Vadantes - Valediction

Prev Next
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Vacuum pump . Same as , 1. -- Coloq. Vacuum tube (Phys.), (a) a glass tube provided with platinum electrodes and exhausted, for the passage of the electrical discharge; a Geissler tube. (a) any tube used in electronic devices, containing a vacuum and used to control the flow of electrons in a circuit, as a vacuum diode, triode, tetrode, or pentode. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Torricellian vacuum . See under .
[ Webster]

Vacuum cleaner. A machine for cleaning carpets, tapestry, upholstered work, etc., by suction; -- sometimes called a vacuum.
[Webster Suppl.]

Vadantes (?), n. pl. [NL., from L. vadans, p. pr. of vadare to wade, to ford.] (Zoöl.) An extensive artificial group of birds including the wading, swimming, and cursorial birds.
[ Webster]

Vade (vād), v. i. [For fade.] To fade; hence, to vanish. [Obs.] “ Summer leaves all vaded.” Shak.
[ Webster]

They into dust shall vade. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Vade mecum (?). [L., go with me.] A book or other thing that a person carries with him as a constant companion; a manual; a handbook.
[ Webster]

Vadimony (?), n. [L. vadimonium.] (Law) A bond or pledge for appearance before a judge on a certain day. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vadium (?), n. [LL., from L. vas, vadis, bail.] (Law) Pledge; security; bail. See .
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vadium vivum [LL.] (Law), a living pledge, which exists where an estate is granted until a debt is paid out of its proceeds.
[ Webster]

Vae (?), n. See . [Scot.]
[ Webster]

Vafrous (?), a. [L. vafer.] Crafty; cunning; sly; as, vafrous tricks. [Obs.] Feltham.
[ Webster]

Vagabond (?), a. [F., fr. L. vagabundus, from vagari to stroll about, from vagus strolling. See .] 1. Moving from place to place without a settled habitation; wandering. “Vagabond exile.” Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Floating about without any certain direction; driven to and fro.
[ Webster]

To heaven their prayers
Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds
Blown vagabond or frustrate. Milton.
[ Webster]

3. Being a vagabond; strolling and idle or vicious.
[ Webster]

Vagabond, n. 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.
[ Webster]

A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be. Gen. iv. 12.
[ Webster]

☞ 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 , n., 1. Burrill. Bouvier.
[ Webster]

Vagabond, v. i. To play the vagabond; to wander like a vagabond; to stroll.
[ Webster]

On every part my vagabonding sight
Did cast, and drown mine eyes in sweet delight. Drummond.
[ Webster]

Vagabondage (?), n. [Cf. F. vagabondage.] The condition of a vagabond; a state or habit of wandering about in idleness; vagrancy.
[ Webster]

Vagabondism (?), n. Vagabondage.
[ Webster]

Vagabondize (?), v. i. To play the vagabond; to wander about in idleness.
[ Webster]

Vagabondry (?), n. Vagabondage.
[ Webster]

Vagal (?), a. [See .] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the vagus, or pneumogastric nerves; pneumogastric.
[ Webster]

Vagancy (?), n. [From L. vagans, p. pr. See .] A wandering; vagrancy. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

A thousand vagancies of glory and delight. Milton.
[ Webster]

Vagantes (?), prop. n. pl. [NL., fr. L. vagans, p. pr. of vagari to stroll or wander.] (Zoöl.) 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.
[ Webster]

Vagarious (?), a. Given to, or characterized by, vagaries; capricious; whimsical; crochety.
[ Webster]

Vagary (?), n.; pl. Vagaries (#). [L. vagari to stroll about. See .]
[ Webster]

1. A wandering or strolling. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

2. Hence, a wandering of the thoughts; a wild or fanciful freak; a whim; a whimsical purpose. “The vagaries of a child.” Spectator.
[ Webster]

They changed their minds,
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell. Milton.
[ Webster]

Vagient (?), a. [L. vagiens, p. pr. of vagire to cry like a young child.] Crying like a child. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vagina (?), n.; pl. Vaginæ (#). [L. vagina a scabbard or sheath.]
[ Webster]

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 of the genital canal, or to the cloaca.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) The terminal part of the oviduct in insects and various other invertebrates. See Illust., of .
[ Webster]

3. (Bot.) The basal expansion of certain leaves, which inwraps the stem; a sheath.
[ Webster]

4. (Arch.) The shaft of a terminus, from which the bust or figure seems to issue or arise.
[ Webster]

Vaginal (?), a. [Cf. F. vaginal.]
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the vagina of the genital canal; as, the vaginal artery.
[ Webster]

