Veteran - Vicar

Prev Next
[ Webster]

Veteran (vĕtẽr�n), n. [L. veteranus (sc. miles): cf. F. vétéran.] One who has been long exercised in any service or art, particularly in war; one who has had much experience, or has grown old or decrepit in service.
[ Webster]

Ensigns that pierced the foe's remotest lines,
The hardy veteran with tears resigns. Addison.
[ Webster]

☞ In the United States, during the civil war, soldiers who had served through one term of enlistment and had reënlisted were specifically designated veterans.
[ Webster]

Veteranize (vĕtẽr�nīz), v. i. To reënlist for service as a soldier. [U. S.] Gen. W. T. Sherman.
[ Webster]

veterinarian (vĕtẽrĭnārĭ�n), n. [L. veterinarius. See .] One skilled in the treatment of diseases of cattle or domestic animals; a veterinary surgeon. Often abbreviated to vet.
[ Webster + PJC]

Veterinary (vĕtẽrĭn�r�), a. [L. veterinarius of or belonging to beasts of burden and draught, fr. veterinus, probably originally, of or pertaining to yearlings: cf. F. vétérinaire. See , .] Of or pertaining to the art of healing or treating the diseases of domestic animals, as oxen, horses, sheep, various pets, etc.; as, a veterinary writer or school.
[ Webster]

Vetiver (?), n. (Bot.) An East Indian grass (Andropogon muricatus); also, its fragrant roots which are much used for making mats and screens. Also called kuskus, and khuskhus. [Sometimes written vetivert, and vitivert.]
[ Webster]

Veto (vēt�), n.; pl. Vetoes (vētōz). [L. veto I forbid.]
[ Webster]

1. An authoritative prohibition or negative; a forbidding; an interdiction.
[ Webster]

This contemptuous veto of her husband's on any intimacy with her family. G. Eliot.
[ Webster]

2. Specifically: --
[ Webster]

(a) A power or right possessed by one department of government to forbid or prohibit the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; especially, in a constitutional government, a power vested in the chief executive to prevent the enactment of measures passed by the legislature. Such a power may be absolute, as in the case of the Tribunes of the People in ancient Rome, or limited, as in the case of the President of the United States. Called also the veto power.
[ Webster]

(b) The exercise of such authority; an act of prohibition or prevention; as, a veto is probable if the bill passes.
[ Webster]

(c) A document or message communicating the reasons of the executive for not officially approving a proposed law; -- called also veto message. [U. S.]
[ Webster]

☞ Veto is not a term employed in the Federal Constitution, but seems to be of popular use only. Abbott.
[ Webster]

Veto, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vetoed (vētōd); p. pr. & vb. n. Vetoing.] To prohibit; to negative; also, to refuse assent to, as a legislative bill, and thus prevent its enactment; as, to veto an appropriation bill.
[ Webster]

Vetoist, n. One who uses, or sustains the use of, the veto.
[ Webster]

Vettura (?), n.; pl. Vetture (#). [It. vettura, fr. L. vectura conveyance. Cf. .] An Italian four-wheeled carriage, esp. one let for hire; a hackney coach.
[ Webster]

Vetturino (?), n.; pl. Vetturini (#). [It.] 1. One who lets or drives a vettura.
[ Webster]

2. A vettura.
[ Webster]

Vetust (?), a. [L. vetustus old, ancient.] Venerable from antiquity; ancient; old. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Vex (vĕks), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vexed (vĕkst); p. pr. & vb. n. Vexing.] [F. vexer, L. vexare, vexatum, to vex, originally, to shake, toss, in carrying, v. intens. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry. See .] 1. To toss back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.
[ Webster]

White curl the waves, and the vexed ocean roars. Pope.
[ Webster]

2. To make angry or annoyed by little provocations; to irritate; to plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict; to trouble; to tease. “I will not vex your souls.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Ten thousand torments vex my heart. Prior.
[ Webster]

3. To twist; to weave. [R.]
[ Webster]

Some English wool, vexed in a Belgian loom. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- See .
[ Webster]

Vex, v. i. To be irritated; to fret. [R.] Chapman.
[ Webster]

Vexation (?), n. [L. vexatio: cf. F. vexation.] 1. The act of vexing, or the state of being vexed; agitation; disquiet; trouble; irritation.
[ Webster]

