Vernant - Vertebra

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Coloq. Vernal equinox (Astron.), the point of time in each year when the sun crosses the equator when proceeding northward, about March 21, when day and night are of approximately equal duration. The beginning of the Spring season. -- Coloq. Vernal grass (Bot.), a low, soft grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), producing in the spring narrow spikelike panicles, and noted for the delicious fragrance which it gives to new-mown hay; -- also called sweet vernal grass. See Illust. in Appendix. -- Coloq. Vernal signs (Astron.), the signs, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, in which the sun appears between the vernal equinox and summer solstice.
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Vernant (vẽrn�nt), a. [L. vernans, p. pr. vernare to flourish, from ver spring.] Flourishing, as in spring; vernal. [Obs.] “Vernant flowers.” Milton.
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Vernate (?), v. i. [See .] To become young again. [Obs.]
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Vernation (?), n. [F. vernation: cf. L. vernatio the sloughing of the skin of snakes.] (Bot.) The arrangement of the leaves within the leaf bud, as regards their folding, coiling, rolling, etc.; prefoliation.
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Verner's law (?). (Philol.) A statement, propounded by the Danish philologist Karl Verner in 1875, which explains certain apparent exceptions to Grimm's law by the original position of the accent. Primitive Indo-European k, t, p, became first in Teutonic h, th, f, and appear without further change in old Teutonic, if the accent rested on the preceding syllable; but these sounds became voiced and produced g, d, b, if the accent was originally on a different syllable. Similarly s either remained unchanged, or it became z and later r. Example: Skt. saptā (accent on ultima), Gr. 'epta, Gothic sibun (seven). Examples in English are dead by the side of death, to rise and to rear.
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Vernicle (?), n. A Veronica. See , 1. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
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A vernicle had he sowed upon his cap. Chaucer.
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Vernicose (?), a. [See .] (Bot.) Having a brilliantly polished surface, as some leaves.
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Vernier (?), n. [So named after the inventor, Pierre Vernier.] A short scale made to slide along the divisions of a graduated instrument, as the limb of a sextant, or the scale of a barometer, for indicating parts of divisions. It is so graduated that a certain convenient number of its divisions are just equal to a certain number, either one less or one more, of the divisions of the instrument, so that parts of a division are determined by observing what line on the vernier coincides with a line on the instrument.
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Coloq. Vernier calipers , Coloq. Vernier gauge , a gauge with a graduated bar and a sliding jaw bearing a vernier, used for accurate measurements. -- Coloq. Vernier compass , a surveyor's compass with a vernier for the accurate adjustment of the zero point in accordance with magnetic variation. -- Coloq. Vernier transit , a surveyor's transit instrument with a vernier compass.
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Vernile (?), a. [L. vernilis servile. See .] Suiting a slave; servile; obsequious. [R.]
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The example . . . of vernile scurrility. De Quincey.
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Vernility (?), n. [L. vernilitas.] Fawning or obsequious behavior; servility. [R.] Bailey.
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Vernine (?), n. [Vernal + -ine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid extracted from the shoots of the vetch, red clover, etc., as a white crystalline substance.
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Vernish (?), n. & v. Varnish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Vernonin (?), n. (Chem.) A glucoside extracted from the root of a South African plant of the genus Vernonia, as a deliquescent powder, and used as a mild heart tonic.
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Veronese (?), a. [It. Veronese.] Of or pertaining to Verona, in Italy. -- n. sing. & pl. A native of Verona; collectively, the people of Verona.
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Veronica (?), n. [LL.; -- so called from Veronica, a woman who, according to an old legend, as Christ was carrying the cross, wiped his face with a cloth, which received an impression of his countenance; Veronica is fr. MGr. Beronikh, fr. Macedonian Berenikh, for Gr. Ferenikh, literally, carrying off victory, victorious.] 1. A portrait or representation of the face of our Savior on the alleged handkerchief of Saint Veronica, preserved at Rome; hence, a representation of this portrait, or any similar representation of the face of the Savior. Formerly called also Vernacle, and Vernicle.