Vaginant (?), a. [Cf. F. vaginant. See .] Serving to invest, or sheathe; sheathing.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vaginant leaf (Bot.), a leaf investing the stem or branch by its base, which has the form of a tube.
[ Webster]

{ Vaginate (?), Vaginated (?), } a. [See .] Invested with, or as if with, a sheath; as, a vaginate stem, or one invested by the tubular base of a leaf.
[ Webster]

Vaginati (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of birds comprising the sheathbills.
[ Webster]

Vaginervose (?), a. [L. vagus wandering + E. nervose.] (Bot.) Having the nerves, or veins, placed in apparent disorder.
[ Webster]

Vaginicola (?), prop. n. [NL., from L. vagina sheath + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.) A genus of Infusoria which form minute vaselike or tubular cases in which they dwell.
[ Webster]

Vaginismus (?), n. [NL.] (Med.) A painful spasmodic contraction of the vagina, often rendering copulation impossible.
[ Webster]

Vaginitis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Med.) Inflammation of the vagina, or the genital canal, usually of its mucous lining membrane.
[ Webster]

Vaginopennous (?), a. [L. vagina a sheath + penna a feather, pl. pennae a wing.] (Zoöl.) Having elytra; sheath-winged. [R.]
[ Webster]

Vaginula (?), n. [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.
[ Webster]

Vaginule (?), n. (Bot.) A vaginula.
[ Webster]

Vagissate (?), v. i. [L. vagari to stroll or wander.] To caper or frolic. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vagous (?), a. [L. vagus. See .] Wandering; unsettled. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
[ Webster]

Vagrancy (?), n. The quality or state of being a vagrant; a wandering without a settled home; an unsettled condition; vagabondism.
[ Webster]

Threatened away into banishment and vagrancy. Barrow.
[ Webster]

Vagrant (?), a. [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. .]
[ Webster]

1. Moving without certain direction; wandering; erratic; unsettled.
[ Webster]

That beauteous Emma vagrant courses took. Prior.
[ Webster]

While leading this vagrant and miserable life, Johnson fell in love. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

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

Vagrant, n. One who strolls from place to place; one who has no settled habitation; an idle wanderer; a sturdy beggar; an incorrigible rogue; a vagabond.
[ Webster]

Vagrants and outlaws shall offend thy view. Prior.
[ Webster]

Vagrantly, adv. In a vagrant manner.
[ Webster]

Vagrantness, n. State of being vagrant; vagrancy.
[ Webster]

Vague (vāg), a. [Compar. Vaguer (vāgẽr); superl. Vaguest.] [F. vague, or L. vagus. See , v. i.]
[ Webster]

1. Wandering; vagrant; vagabond. [Archaic] “To set upon the vague villains.” Hayward.
[ Webster]

She danced along with vague, regardless eyes. Keats.
[ Webster]

2. Unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as, a vague idea; a vague proposition.
[ Webster]

This faith is neither a mere fantasy of future glory, nor a vague ebullition of feeling. I. Taylor.
[ Webster]

The poet turned away, and gave himself up to a sort of vague revery, which he called thought. Hawthorne.
[ Webster]

3. Proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as, a vague report.
[ Webster]

Some legend strange and vague. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vague year . See Sothiac year, under .
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Unsettled; indefinite; unfixed; ill-defined; ambiguous; hazy; loose; lax; uncertain.
[ Webster]

Vague, n. [Cf. F. vague.] An indefinite expanse. [R.]
[ Webster]

The gray vague of unsympathizing sea. Lowell.
[ Webster]

Vague, v. i. [F. vaguer, L. vagari, fr. vagus roaming.] To wander; to roam; to stray. [Obs.] “[The soul] doth vague and wander.” Holland.
[ Webster]

Vague, n. A wandering; a vagary. [Obs.] Holinshed.
[ Webster]

Vaguely, adv. In a vague manner.
[ Webster]

What he vaguely hinted at, but dared not speak. Hawthorne.
[ Webster]

Vagueness, n. The quality or state of being vague.
[ Webster]

Vagus (?), a. [L., wandering.] (Anat.) Wandering; -- applied especially to the pneumogastric nerve. -- n. The vagus, or pneumogastric, nerve.
[ Webster]

Vail (vāl), n. & v. t. Same as . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vail, n. [Aphetic form of avail, n.]
[ Webster]

1. Avails; profit; return; proceeds. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

My house is as 'twere the cave where the young outlaw hoards the stolen vails of his occupation. Chapman.
[ Webster]

