Vegetable - Veliferous

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Coloq. Vegetable kingdom (Nat. Hist.), that primary division of living things which includes all plants. The classes of the vegetable kingdom have been grouped differently by various botanists. The following is one of the best of the many arrangements of the principal subdivisions.
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I. (called also ). Plants having distinct flowers and true seeds. { 1. (called also ). -- Seeds with two or more cotyledons. Stems with the pith, woody fiber, and bark concentrically arranged. Divided into two subclasses: , having the woody fiber interspersed with dotted or annular ducts, and the seeds contained in a true ovary; , having few or no ducts in the woody fiber, and the seeds naked. 2. (called also ). -- Seeds with single cotyledon. Stems with slender bundles of woody fiber not concentrically arranged, and with no true bark.}
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II. . Plants without true flowers, and reproduced by minute spores of various kinds, or by simple cell division. { 1. . -- Plants usually with distinct stems and leaves, existing in two alternate conditions, one of which is nonsexual and sporophoric, the other sexual and oöphoric. Divided into , or , having the sporophoric plant conspicuous and consisting partly of vascular tissue, as in Ferns, Lycopods, and Equiseta, and , or , having the sexual plant most conspicuous, but destitute of vascular tissue, as in Mosses and Scale Mosses. 2. . -- Plants without distinct stem and leaves, consisting of a simple or branched mass of cellular tissue, or reduced to a single cell. Reproduction effected variously. Divided into , which contain chlorophyll or its equivalent, and which live upon air and water, and , which contain no chlorophyll, and live on organic matter. (Lichens are now believed to be fungi parasitic on included algæ.}
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☞ Many botanists divide the Phænogamia primarily into Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, and the latter into Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. Others consider Pteridophyta and Bryophyta to be separate classes. Thallogens are variously divided by different writers, and the places for diatoms, slime molds, and stoneworts are altogether uncertain.
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For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary.
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Vegetable (?), n. 1. (Biol.) A plant. See .
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2. A plant used or cultivated for food for man or domestic animals, as the cabbage, turnip, potato, bean, dandelion, etc.; also, the edible part of such a plant, as prepared for market or the table.
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3. A person who has permanently lost consciousness, due to damage to the brain, but remains alive; sometimes continued life requires support by machinery such as breathing tubes. Such a person is said to be in a vegetative state.
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☞ Vegetables and fruits are sometimes loosely distinguished by the usual need of cooking the former for the use of man, while the latter may be eaten raw; but the distinction often fails, as in the case of quinces, barberries, and other fruits, and lettuce, celery, and other vegetables. Tomatoes if cooked are vegetables, if eaten raw are fruits.
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Vegetal (?), a. [F. végétal. See .]
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1. Of or pertaining to vegetables, or the vegetable kingdom; of the nature of a vegetable; vegetable.
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All creatures vegetal, sensible, and rational. Burton.
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2. (Biol.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, that class of vital phenomena, such as digestion, absorption, assimilation, secretion, excretion, circulation, generation, etc., which are common to plants and animals, in distinction from sensation and volition, which are peculiar to animals.
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Vegetal, n. [F.] A vegetable. [R.] B. Jonson.
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Vegetality (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being vegetal, or vegetable. [R.]
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2. (Biol.) The quality or state of being vegetal, or exhibiting those physiological phenomena which are common to plants and animals. See , a., 2.
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Vegetarian (?), n. One who holds that vegetables and fruits are the only proper food for man. Strict vegetarians eat no meat, eggs, or milk, and are sometimes referred tro as vegans.
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Vegetarian, a. Of or pertaining to vegetarianism; as, a vegetarian diet.
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Vegetarianism (?), n. The theory or practice of living upon vegetables and fruits.
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Vegetate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vegetated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Vegetating.] [L. vegetatus, p. p. of vegetare to enliven. See .]
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1. To grow, as plants, by nutriment imbibed by means of roots and leaves; to start into growth; to sprout; to germinate.
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See dying vegetables life sustain,
See life dissolving vegetate again. Pope.
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2. Fig.: To lead a life too low for an animate creature; to do nothing but eat and grow. Cowper.
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Persons who . . . would have vegetated stupidly in the places where fortune had fixed them. Jeffrey.
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3. (Med.) To grow exuberantly; to produce fleshy or warty outgrowths; as, a vegetating papule.
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Vegetation (?), n. [Cf. F. végétation, L. vegetatio an enlivening. See .]
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1. The act or process of vegetating, or growing as a plant does; vegetable growth.
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2. The sum of vegetable life; vegetables or plants in general; as, luxuriant vegetation.
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3. (Med.) An exuberant morbid outgrowth upon any part, especially upon the valves of the heart.
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Coloq. Vegetation of salts (Old Chem.), a crystalline growth of an arborescent form.
