a parish where the tithes are impropriate to a layman or to a chapter, he receiving only the smaller tithes or a salary: (R.C. Church) a bishop's assistant who exercises jurisdiction in his name.—ns. ”

“ Vestlet, vest′let, n. a tubicolous sea-anemone of genus Cerianthus.
Vestment, vest′ment, n. something put on, a garment: a long outer robe: (pl.) articles of dress worn by the clergy during divine service and the administration of the sacraments—amice, alb, girdle, maniple, stole, chasuble, &c.: covering of the altar. [L. vestimentum—vestīre, to clothe—vestis, a garment.] ”

“ Vestib′ūlar, Vestib′ūlāte. [Fr.,—L. vestibulum—traced by some to ve, apart, stabulum, abode; by others to vestis, garment, as being the place where the outer clothing is put on or off in entering or leaving a house.]
Vestige, ves′tij, n. a track or footprint: traces or remains of something: (biol.) an organ or tissue which still survives but has lost the utility it possessed, but corresponding to a useful part in an organism of lower type.—adjs. ”

“ Vigneron, vēn-ye-rong, n. a vine-grower. [Fr.]
Vignette, vin-yet′, n. any small ornamental engraving, design, or photograph not enclosed by a definite border: (orig.) an ornamental flourish of vine leaves and tendrils on manuscripts and books.—v.t. to treat or produce in such a style.—ns. Vignett′er; Vignett′ing-glass, -pā′per, a glass frame, mask, used in printing vignette pictures; Vignett′ist, one who makes vignettes. [Fr.,—vigne—L. vinea, a vine.]
Vigour, vig′ur, n. active strength: physical force: vital strength in animals or plants: strength of mind: energy.—adj. ”

“ Viril′ity, the state or quality of being a man: the power of a full-grown male: the power of procreation: manhood. [L. virilis—vir, a man; cog. with Gr. hērōs, a hero, Old High Ger. wer, a man.]
Virole, vi-rōl′, n. a ferrule: (her.) a hoop or ring. [O. Fr.; a doublet of ferrule.]
Virtu, vėr′tōō, or -tōō′, n. a love of the fine arts: taste for curiosities: objects of art or antiquity.—adjs. Virtuose′, Virtuō′sic, exhibiting the qualities and skill of a virtuoso.—ns. Virtuos′ity, lovers of the elegant arts as a class: exceptional skill in some of the fine arts ”

“ Vow′el, Vow′elise, to insert vowel signs in words written primarily with consonants only.—ns. Vow′elism, the use of vowels; Vow′elist, one given to vowelism.—adjs. Vow′elled, furnished with vowels; Vow′elless, without vowels; Vow′elly, full of vowels.—Vowel points, marks inserted in consonantal word to indicate vowels. [Fr. voyelle—L. vocalis—vox, vocis, the voice.]
Vox, voks, n. voice: a voice or song part.—Vox angelica, or cælestis, in organ-building, a stop producing a wavy effect; Vox humana, in organ-building, a reed-stop producing tones resembling those of the human voice. ”

“ Make a virtue of necessity, to do as if from inclination or sense of duty something one must needs do; Seven principal Virtues, faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude—the first three the theological, the last four the moral virtues ”

“ Vespertilio, ves-pėr-til′i-ō, n. a Linnæan genus of mammals, of order Primates—the modern order Chiroptera.—adj. Vespertil′ionine.
Vespiary, ves′pi-a-ri, n. a hornet's nest.—adj. Ves′piform, Ves′pine, wasp-like.
Vessel, ves′el, n. a vase or utensil for holding something: a hollow structure made to float on water, used for conveyance, &c.: a tube in which fluids, as blood, &c., are contained: a person considered as an agent of God.—The weaker vessel, a phrase colloquially applied to a woman, in allusion to 1 Pet. iii. 7. [O. Fr. vessel (Fr. vaisseau) —L. vascellum, dim. of vas, a vase.] ”