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

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

Vail, v. t. [Aphetic form of avale. See , .] [Written also vale, and veil.] 1. To let fall; to allow or cause to sink. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vail your regard
Upon a wronged, I would fain have said, a maid! Shak.
[ Webster]

2. To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like.
[ Webster]

France must vail her lofty-plumed crest! Shak.
[ Webster]

Without vailing his bonnet or testifying any reverence for the alleged sanctity of the relic. Sir. W. Scott.
[ Webster]

Vail (vāl), v. i. To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like. [Written also vale, and veil.] [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity. South.
[ Webster]

Vail, n. Submission; decline; descent. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vailer (?), n. One who vails. [Obs.] Overbury.
[ Webster]

Vaimure (?), n. An outer, or exterior, wall. See . [Obs.] Hakluyt.
[ Webster]

Vain (vān), a. [Compar. Vainer (?); superl. Vainest.] [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. , , to boast.] 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. “Thy vain excuse.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. xxxix. 6.
[ Webster]

Let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v. 6.
[ Webster]

Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak.
[ Webster]

Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. Destitute of force or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt.
[ Webster]

Bring no more vain oblations. Isa. i. 13.
[ Webster]

Vain is the force of man
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.).
[ Webster]

The minstrels played on every side,
Vain of their art. Dryden.
[ Webster]

4. Showy; ostentatious.
[ Webster]

Load some vain church with old theatric state. Pope.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal; shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant; deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling.
[ Webster]

Vain, n. Vanity; emptiness; -- now used only in the phrase Coloq. in vain .
[ Webster]

Coloq. For vain . See In vain. [Obs.] Shak. -- Coloq. In vain , to no purpose; without effect; ineffectually. “ In vain doth valor bleed.” Milton. “ In vain they do worship me.” Matt. xv. 9. -- Coloq. To take the name of God in vain , to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.
[ Webster]

Vainglorious (?), a. Feeling or indicating vainglory; elated by vanity; boastful. “Arrogant and vainglorious expression.” Sir M. Hale. -- Vaingloriously, adv. -- Vaingloriousness, n.
[ Webster]

Vainglory (?), n. [Vain + glory.] Excessive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind; vain show; boastfulness.
[ Webster]

He had nothing of vainglory. Bacon.
[ Webster]

The man's undone forever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break't himself in vainglory. Shak.
[ Webster]

Vainly (?), adv. In a vain manner; in vain.
[ Webster]

Vainness, n. The quality or state of being vain.
[ Webster]

Vair (vâr), n. [F. vair, from OF. vair, a., L. varius various, variegated. See , and cf. .] 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.
[ Webster]

No vair or ermine decked his garment. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Counter vair (Her.), a fur resembling vair, except in the arrangement of the patches or figures.
[ Webster]

Vairy (?), a. [F. vairé. See , n.] (Her.) Charged with vair; variegated with shield-shaped figures. See .
[ Webster]

Vaishnava (vīshnȧvȧ), n. [Skr. vaishṇava.] (Hindu Myth.) A worshiper of the god Vishnu in any of his incarnations.
[ Webster]

Vaishnavism (?), n. The worship of Vishnu.
[ Webster]

Vaisya (?), n. [Skr. vaiçya.] The third of the four great original castes among the Hindus, now either extinct or partially represented by the mercantile class of Banyas. See the Note under , 1.
[ Webster]

Vaivode (?), n. [Cf. F. vayvode. See .] See .
[ Webster]

Vakeel (?), n. [Ar. wakīl.] A native attorney or agent; also, an ambassador. [India]
[ Webster]

Valance (?), n. [Perhaps fr. OF. avalant descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler to go down, let down, descend (cf. ); but probably from the town of Valence in France.]
[ Webster]

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.]
[ Webster]

Valance of Venice gold in needlework. Shak.
[ Webster]

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

Valance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Valanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Valancing (?).] To furnish with a valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery.
[ Webster]

His old fringed chair valanced around with party-colored worsted bobs. Sterne.
[ Webster]

Vale (vāl), n. [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. 'elos low ground, marsh meadow. Cf. , to lower, .] A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. “ Make me a cottage in the vale.” Tennyson.
[ Webster]

Beyond this vale of tears there is a life above. Montgomery.
[ Webster]

In those fair vales, by nature formed to please. Harte.
[ Webster]

☞ Vale is more commonly used in poetry, and valley in prose and common discourse.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Valley; dingle; dell; dale.
[ Webster]

Vale, n. See 2d , 3.
[ Webster]

Valediction (?), n. [L., valedicere, valedictum, to say farewell; vale farewell (imperative of valere to be strong or well) + dicere to say. See , .] A farewell; a bidding farewell. Donne.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z