Vanessa - Vaporization

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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.
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Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane. Chaucer.
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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.
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3. (Zoöl.) The rhachis and web of a feather taken together.
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4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc.
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Coloq. Vane of a leveling staff . (Surv.) Same as , 3.
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Vanessa (vănĕssȧ), n. [Probably from Swift's poem of Cadenus and Vanessa. See , in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.] (Zoöl.) 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.
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Vanessian (?), n. (Zoöl.) A vanessa.
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Vanfoss (vănfŏs), n. [F. avant-fossé; avant before + fossé ditch. Cf. .] (Fort.) A ditch on the outside of the counterscarp, usually full of water.
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Vang (?), n. [D. vangen to catch, seize. See .] (Naut.) A rope to steady the peak of a gaff.
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Vanglo (?), n. (Bot.) Benne (Sesamum orientale); also, its seeds; -- so called in the West Indies.
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Vanguard (?), n. [For vantguard, avantguard, F. avant-garde; avant before, fore + garde guard. See , , , and , and cf. , , of an army, .] (Mil.) The troops who march in front of an army; the advance guard; the van.
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Vanilla (?), n. [NL., fr. Sp. vainilla, dim. of Sp. vaina a sheath, a pod, L. vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods.]
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1. (Bot.) A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants, natives of tropical America.
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2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and Vanilla 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.
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☞ As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful.
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Coloq. Cuban vanilla , a sweet-scented West Indian composite shrub (Eupatorium Dalea). -- Coloq. Vanilla bean , the long capsule of the vanilla plant. -- Coloq. Vanilla grass . Same as Holy grass, under .
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Vanillate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of vanillic acid.
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Vanillic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, vanilla or vanillin; resembling vanillin; specifically, designating an alcohol and an acid respectively, vanillin being the intermediate aldehyde.
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Vanillin (?), n. (Chem.) 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.
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Vanilloes (?), n. pl. An inferior kind of vanilla, the pods of Vanilla Pompona.
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Vanillyl (?), n. [Vanillic + -yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical characteristic of vanillic alcohol.
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Vaniloquence (?), n. [L. vaniloquentia; vanus vain + loquentia talk, loqui to speak.] Vain or foolish talk. [Obs.]
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Vaniloquent (?), a. Talking foolishly. [Obs.]
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Vanish (vănĭsh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vanished (vănĭsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Vanishing.] [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 , and cf. , .]
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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.
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The horse vanished . . . out of sight. Chaucer.
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Go; vanish into air; away! Shak.
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The champions vanished from their posts with the speed of lightning. Sir W. Scott.
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Gliding from the twilight past to vanish among realities. Hawthorne.
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2. To be annihilated or lost; to pass away. “All these delights will vanish.” Milton.
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Vanish (vănĭsh), n. (Phon.) The brief terminal part of a 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.
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☞ The vanish is included by Mr. Bell under the general term glide.
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Vanishing (?), a. & n. from , v.
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Coloq. Vanishing fraction (Math.), a fraction which reduces to the form 0/0 for a particular value of the variable which enters it, usually in consequence of the existence of a common factor in both terms of the fraction, which factor becomes 0 for this particular value of the variable. Math. Dict. -- Coloq. Vanishing line (Persp.), the intersection of the parallel of any original plane and the picture; one of the lines converging to the vanishing point. -- Coloq. Vanishing point (Persp.), the point to which all parallel lines in the same plane tend in the representation. Gwilt. -- Coloq. Vanishing stress (Phon.), stress of voice upon the closing portion of a syllable. Rush.
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Vanishment (?), n. A vanishing. [Obs.]
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Vanity (?), n.; pl. Vanities (#). [OE. vanite, F. vanité, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See .]
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1. The quality or state of being vain; want of substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity.
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Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Eccl. i. 2.
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Here I may well show the vanity of that which is reported in the story of Walsingham. Sir J. Davies.
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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.
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The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was galled. Macaulay.
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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.
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Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher. Eccl. i. 2.
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Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come. Sir P. Sidney.
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[Sin] with vanity had filled the works of men. Milton.
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Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled,
That all her vanities at once are dead;
Succeeding vanities she still regards. Pope.
