Ventage - Venus

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Ventage (vĕnt�j), n. A small hole, as the stop in a flute; a vent. Shak.
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Ventail (vĕntāl), n. [OF. ventaille, F. ventail. See , and cf. .] That part of a helmet which is intended for the admission of air, -- sometimes in the visor. Spenser.
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Her ventail up so high that he descried
Her goodly visage and her beauty's pride. Fairfax.
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Venter (?), n. One who vents; one who utters, reports, or publishes. [R.] Barrow.
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Venter (?), n. [L.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The belly; the abdomen; -- sometimes applied to any large cavity containing viscera. (b) The uterus, or womb. (c) A belly, or protuberant part; a broad surface; as, the venter of a muscle; the venter, or anterior surface, of the scapula.
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2. (Zoöl.) The lower part of the abdomen in insects.
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3. (Rom. & O. E. Law) A pregnant woman; a mother; as, A has a son B by one venter, and a daughter C by another venter; children by different venters.
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Venthole (?), n. A touchhole; a vent.
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Ventiduct (?), n. [L. ventus wind + ductus a leading, conduit, fr. ducere, ductum, to lead.] A passage for wind or air; a passage or pipe for ventilating apartments. Gwilt.
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Ventilate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ventilated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ventilating.] [L. ventilatus, p. p. of ventilare to toss, brandish in the air, to fan, to winnow, from ventus wind; akin to E. wind. See rushing air.] 1. To open and expose to the free passage of air; to supply with fresh air, and remove impure air from; to air; as, to ventilate a room; to ventilate a cellar; to ventilate a mine.
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2. To provide with a vent, or escape, for air, gas, etc.; as, to ventilate a mold, or a water-wheel bucket.
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3. To change or renew, as the air of a room. Harvey.
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4. To winnow; to fan; as, to ventilate wheat.
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5. To sift and examine; to bring out, and subject to penetrating scrutiny; to expose to examination and discussion; as, to ventilate questions of policy. Ayliffe.
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6. To give vent to; to utter; to make public.
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Macaulay took occasion to ventilate one of those startling, but not very profound, paradoxes. J. C. Shairp.
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Ventilation (?), n. [L. ventilatio: cf. F. ventilation.] 1. The act of ventilating, or the state of being ventilated; the art or process of replacing foul air by that which is pure, in any inclosed place, as a house, a church, a mine, etc.; free exposure to air.
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Insuring, for the laboring man, better ventilation. F. W. Robertson.
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2. The act of refrigerating, or cooling; refrigeration; as, ventilation of the blood. [Obs.] Harvey.
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3. The act of fanning, or winnowing, for the purpose of separating chaff and dust from the grain.
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4. The act of sifting, and bringing out to view or examination; free discussion; public exposure.
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The ventilation of these points diffused them to the knowledge of the world. Bp. Hall.
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5. The act of giving vent or expression. “Ventilation of his thoughts.” Sir H. Wotton.
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Ventilative (?), a. Of or pertaining to ventilation; adapted to secure ventilation; ventilating; as, ventilative apparatus.
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Ventilator (?), n. [Cf. F. ventilateur, L. ventilator a winnower.] A contrivance for effecting ventilation; especially, a contrivance or machine for drawing off or expelling foul or stagnant air from any place or apartment, or for introducing that which is fresh and pure.
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Ventose (?), n. A ventouse. [Obs.] Holland.
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Ventose, a. [L. ventosus windy. See .] Windy; flatulent. Richardson (Dict.).
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Ventose (?), n. [F. ventôse. See , a.] The sixth month of the calendar adopted by the first French republic. It began February 19, and ended March 20. See .
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Ventosity (?), n. [L. ventositas: cf. F. ventosité. See , n.] Quality or state of being ventose; windiness; hence, vainglory; pride. Bacon.
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Ventouse (?), n. [F.] A cupping glass. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Ventouse, v. t. & i. To cup; to use a cupping glass. [Obs.] [Written also ventuse.] Chaucer.
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Ventrad (?), adv. [L. venter belly + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the ventral side; on the ventral side; ventrally; -- opposed to dorsad.
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Ventral (?), a. [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly; perhaps akin to G. wanst: cf. F. ventral.] 1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or ventral side, of an animal or of one of its parts; hemal; abdominal; as, the ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root of a spinal nerve; -- opposed to dorsal.
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2. (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal, etc., which faces toward the center of a flower. (b) Of or pertaining to the lower side or surface of a creeping moss or other low flowerless plant. Opposed to dorsal.
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Coloq. Ventral fins (Zoöl.), the posterior pair of fins of a fish. They are often situated beneath the belly, but sometimes beneath the throat. -- Coloq. Ventral segment . (Acoustics) See , n., 5.