Passions too violent . . . afford us nothing but vexation and pain. Sir W. Temple.
[ Webster]

Those who saw him after a defeat looked in vain for any trace of vexation. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

2. The cause of trouble or disquiet; affliction.
[ Webster]

Your children were vexation to your youth. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. A harassing by process of law; a vexing or troubling, as by a malicious suit. Bacon.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Chagrin; agitation; mortification; uneasiness; trouble; grief; sorrow; distress. See .
[ Webster]

Vexatious (?), a. [See .] 1. Causing vexation; agitating; afflictive; annoying; as, a vexatious controversy; a vexatious neighbor. “Continual vexatious wars.” South.
[ Webster]

2. Full of vexation, trouble, or disquiet; disturbed.
[ Webster]

He leads a vexatious life. Sir K. Digby.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vexatious suit (Law), a suit commenced for the purpose of giving trouble, or without cause.
[ Webster]

-- Vexatiously, adv. -- Vexatiousness, n.
[ Webster]

Vexed (?), a. 1. Annoyed; harassed; troubled.
[ Webster]

2. Much debated or contested; causing discussion; as, a vexed question.
[ Webster]

Vexer (?), n. One who vexes or troubles.
[ Webster]

Vexil (?), n. A vexillum.
[ Webster]

{ Vexillar (?), Vexillary (?), }[Cf. F. vexillaire, L. vexillarius a standard bearer.]
[ Webster]

1. Of or pertaining to an ensign or standard.
[ Webster]

2. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the vexillum, or upper petal of papilionaceous flowers.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vexilary æstivation (Bot.), a mode of æstivation in which one large upper petal folds over, and covers, the other smaller petals, as in most papilionaceous plants.
[ Webster]

Vexillary (?), n. [L. vexillarius: cf. F. vexillaire.] A standard bearer. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

Vexillation (?), n. [L. vexillatio.] (Rom. Antiq.) A company of troops under one vexillum.
[ Webster]

Vexillum (?), n.; pl. Vexilla (#). [L., a standard, a flag.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A flag or standard. (b) A company of troops serving under one standard.
[ Webster]

2. (Eccl.) (a) A banner. (b) The sign of the cross.
[ Webster]

3. (Bot.) The upper petal of a papilionaceous flower; the standard.
[ Webster]

4. (Zoöl.) The rhachis and web of a feather taken together; the vane.
[ Webster]

Vexingly (?), adv. In a vexing manner; so as to vex, tease, or irritate. Tatler.
[ Webster]

V hook (?). (Steam Engine) A gab at the end of an eccentric rod, with long jaws, shaped like the letter V.
[ Webster]

Via (vīȧ or vēȧ), n. [L. See .] A road or way.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Via Lactea [L.] (Astron.), the Milky Way, or Galaxy. See , 1. -- Coloq. Via media [L.] (Theol.), the middle way; -- a name applied to their own position by the Anglican high-churchmen, as being between the Roman Catholic Church and what they term extreme Protestantism.
[ Webster]

Via, prep. [L., ablative of via way. See .] By the way of; as, to send a letter via Queenstown to London.
[ Webster]

Viability (?), n. The quality or state of being viable. Specifically: --
[ Webster]

(a) (Law) The capacity of living after birth. Bouvier.
[ Webster]

(b) The capacity of living, or being distributed, over wide geographical limits; as, the viability of a species.
[ Webster]

Viable (?), a. [F., from vie life, L. vita. See .] (Law) Capable of living; born alive and with such form and development of organs as to be capable of living; -- said of a newborn, or a prematurely born, infant.
[ Webster]

VIABLE, Vitae habilis, capable of living. This is said of a child who is born alive in such an advanced state of formation as to be capable of living. Unless be is born viable he acquires no rights and cannot transmit them to his heirs, and is considered as if he had never been born. Bouvier (Law Dictionary, 1856).
[ Webster]

Viaduct (?), n. [L. via a way + -duct, as in aqueduct: cf. F. viaduc. See , and .] A structure of considerable magnitude, usually with arches or supported on trestles, for carrying a road, as a railroad, high above the ground or water; a bridge; especially, one for crossing a valley or a gorge. Cf. .
[ Webster]