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2. (Bot.) A genus of scrophulariaceous plants; the speedwell. See .
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☞ Several herbaceous species are common in both Europe and America, most of which have small blue flowers. A few shrubby species from New Zealand are sometimes found in cultivation.
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Verray (?), a. Very; true. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Verrayment (?), adv. [OF. veraiement. See .] Verily; truly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Verrel (?), n. See . [Obs.]
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Verriculate (?), a. [L. verriculum a net, seine.] (Zoöl.) Having thickset tufts of parallel hairs, bristles, or branches.
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Verruca (?), n.; pl. Verrucæ (#). [L. Cf. .] 1. (Med.) A wart.
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2. (Zoöl.) A wartlike elevation or roughness.
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Verruciform (?), a. [L. verruca wart + -form.] Shaped like a wart or warts.
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Verrucose (?), a. [L. verrucosus, fr. verruca a wart.] Covered with wartlike elevations; tuberculate; warty; verrucous; as, a verrucose capsule.
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Verrucous (?), a. Verrucose.
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Verruculose (?), a. [L. verrucula, dim. of verruca a wart.] Minutely verrucose; as, a verruculose leaf or stalk.
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Verrugas (?), n. [Sp., warts. Cf. .] (Med.) An endemic disease occurring in the Andes in Peru, characterized by warty tumors which ulcerate and bleed. It is probably due to a special bacillus, and is often fatal.
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Vers (?), n. sing. & pl. A verse or verses. See , n. [Obs.] “Ten vers or twelve.” Chaucer.
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Versability (?), n. The quality or state of being versable. [R.] Sterne
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Versable (?), a. [L. versabilis: cf. F. versable. See .] Capable of being turned. [R.]
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Versableness, n. Versability. [R.]
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Versal (?), a. Universal. [Obs. or Colloq.] Shak.
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Versant (?), a. [L. versans, p. pr. of versare to turn about frequently, to turn over in the mind, to meditate. See .] Familiar; conversant. [R.]
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Men not versant with courts of justice. Sydney Smith.
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Versant, n. [F.] The slope of a side of a mountain chain; hence, the general slope of a country; aspect.
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Versatile (?), a. [L. versatilis, fr. versare to turn around, v. freq. of vertere: cf. F. versatile. See .] 1. Capable of being turned round. Harte.
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2. Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady; inconstant; as, a versatile disposition.
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3. Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects; many-sided; as, versatile genius; a versatile politician.
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Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . . was the quick and versatile [Charles] Montagu. Macaulay.
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4. (Nat. Hist.) Capable of turning; freely movable; as, a versatile anther, which is fixed at one point to the filament, and hence is very easily turned around; a versatile toe of a bird.
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-- Versatilely, adv. -- -- Versatileness, n.
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Versatility (?), n. [Cf. F. versatilité.] The quality or state of being versatile; versatileness.
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Vers de société (?). [F.] See Society verses, under .
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Verse (vẽrs), n. [OE. vers, AS. fers, L. versus a line in writing, and, in poetry, a verse, from vertere, versum, to turn, to turn round; akin to E. worth to become: cf. F. vers. See to become, and cf. , , , , , , , , , .] 1. A line consisting of a certain number of metrical feet (see , n., 9) disposed according to metrical rules.
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☞ Verses are of various kinds, as hexameter, pentameter, tetrameter, etc., according to the number of feet in each. A verse of twelve syllables is called an Alexandrine. Two or more verses form a stanza or strophe.
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2. Metrical arrangement and language; that which is composed in metrical form; versification; poetry.
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Such prompt eloquence
Flowed from their lips in prose or numerous verse. Milton.
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Virtue was taught in verse. Prior.
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Verse embalms virtue. Donne.