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Vegetative (?), a. [Cf. F. végétatif.]
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1. Growing, or having the power of growing, as plants; capable of vegetating.
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2. Having the power to produce growth in plants; as, the vegetative properties of soil.
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3. (Biol.) Having relation to growth or nutrition; partaking of simple growth and enlargement of the systems of nutrition, apart from the sensorial or distinctively animal functions; vegetal.
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-- Vegetatively, adv. -- Vegetativeness, n.
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Vegete (?), a. [L. vegetus. See .] Lively; active; sprightly; vigorous. [Obs.]
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Even her body was made airy and vegete. Jer. Taylor.
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Vegetism (?), n. Vegetal state or characteristic.
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Vegetive (?), a. [See , and .] Having the nature of a plant; vegetable; as, vegetive life. [R.] Tusser.
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Vegetive, n. A vegetable. [Obs.]
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The blest infusions
That dwell in vegetives, in metals, stones. Shak.
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Vegeto-animal (?), a. (Biol.) Partaking of the nature both of vegetable and animal matter; -- a term sometimes applied to vegetable albumen and gluten, from their resemblance to similar animal products.
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Vegetous (?), a. [L. vegetus. See .] Vigorous; lively; active; vegete. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Vehemence (?), n. [L. vehementia: cf. F. véhémence.]
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1. The quality or state of being vehement; impetuous force; impetuosity; violence; fury; as, the vehemence of the wind; to speak with vehemence.
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2. Violent ardor; great heat; animated fervor; as, the vehemence of love, anger, or other passions.
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I . . . tremble at his vehemence of temper. Addison.
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Vehemency (?), n. Vehemence. [R.]
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The vehemency of your affection. Shak.
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Vehement (?), a. [L. vehemens, the first part of which is perhaps akin to vehere to carry, and the second mens mind: cf. F. véhément. Cf. , and .]
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1. Acting with great force; furious; violent; impetuous; forcible; mighty; as, a vehement wind; a vehement torrent; a vehement fire or heat.
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2. Very ardent; very eager or urgent; very fervent; passionate; as, a vehement affection or passion. “Vehement instigation.” Shak. “Vehement desire.” Milton.
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Syn. -- Furious; violent; raging; impetuous; passionate; ardent; eager; hot; fervid; burning.
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Vehemently, adv. In a vehement manner.
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Vehicle (?), n. [L. vehiculum, fr. vehere to carry; akin to E. way, wain. See , n., and cf. , , , .]
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1. That in or on which any person or thing is, or may be, carried, as a coach, carriage, wagon, cart, car, sleigh, bicycle, etc.; a means of conveyance; specifically, a means of conveyance upon land.
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2. That which is used as the instrument of conveyance or communication; as, matter is the vehicle of energy.
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A simple style forms the best vehicle of thought to a popular assembly. Wirt.
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3. (Pharm.) A substance in which medicine is taken.
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4. (Paint.) Any liquid with which a pigment is applied, including whatever gum, wax, or glutinous or adhesive substance is combined with it.
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☞ Water is used in fresco and in water-color painting, the colors being consolidated with gum arabic; size is used in distemper painting. In oil painting, the fixed oils of linseed, nut, and poppy, are used; in encaustic, wax is the vehicle. Fairholt.
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5. (Chem.) A liquid used to spread sensitive salts upon glass and paper for use in photography.
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Vehicled (?), a. Conveyed in a vehicle; furnished with a vehicle. M. Green.
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Vehicular (?), a. [L. vehicularis: cf. F. véhiculaire.] Of or pertaining to a vehicle; serving as a vehicle; as, a vehicular contrivance.
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Vehiculary (?), a. Vehicular.
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Vehiculate, v. t. & i. To convey by means of a vehicle; to ride in a vehicle. Carlyle.
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Vehiculation (?), n. Movement of vehicles.
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Vehiculatory (?), a. Vehicular. Carlyle.
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{ Vehm, Vehme } (?), n.; pl. Vehme (#). [See .] A vehmic court.
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Vehmgericht (?), n.; pl. Vehmgerichte (#). [G. vefm, fehm criminal tribunal + gerichte court, judgment. Cf. .] A vehmic court.
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Vehmic (vēmĭk or vāmĭk; 277), a. [G. vehm, fehm, fehme, a secret tribunal of punishment, MHG. veime, veme: cf. F. vehmique.] Of, pertaining to, or designating, certain secret tribunals which flourished in Germany from the end of the 12th century to the middle of the 16th, usurping many of the functions of the governments which were too weak to maintain law and order, and inspiring dread in all who came within their jurisdiction. Encyc. Brit.
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Veil (vāl), n. [OE. veile, OF. veile, F. voile, L. velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship on. See , and cf. .] [Written also vail.]