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Ventricle (?), n. [L. ventriculus the stomach, a ventricle, dim. of venter the belly: cf. F. ventricule. See .] 1. (Anat.) A cavity, or one of the cavities, of an organ, as of the larynx or the brain; specifically, the posterior chamber, or one of the two posterior chambers, of the heart, which receives the blood from the auricle and forces it out from the heart. See .
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☞ The principal ventricles of the brain are the fourth in the medulla, the third in the midbrain, the first and second, or lateral, ventricles in the cerebral hemispheres, all of which are connected with each other, and the fifth, or pseudocœle, situated between the hemispheres, in front of, or above, the fornix, and entirely disconnected with the other cavities. See , and .
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2. The stomach. [Obs.]
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Whether I will or not, while I live, my heart beats, and my ventricle digests what is in it. Sir M. Hale.
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3. Fig.: Any cavity, or hollow place, in which any function may be conceived of as operating.
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These [ideas] are begot on the ventricle of memory. Shak.
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{ Ventricose (?), Ventricous (?), } a. [NL. ventricosus, fr. L. venter belly.] (Nat. Hist.) Swelling out on one side or unequally; bellied; ventricular; as, a ventricose corolla.
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Coloq. Ventricose shell . (Zoöl.) (a) A spiral shell having the body whorls rounded or swollen in the middle. (b) A bivalve shell in which the valves are strongly convex.
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Ventricular (?), a. [Cf. F. ventriculaire.] Of or pertaining to a ventricle; bellied.
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Ventriculite (?), n. [See .] (Paleon.) Any one of numerous species of siliceous fossil sponges belonging to Ventriculites and allied genera, characteristic of the Cretaceous period.
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☞ Many of them were shaped like vases, others like mushrooms. They belong to the hexactinellids, and are allied to the Venus's basket of modern seas.
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Ventriculous (?), a. [L. ventriculosus of the belly.] Somewhat distended in the middle; ventricular.
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Ventriculus (?), n.; pl. Ventriculi (#). [L., belly, dim. fr. venter belly.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the stomachs of certain insects. (b) The body cavity of a sponge.
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Ventrilocution (?), n. [See .] Ventriloquism.
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Ventriloquial (?), a. Ventriloquous.
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Ventriloquism (?), n. [See .] The act, art, or practice of speaking in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the person speaking, but from some other source, as from a dummy held by the ventriloquist, from the opposite side of the room, from the cellar, etc.
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Ventriloquist (?), n. One who practices, or is skilled in, ventriloquism.
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Coloq. Ventriloquist monkey (Zoöl.), the onappo; -- so called from the character of its cry.
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Ventriloquize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ventriloquized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ventriloquizing.] To practice ventriloquism; to speak like a ventriloquist.
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Ventriloquous (?), a. [L. ventriloquus a ventriloquist; venter the belly + loqui, p. p. locutus, to speak. See , and .] Of or pertaining to a ventriloquist or ventriloquism.
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Ventriloquy (?), n. [Cf. F. ventriloquie.] Same as .
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Ventrimeson (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Anat.) See .
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Ventro- (�). [L. venter belly.] A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the abdomen; also, connection with, relation to, or direction toward, the ventral side; as, ventrolateral; ventro-inguinal.
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Ventro-inguinal (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining both to the abdomen and groin, or to the abdomen and inguinal canal; as, ventro-inguinal hernia.
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Venture (?; 135), n. [Aphetic form of OE. aventure. See .] 1. An undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event which can not be foreseen with certainty; a hazard; a risk; a speculation.
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I, in this venture, double gains pursue. Dryden.
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2. An event that is not, or can not be, foreseen; an accident; chance; hap; contingency; luck. Bacon.
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3. The thing put to hazard; a stake; a risk; especially, something sent to sea in trade.
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My ventures are not in one bottom trusted. Shak.
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Coloq. At a venture , at hazard; without seeing the end or mark; without foreseeing the issue; at random.
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A certain man drew a bow at a venture. 1 Kings xxii. 34.
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A bargain at a venture made. Hudibras.
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☞ The phrase at a venture was originally at aventure, that is, at adventure.
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Venture, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ventured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Venturing.] 1. To hazard one's self; to have the courage or presumption to do, undertake, or say something; to dare. Bunyan.
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2. To make a venture; to run a hazard or risk; to take the chances.
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Who freights a ship to venture on the seas. J. Dryden, Jr.
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Coloq. To venture at , or Coloq. To venture on or Coloq. To venture upon , to dare to engage in; to attempt without any certainty of success; as, it is rash to venture upon such a project. “When I venture at the comic style.” Waller.
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Venture, v. t. 1. To expose to hazard; to risk; to hazard; as, to venture one's person in a balloon.
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I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. Shak.
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2. To put or send on a venture or chance; as, to venture a horse to the West Indies.
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3. To confide in; to rely on; to trust. [R.]
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A man would be well enough pleased to buy silks of one whom he would not venture to feel his pulse. Addison.
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Venturer (?), n. 1. One who ventures, or puts to hazard; an adventurer. Beau. & Fl.