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4. One of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See , n., 5.
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You . . . take vanity the puppet's part. Shak.
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5. same as .
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6. A cabinet built around a bathroom sink, usually with a countertop and sometimes drawers.
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Syn. -- Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness; self-sufficiency. See , and .
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Vanity box. 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.
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Vanjas (?), n. (Zoöl.) 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.
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Vanner (?), n. (Mining) A machine for concentrating ore. See .
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Vanner hawk (?). The kestrel. [Prov. Eng.]
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Vanning, n. (Mining) A process by which ores are washed on a shovel, or in a vanner.
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Vanquish (văṉkwĭsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vanquished (văṉkwĭsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Vanquishing.] [OE. venquishen, venquissen, venkisen, F. vaincre, pret. vainquis, OF. veintre, pret. venqui, venquis (cf. an OF. infin. vainquir), fr. L. vincere; akin to AS. wīg war, battle, wīgend a warrior, wīgan to contend, fight, OHG. wīgant a warrior, wīgan to fight, Icel. vīg battle, Goth. weihan to fight, contend. Cf. , , , .] 1. To conquer, overcome, or subdue in battle, as an enemy. Hakluyt.
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They . . . vanquished the rebels in all encounters. Clarendon.
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2. Hence, to defeat in any contest; to get the better of; to put down; to refute.
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This bold assertion has been fully vanquished in a late reply to the Bishop of Meaux's treatise. Atterbury.
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For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still. Goldsmith.
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Syn. -- To conquer; surmount; overcome; confute; silence. See .
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Vanquish, n. (Far.) A disease in sheep, in which they pine away. [Written also vinquish.]
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Vanquishable (?), a. That may be vanquished.
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Vanquisher (?), n. One who, or that which, vanquishes. Milton.
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Vanquishment (?), n. The act of vanquishing, or the state of being vanquished. Bp. Hall.
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Vansire (?), n. [The native name: cf. F. vansire.] (Zoöl.) 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.
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Vant (?), v. i. See . [Obs.]
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Vantage (vȧnt�j; 48), n. [Aphetic form of OE. avantage, fr. F. avantage. See .] 1. Superior or more favorable situation or opportunity; gain; profit; advantage. [R.]
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O happy vantage of a kneeling knee! Shak.
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2. A position offering a superior view of a scene or situation; -- used literally and figuratively; as, from the vantage of hindsight; also called vantage point.
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3. (Tennis) The first point scored after deuce; advantage{5}. [Brit.]
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☞ When the server wins this point, it is called vantage in; when the receiver, or striker out, wins, it is called vantage out.
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Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Vantage ground , superiority of state or place; the place or condition which gives one an advantage over another. “The vantage ground of truth. Bacon.
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It is these things that give him his actual standing, and it is from this vantage ground that he looks around him. I. Taylor.
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Vantage, v. t. To profit; to aid. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Vantage game. (Lawn Tennis) The first game after the set is deuce. See , n., 9.
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Vantage point. A point giving advantage; vantage ground.
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{ Vantbrace (vȧntbrās), Vantbrass (vȧntbrȧs), } n. [F. avant fore + bras arm: cf. F. brassard armor for the arm, brace, forearm. Cf. .] (Anc. Armor) Armor for the arm; vambrace. Milton.
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Vant-courier (vȧntk�rĭẽr), n. An avant-courier. See . [Obs.] Holland.
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Van't Hoff's law (?). [After J. H. van't Hoff, Dutch physical chemist.] (Phys. Chem.) 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.
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Vanward (?), a. Being on, or towards, the van, or front. “The vanward frontier.” De Quincey.
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Vap (văp), n. [See .] That which is vapid, insipid, or lifeless; especially, the lifeless part of liquor or wine. [Obs.]
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In vain it is to wash a goblet, if you mean to put into it nothing but the dead lees and vap of wine. Jer. Taylor.
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Vapid (văpĭd), a. [L. vapidus having lost its life and spirit, vapid; akin to vappa vapid wine, vapor vapor. See .] Having lost its life and spirit; dead; spiritless; insipid; flat; dull; unanimated; as, vapid beer; a vapid speech; a vapid state of the blood.