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3. A short division of any composition. Specifically: --
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(a) A stanza; a stave; as, a hymn of four verses.
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☞ Although this use of verse is common, it is objectionable, because not always distinguishable from the stricter use in the sense of a line.
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(b) (Script.) One of the short divisions of the chapters in the Old and New Testaments.
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☞ The author of the division of the Old Testament into verses is not ascertained. The New Testament was divided into verses by Robert Stephens [or Estienne], a French printer. This arrangement appeared for the first time in an edition printed at Geneva, in 1551.
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(c) (Mus.) A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.
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4. A piece of poetry. “This verse be thine.” Pope.
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Coloq. Blank verse , poetry in which the lines do not end in rhymes. -- Coloq. Heroic verse . See under .
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Verse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Versed (vẽrst); p. pr. & vb. n. Versing.] To tell in verse, or poetry. [Obs.]
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Playing on pipes of corn and versing love. Shak.
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Verse, v. i. To make verses; to versify. [Obs.]
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It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet. Sir P. Sidney.
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Versed (vẽrst), a. [Cf. F. versé, L. versatus, p. p. of versari to turn about frequently, to turn over, to be engaged in a thing, passive of versare. See , a.] Acquainted or familiar, as the result of experience, study, practice, etc.; skilled; practiced; knowledgeable; expert.
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Deep versed in books and shallow in himself. Milton.
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Opinions . . . derived from studying the Scriptures, wherein he was versed beyond any person of his age. Southey.
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These men were versed in the details of business. Macaulay.
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Versed, a. [L. versus turned, p. p. vertere. See 1st .] (Math.) Turned.
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Coloq. Versed sine . See under , and Illust. of .
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Verseman (vẽrsm�n), n. Same as . Prior.
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Versemonger (vẽrsmŭṉgẽr), n. A writer of verses; especially, a writer of commonplace poetry; a poetaster; a rhymer; -- used humorously or in contempt.
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Verser (vẽrsẽr), n. A versifier. B. Jonson.
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Verset (vẽrsĕt), n. [F.] A verse. [Obs.] Milton.
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Versicle (?), n. [L. versiculus, dim. of versus. See .] A little verse; especially, a short verse or text said or sung in public worship by the priest or minister, and followed by a response from the people.
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The psalms were in number fifteen, . . . being digested into versicles. Strype.
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{ Versicolor (?), Versicolored (?), } a. [L. versicolor; versare to change + color color.] Having various colors; changeable in color. “Versicolor, sweet-smelling flowers.” Burton.
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Versicular (?), a. [See .] Of or pertaining to verses; designating distinct divisions of a writing.
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Versification (?), n. [L. versificatio: cf. F. versification.] The act, art, or practice, of versifying, or making verses; the construction of poetry; metrical composition.
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Versificator (?), n. [L.] A versifier. [R.] “The best versificator next Virgil.” Dryden.
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Versifier (?), n. 1. One who versifies, or makes verses; as, not every versifier is a poet. Dryden.
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2. One who converts into verse; one who expresses in verse the ideas of another written in prose; as, Dr. Watts was a versifier of the Psalms.
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Versify (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Versified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Versifying (?).] [OE. versifien, F. versifier, L. versificare; versus a verse + -ficare to make. See , and .] To make verses.
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I'll versify in spite, and do my best. Dryden.
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Versify, v. t. 1. To relate or describe in verse; to compose in verse.
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I'll versify the truth, not poetize. Daniel.
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2. To turn into verse; to render into metrical form; as, to versify the Psalms. Chaucer.
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Version (?), n. [F., from L. vertere, versum, to turn, to change, to translate. See .] 1. A change of form, direction, or the like; transformation; conversion; turning.
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The version of air into water. Bacon.
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2. (Med.) A condition of the uterus in which its axis is deflected from its normal position without being bent upon itself. See , and .
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3. The act of translating, or rendering, from one language into another language.