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2. A strumpet; a prostitute. [R.] J. Webster (1607).
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Venturesome (?), a. Inclined to venture; not loth to run risk or danger; venturous; bold; daring; adventurous; as, a venturesome boy or act. -- Venturesomely, adv. -- Venturesomeness, n.
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Venturine (?), n. [Cf. .] (Japanning) Gold powder for covering varnished surfaces.
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Venturous (?), a. [Aphetic form of OE. aventurous. See , , n.] Daring; bold; hardy; fearless; venturesome; adventurous; as, a venturous soldier. Spenser.
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This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm
He plucked, he tasted. Milton.
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-- Venturously, adv. -- Venturousness, n.
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Ventuse (?), v. t. & i. See . [Obs.]
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Venue (vĕn�), n. [F. venue a coming, arrival, fr. venir to come, L. venire; hence, in English, the place whither the jury are summoned to come. See , and cf. , .] 1. (Law) A neighborhood or near place; the place or county in which anything is alleged to have happened; also, the place where an action is laid.
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The twelve men who are to try the cause must be of the same venue where the demand is made. Blackstone.
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☞ In certain cases, the court has power to change the venue, which is to direct the trial to be had in a different county from that where the venue is laid.
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2. A bout; a hit; a turn. See . [R.]
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Coloq. To lay a venue (Law), to allege a place.
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Venule (vĕn�l), n. [L. venula, dim. from vena vein.] A small vein; a veinlet; specifically (Zoöl.), one of the small branches of the veins of the wings in insects.
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Venulose (?), a. Full of venules, or small veins.
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Venus (vēnŭs), n. [L. Venus, -eris, the goddess of love, the planet Venus.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of beauty and love, that is, beauty or love deified.
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2. (Anat.) One of the planets, the second in order from the sun, its orbit lying between that of Mercury and that of the Earth, at a mean distance from the sun of about 67,000,000 miles. Its diameter is 7,700 miles, and its sidereal period 224.7 days. As the morning star, it was called by the ancients Lucifer; as the evening star, Hesperus.
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3. (Alchem.) The metal copper; -- probably so designated from the ancient use of the metal in making mirrors, a mirror being still the astronomical symbol of the planet Venus. [Archaic]
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4. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Venus or family Veneridæ. Many of these shells are large, and ornamented with beautiful frills; others are smooth, glossy, and handsomely colored. Some of the larger species, as the round clam, or quahog, are valued for food.
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Coloq. Venus's basin (Bot.), the wild teasel; -- so called because the connate leaf bases form a kind of receptacle for water, which was formerly gathered for use in the toilet. Also called Venus's bath. -- Coloq. Venus's basket (Zoöl.), an elegant, cornucopia-shaped, hexactinellid sponge (Euplectella speciosa) native of the East Indies. It consists of glassy, transparent, siliceous fibers interwoven and soldered together so as to form a firm network, and has long, slender, divergent anchoring fibers at the base by means of which it stands erect in the soft mud at the bottom of the sea. Called also Venus's flower basket, and Venus's purse. -- Coloq. Venus's comb . (a) (Bot.) Same as . (b) (Zoöl.) A species of Murex (Murex tenuispinus). It has a long, tubular canal, with a row of long, slender spines along both of its borders, and rows of similar spines covering the body of the shell. Called also Venus's shell. -- Coloq. Venus's fan (Zoöl.), a common reticulated, fanshaped gorgonia (Gorgonia flabellum) native of Florida and the West Indies. When fresh the color is purple or yellow, or a mixture of the two. -- Coloq. Venus's flytrap . (Bot.) See , 2. -- Coloq. Venus's girdle (Zoöl.), a long, flat, ribbonlike, very delicate, transparent and iridescent ctenophore (Cestum Veneris) which swims in the open sea. Its form is due to the enormous development of two spheromeres. See Illust. in Appendix. -- Coloq. Venus's hair (Bot.), a delicate and graceful fern (Adiantum Capillus-Veneris) having a slender, black and shining stem and branches. -- Coloq. Venus's hair stone (Min.), quartz penetrated by acicular crystals of rutile. -- Coloq. Venus's looking-glass (Bot.), an annual plant of the genus Specularia allied to the bellflower; -- also called lady's looking-glass. -- Coloq. Venus's navelwort (Bot.), any one of several species of Omphalodes, low boraginaceous herbs with small blue or white flowers. -- Coloq. Venus's pride (Bot.), an old name for Quaker ladies. See under . -- Coloq. Venus's purse . (Zoöl.) Same as Venus's basket, above. -- Coloq. Venus's shell . (Zoöl.) (a) Any species of Cypræa; a cowrie. (b) Same as Venus's comb, above. (c) Same as , 4. -- Coloq. Venus's slipper . (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Cypripedium. See . (b) (Zoöl.) Any heteropod shell of the genus Carinaria. See .
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