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1. Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view, and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen, usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to hide or protect the face.
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The veil of the temple was rent in twain. Matt. xxvii. 51.
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She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadornéd golden tresses wore. Milton.
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2. A cover; a disguise; a mask; a pretense.
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[I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page. Shak.
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3. (Bot.) (a) The calyptra of mosses. (b) A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; -- called also velum.
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4. (Eccl.) A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
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5. (Zoöl.) Same as , 3.
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Coloq. To take the veil (Eccl.), to receive or be covered with, a veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to become a nun.
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Veil (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Veiling.] [Cf. OF. veler, F. voiler, L. velarc. See , n.] [Written also vail.]
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1. To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil.
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Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight,
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined. Milton.
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2. Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal.
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To keep your great pretenses veiled. Shak.
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Veiled (?), a. Covered by, or as by, a veil; hidden. “Words used to convey a veiled meaning.” Earle.
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Veiled plate. (Photog.) A fogged plate.
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Veiling (?), n. A veil; a thin covering; also, material for making veils.
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Veilless, a. Having no veil. Tennyson.
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Vein (?), n. [OE. veine, F. veine, L. vena.] 1. (Anat.) One of the vessels which carry blood, either venous or arterial, to the heart. See , 2.
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2. (Bot.) One of the similar branches of the framework of a leaf.
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3. (Zoöl.) One of the ribs or nervures of the wings of insects. See .
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4. (Geol. or Mining) A narrow mass of rock intersecting other rocks, and filling inclined or vertical fissures not corresponding with the stratification; a lode; a dike; -- often limited, in the language of miners, to a mineral vein or lode, that is, to a vein which contains useful minerals or ores.
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5. A fissure, cleft, or cavity, as in the earth or other substance. “Down to the veins of earth.” Milton.
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Let the glass of the prisms be free from veins. Sir I. Newton.
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6. A streak or wave of different color, appearing in wood, and in marble and other stones; variegation.
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7. A train of associations, thoughts, emotions, or the like; a current; a course; as, reasoning in the same vein.
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He can open a vein of true and noble thinking. Swift.
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8. Peculiar temper or temperament; tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also, manner of speech or action; as, a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein. Shak.
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Certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins. Bacon.
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Invoke the Muses, and improve my vein. Waller.
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Vein, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Veining.] To form or mark with veins; to fill or cover with veins. Tennyson.
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Veinal (?), a. Pertaining to veins; venous. [R.]
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Veined (?), a. 1. Full of veins; streaked; variegated; as, veined marble. “Veined follies.” Ford.
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2. (Bot.) Having fibrovascular threads extending throughout the lamina; as, a veined leaf.
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Veinless (?), a. Having no veins; as, a veinless leaf.
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Veinlet (?), n. A small vein.
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Veinous (?), a. Marked with veins; veined; veiny.
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The excellent old gentleman's nails are long and leaden, and his hands lean and veinous. Dickens.
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Vein quartz. Quartz occurring as gangue in a vein.
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Veinstone (?), n. (Mining) The valueless nonmetalliferous mineral or rock material which surrounds the ores in a vein, as quartz, calcite, barite, fluor spar, etc.; gangue; matrix; -- called also veinstuff.
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Veiny (?), a. [From : cf. F. veiné.] Full of veins; veinous; veined; as, veiny marble.
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Velar (?), a. [See .]
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1. Of or pertaining to a velum; esp. (Anat.) of or pertaining to the soft palate.
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2. (Phon.) Having the place of articulation on the soft palate; guttural; as, the velar consonants, such as k and hard g.
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Velarium (?), n.; pl. Velaria (#). [L., a covering.] (Zoöl.) The marginal membrane of certain medusæ belonging to the Discophora.
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Velate (?), a. [L. velatus, p. p. of velare to veil. See .] (Bot.) Having a veil; veiled.
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Veldt (?), n. [D. veld. Cf. , n.] A region or tract of land; esp., the open field, thinly forested or with bushes and shrubs; grass country. [South Africa]
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Veldt sore. (Med.) An infective sore mostly on the hands and feet, often contracted in walking on the veldt and apparently due to a specific microörganism.
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Vele (?), n. A veil. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Velella (?), n. [NL., dim. from L. velum a veil, a sail.] (Zoöl.) Any species of oceanic Siphonophora belonging to the genus Velella.
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☞ These creatures are brilliantly colored and float at the surface of the sea. They have an oblong, disklike body, supported by a thin chitinous plate, from which rises a thin diagonal crest which acts as a sail. The feeding and reproductive zooids hang down from the under side of the disk.
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Veliferous (v�lĭfẽrŭs), a. [L. velifer; velum a sail + ferre to bear.] Carrying or bearing sails. [Obs.] “Veliferous chariots.” Evelyn.
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