Viage (?), n. [See .] A voyage; a journey. [Obs.] Chaucer. Gower.
[ Webster]

Vial (vī�l), n. [OE. viole, fiole, F. fiole. See .] A small bottle, usually of glass; a little glass vessel with a narrow aperture intended to be closed with a stopper; as, a vial of medicine. [Written also phial.]
[ Webster]

Take thou this vial, being then in bed,
And this distilled liquor drink thou off. Shak.
[ Webster]

Vial, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vialed (?) or Vialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Vialing or Vialling.] To put in a vial or vials. “Precious vialed liquors.” Milton.
[ Webster]

Viameter (?), n. [L. via a way + -meter.] An odometer; -- called also viatometer.
[ Webster]

Viand (?), n. [F. viande meat, food, LL. vianda, vivanda, vivenda, properly, things to live on, fr. L. vivere to live; akin to vivus living. See , and cf. .] An article of food; provisions; food; victuals; -- used chiefly in the plural. Cowper.
[ Webster]

Viands of various kinds allure the taste. Pope.
[ Webster]

Viander (?), n. A feeder; an eater; also, one who provides viands, or food; a host. [Obs.] Holinshed.
[ Webster]

Vi-apple (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

Viary (?), a. [L. viarius, fr. via a way, road.] Of or pertaining to roads; happening on roads. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Viatecture (?; 135), n. [L. via way + -tecture, as in architecture.] The art of making roads or ways for traveling, including the construction of bridges, canals, viaducts, etc. [R.] R. Park.
[ Webster]

Viatic (?), a. [L. viaticus, fr. via a way. See .] Of or pertaining to a journey or traveling.
[ Webster]

Viaticum (?), n. [L., from viaticus, a. See .] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) An allowance for traveling expenses made to those who were sent into the provinces to exercise any office or perform any service.
[ Webster]

2. Provisions for a journey. Davies (Wit's Pilgr.).
[ Webster]

3. (R. C. Ch.) The communion, or eucharist, when given to persons in danger of death.
[ Webster]

Viatometer (?), n. A viameter.
[ Webster]

Vibices (?), n. pl. [L., pl. of vibex, -icis, the mark of a blow.] (Med.) More or less extensive patches of subcutaneous extravasation of blood.
[ Webster]

Vibraculum (?), n.; pl. Vibracula (#). [NL., dim. from L. vibrare to vibrate.] (Zoöl.) One of the movable, slender, spinelike organs or parts with which certain bryozoans are furnished. They are regarded as specially modified zooids, of nearly the same nature as Avicularia.
[ Webster]

Vibrancy (?), n. The state of being vibrant; resonance.
[ Webster]

Vibrant (?), a. [L. vibrans, p. pr.: cf. F. vibrant. See .] Vibrating; tremulous; resonant; as, vibrant drums. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

Vibrate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vibrated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Vibrating.] [L. vibratus, p. p. of vibrare, v. t. & v. i., to shake, brandish, vibrate; akin to Skr. vip to tremble, Icel. veifa to wave, vibrate. See and cf. , v. t.] 1. To brandish; to move to and fro; to swing; as, to vibrate a sword or a staff.
[ Webster]

2. To mark or measure by moving to and fro; as, a pendulum vibrating seconds.
[ Webster]

3. To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
[ Webster]

Breath vocalized, that is, vibrated or undulated, may . . . impress a swift, tremulous motion. Holder.
[ Webster]

Star to star vibrates light. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

Vibrate (?), v. i. 1. To move to and fro, or from side to side, as a pendulum, an elastic rod, or a stretched string, when disturbed from its position of rest; to swing; to oscillate.
[ Webster]

2. To have the constituent particles move to and fro, with alternate compression and dilation of parts, as the air, or any elastic body; to quiver.
[ Webster]

3. To produce an oscillating or quivering effect of sound; as, a whisper vibrates on the ear. Pope.
[ Webster]

4. To pass from one state to another; to waver; to fluctuate; as, a man vibrates between two opinions.
[ Webster]

Vibratile (?), a. [Cf. F. vibratile.] Adapted to, or used in, vibratory motion; having the power of vibrating; vibratory; as, the vibratile organs of insects.
[ Webster]