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4. A translation; that which is rendered from another language; as, the Common, or Authorized, Version of the Scriptures (see under ); the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament.
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5. An account or description from a particular point of view, especially as contrasted with another account; as, he gave another version of the affair.
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Versionist, n. One who makes or favors a version; a translator. [R.]
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Verso (?), n. [L. versus, p. p. of vertere to turn: cf. F. verso.] (Print.) The reverse, or left-hand, page of a book or a folded sheet of paper; -- opposed to recto.
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Versor (?), n. [NL., fr. L. vertere, versus, to turn. See .] (Geom.) The turning factor of a quaternion.
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☞ The change of one vector into another is considered in quaternions as made up of two operations; 1st, the rotation of the first vector so that it shall be parallel to the second; 2d, the change of length so that the first vector shall be equal to the second. That which expresses in amount and kind the first operation is a versor, and is denoted geometrically by a line at right angles to the plane in which the rotation takes place, the length of this line being proportioned to the amount of rotation. That which expresses the second operation is a tensor. The product of the versor and tensor expresses the total operation, and is called a quaternion. See .
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Coloq. Quadrantal versor . See under .
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Verst (?), n. [Russ. versta: cf. F. verste.] A Russian measure of length containing 3,500 English feet. [Written also werst.]
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Versual (?), a. Of or pertaining to a verse.
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Versus (?), prep. [L., toward, turned in the direction of, from vertere, versum, to turn. See .] Against; as, John Doe versus Richard Roe; -- chiefly used in legal language, and abbreviated to v. or vs.
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Versute (?), a. [L. versutus, fr. vertere, versum, to turn.] Crafty; wily; cunning; artful. [R.]
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Vert (?), n. [F., green, from L. viridis. See , and cf. .] 1. (Eng. Forest Law) (a) Everything that grows, and bears a green leaf, within the forest; as, to preserve vert and venison is the duty of the verderer. (b) The right or privilege of cutting growing wood.
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2. (Her.) The color green, represented in a drawing or engraving by parallel lines sloping downward toward the right.
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Verteber (vẽrt�bẽr), n. A vertebra. [Obs.]
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Vertebra (vẽrt�brȧ), n.; pl. Vertebræ (#). [L. vertebra, fr. vertere to turn, change. See .]
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1. (Anat.) One of the serial segments of the spinal column.
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☞ In many fishes the vertebræ are simple cartilaginous disks or short cylinders, but in the higher vertebrates they are composed of many parts, and the vertebræ in different portions of the same column vary very greatly. A well-developed vertebra usually consists of a more or less cylindrical and solid body, or centrum, which is surmounted dorsally by an arch, leaving an opening which forms a part of the canal containing the spinal cord. From this dorsal, or neural, arch spring various processes, or apophyses, which have received special names: a dorsal, or neural, spine, spinous process, or neurapophysis, on the middle of the arch; two anterior and two posterior articular processes, or zygapophyses; and one or two transverse processes on each side. In those vertebræ which bear well-developed ribs, a tubercle near the end of the rib articulates at a tubercular facet on the transverse process (diapophysis), while the end, or head, of the rib articulates at a more ventral capitular facet which is sometimes developed into a second, or ventral, transverse process (parapophysis). In vertebrates with well-developed hind limbs, the spinal column is divided into five regions in each of which the vertebræ are specially designated: those vertebræ in front of, or anterior to, the first vertebra which bears ribs connected with the sternum are cervical; all those which bear ribs and are back of the cervicals are dorsal; the one or more directly supporting the pelvis are sacral and form the sacrum; those between the sacral and dorsal are lumbar; and all those back of the sacral are caudal, or coccygeal. In man there are seven cervical vertebræ, twelve dorsal, five lumbar, five sacral, and usually four, but sometimes five and rarely three, coccygeal.
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2. (Zoöl.) One of the central ossicles in each joint of the arms of an ophiuran.
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