“ Vict′ualling-off′ice, -ship, an office supplying, a ship conveying, provisions to the navy; Vict′ualling-yard, a public establishment for the collection and supply of provisions to the navy.—Licensed Victualler, an innkeeper who is allowed to sell spirits, wines, &c. [O. Fr. vitaille—Low L. victualia—L. victualis, relating to living—vivĕre, victum, to live.]
Vicugna, Vicuña, vi-kōō′nya, or vi-kū′na, n. a species or variety of the South American genus Auchenia (allied to the camels) , which also includes the llama, alpaca, and the guanaco.—n. ”

“ Vic′tor, Victō′rious, relating to victory: superior in contest: having overcome an enemy: producing or indicating victory.—adv. Victō′riously.—ns. Victō′riousness; Vic′tory, a conquering: success in any contest: a battle gained: a female deity of the Greeks personifying success in battle.—Cadmean victory, one as fatal to the victors as to the vanquished—from the armed men who grew up from the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus, and slew one another all but five, who became the ancestors of the Thebans ”

“ Virago, vi-rā′go, or vī-rā′gō, n. a masculine woman: a bold, impudent woman: a termagant.—adjs. Viragin′ian, Viraginous (viraj′-) .—n. Viragin′ity. [L.,—vir, a man.]
Vire, vēr, n. a crossbow-bolt: (her.) an annulet. [Fr.]
Virelay, vir′e-lā, n. an ancient kind of French poem in short lines, and consisting of only two rhymes, their order as well as the length of the verses being arbitrary. [Fr. virelai—virer, to turn, lai, a song.]
Vireo, vir′ē-ō, n. a genus of American singing birds, the greenlets. ”

“ Vis′ionary, affected by visions: apt to see visions, imaginative: existing in imagination only: not real.—n. one who sees visions: one who forms impracticable schemes.—adj. Vis′ioned (rare) , inspired so as to see visions: seen in a vision, spectral.—n. Vis′ionist, a visionary person, one who believes in visions.—adj. ”

“ Vitiate, vish′i-āt, v.t. to render faulty or defective: to make less pure: to deprave: to taint—earlier Vi′ciate.—ns. Vitiā′tion; Vi′tiātor; Vitios′ity, state or quality of being vicious. [L. vitiāre, -ātum—vitium. See Vice (2) .]
Vitilitigation, vit-i-lit-i-gā′shun, n. vexatious litigation.—v.i. Vitilit′igate.
Vitis, vī′tis, n. a genus of plants, including the grape.—n. Vit′icide, a vine-destroyer, vine-pest.—adj. Vitic′olous, inhabiting, or produced upon, the vine.—ns. Vit′iculture, cultivation of the vine; Viticul′tūrist. [L. vitis, a vine—viēre, to twist.] ”

“ Victual, vīt′l, n. provision of food, that which is necessary for living, food for human beings (gener. in pl.) .—v.t. to supply with victuals or food: to store with provisions:—pr.p. Victualling (vit′l-ing) ; pa.t. and pa.p. Victualled (vit′ld) .—ns. Vict′uallage, provisions; Victualler (vīt′l-ėr) , one who supplies provisions.—adj. Vict′ualless.—ns. Vict′ualling-bill, a customs document warranting the captain of an outward-bound vessel to ship bonded stores for the voyage ”

“ Vetch′y, abounding with vetches: (Spens.) consisting of vetches. [O.Fr. veche (Fr. vesce) —L. vicia, akin to vincīre, to bind.]
Veteran, vet′e-ran, adj. old, experienced: long exercised, esp. in military life.—n. one long exercised in any service, esp. in war.—v.t. Vet′eranise, to make veteran.—v.i. (U.S.) to re-enlist for military service. [L. veteranus—vetus, veteris, old.]
Veterinary, vet′e-ri-na-ri, adj. pertaining to the art of treating the diseases of domestic animals: professing or practising this art.—n. one skilled in the diseases of domestic animals.—Also Veterinā′rian. ”