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A cheap, bloodless reformation, a guiltless liberty, appear flat and vapid to their taste. Burke.
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-- Vapidly (#), adv. -- Vapidness, n.
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Vapidity (?), n. The quality or state of being vapid; vapidness.
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Vapor (?), n. [OE. vapour, OF. vapour, vapor, vapeur, F. vapeur, L. vapor; probably for cvapor, and akin to Gr. � smoke, � to breathe forth, Lith. kvepti to breathe, smell, Russ. kopote fine soot. Cf. .] [Written also vapour.]
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1. (Physics) Any substance in the gaseous, or aëriform, state, the condition of which is ordinarily that of a liquid or solid.
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☞ 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.
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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.
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2. In a loose and popular sense, any visible diffused substance floating in the atmosphere and impairing its transparency, as smoke, fog, etc.
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The vapour which that fro the earth glood [glided]. Chaucer.
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Fire and hail; snow and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word. Ps. cxlviii. 8.
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3. Wind; flatulence. [Obs.] Bacon.
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4. Something unsubstantial, fleeting, or transitory; unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting.
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For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James iv. 14.
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5. pl. An old name for hypochondria, or melancholy; the blues. “A fit of vapors.” Pope.
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6. (Pharm.) A medicinal agent designed for administration in the form of inhaled vapor. Brit. Pharm.
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Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Vapor burner , a burner for burning a vaporized hydrocarbon. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Vapor engine , an engine worked by the expansive force of a vapor, esp. a vapor other than steam.
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Vapor, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vapored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Vaporing.] [From , n.: cf. L. vaporare.] [Written also vapour.]
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1. To pass off in fumes, or as a moist, floating substance, whether visible or invisible, to steam; to be exhaled; to evaporate.
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2. To emit vapor or fumes. [R.]
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Running waters vapor not so much as standing waters. Bacon.
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3. To talk idly; to boast or vaunt; to brag.
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Poets used to vapor much after this manner. Milton.
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We vapor and say, By this time Matthews has beaten them. Walpole.
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Vapor, v. t. To send off in vapor, or as if in vapor; as, to vapor away a heated fluid. [Written also vapour.]
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He'd laugh to see one throw his heart away,
Another, sighing, vapor forth his soul. B. Jonson.
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Vaporability (?), n. The quality or state of being vaporable.
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Vaporable (?), a. Capable of being converted into vapor by the agency of heat; vaporizable.
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Vaporate (?), v. i. [L. vaporare, vaporatum. See .] To emit vapor; to evaporate. [R.]
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Vaporation (?), n. [Cf. F. vaporation, L. vaporatio.] The act or process of converting into vapor, or of passing off in vapor; evaporation. [R.]
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Vapored (?), a. 1. Wet with vapors; moist.
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2. Affected with the vapors. See , n., 5.
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Vaporer (?), n. One who vapors; a braggart.
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Coloq. Vaporer moth . (Zoöl.) See .
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Vapor galvanizing. (Metal.) 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 600° F., which is 188° 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.
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Vaporiferous (?), a. [L. vaporifer; vapor + ferre to bear.] Conveying or producing vapor.
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Vaporific (?), a. [L. vapor vapor + facere to make.] (Chem.) Producing vapor; tending to pass, or to cause to pass, into vapor; thus, volatile fluids are vaporific; heat is a vaporific agent.
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Vaporiform (?), a. Existing in a vaporous form or state; as, steam is a vaporiform substance.
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Vaporimeter (?), n. [Vapor + -meter.] 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.
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Vaporing (?), a. Talking idly; boasting; vaunting. -- Vaporingly, adv.
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Vaporish, a. 1. Full of vapors; vaporous.
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2. Hypochondriacal; affected by hysterics; splenetic; peevish; humorsome.
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Pallas grew vap'rish once and odd. Pope.
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Vaporizable (văp�rīzȧb'l or vāpẽrīzȧb'l; 110), a. Capable of being vaporized, or converted into vapor.
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Vaporization (văp�rīzȧshŭn or vāpẽrīzȧshŭn), n. [Cf. F. vaporisation.] 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.
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