Vibratility (?), n. [Cf. F. vibratilité.] The quality or state of being vibratile; disposition to vibration or oscillation. Rush.
[ Webster]

Vibration (?), n. [L. vibratio: cf. F. vibration.] 1. The act of vibrating, or the state of being vibrated, or in vibratory motion; quick motion to and fro; oscillation, as of a pendulum or musical string.
[ Webster]

As a harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

2. (Physics) A limited reciprocating motion of a particle of an elastic body or medium in alternately opposite directions from its position of equilibrium, when that equilibrium has been disturbed, as when a stretched cord or other body produces musical notes, or particles of air transmit sounds to the ear. The path of the particle may be in a straight line, in a circular arc, or in any curve whatever.
[ Webster]

☞ Vibration and oscillation are both used, in mechanics, of the swinging, or rising and falling, motion of a suspended or balanced body; the latter term more appropriately, as signifying such motion produced by gravity, and of any degree of slowness, while the former applies especially to the quick, short motion to and fro which results from elasticity, or the action of molecular forces among the particles of a body when disturbed from their position of rest, as in a spring.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Amplitude of vibration , the maximum displacement of a vibrating particle or body from its position of rest. -- Coloq. Phase of vibration , any part of the path described by a particle or body in making a complete vibration, in distinction from other parts, as while moving from one extreme to the other, or on one side of the line of rest, in distinction from the opposite. Two particles are said to be in the same phase when they are moving in the same direction and with the same velocity, or in corresponding parts of their paths.
[ Webster]

Vibratiuncle (?), n. [Dim. of vibration.] A small vibration. [R.] Chambers.
[ Webster]

Vibrative (?), a. Vibrating; vibratory. “A vibrative motion.” Sir I. Newton.
[ Webster]

Vibrator (?), n. One that vibrates, or causes vibration or oscillation of any kind; specif. (a) (Elec.) (1) A trembler, as of an electric bell. (2) A vibrating reed for transmitting or receiving pulsating currents in a harmonic telegraph system. (3) A device for vibrating the pen of a siphon recorder to diminish frictional resistance on the paper. (4) An oscillator. (b) An ink-distributing roller in a printing machine, having an additional vibratory motion. (a) (Music) A vibrating reed, esp. in a reed organ. (d) (Weaving) Any of various vibrating devices, as one for slackening the warp as a shed opens. (e) An attachment, usually pneumatic, in a molding machine to shake the pattern loose. (f) a small electrical device held in the hand, with a motor that causes the device and hand to vibrate, and is used for vibratory massage.
[Webster Suppl. +PJC]

Vibratory (?), a. [Cf. F. vibratoire.] Consisting in, or causing, vibration, or oscillation; vibrating; as, a vibratory motion; a vibratory power.
[ Webster]

Vibrio (?), prop. n.; pl. E. Vibrios (#), L. Vibriones (#). [NL., fr. L. vibrare to vibrate, to move by undulations.] (Biol.) A genus of motile bacteria characterized by short, slightly sinuous filaments and an undulatory motion; also, an individual of this genus.
[ Webster]

Vibrissa (?), n.; pl. Vibrissæ (#). [L. vibrissae, pl., the hairs in the nostrils of man, fr. vibrare to vibrate; -- so called because touching them tickles a person, and causes him to shake his head.] 1. (Anat.) One of the specialized or tactile hairs which grow about the nostrils, or on other parts of the face, in many animals, as the so-called whiskers of the cat, and the hairs of the nostrils of man.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) The bristlelike feathers near the mouth of many birds.
[ Webster]

Vibrograph (?), n. [Vibrate + -graph.] An instrument to observe and record vibrations.
[Webster Suppl.]

Vibroscope (?), n. 1. An instrument for observing or tracing vibrations.
[ Webster]

2. An instrument resembling the phenakistoscope.
[ Webster]

Viburnum (?), n. [L., the wayfaring tree.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs having opposite, petiolate leaves and cymose flowers, several species of which are cultivated as ornamental plants, as the laurestine and the guelder-rose.
[ Webster]

Vicar (vĭkẽr), n. [OE. vicar, viker, vicair, F. vicaire, fr. L. vicarius. See .] 1. One deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office; a deputy. [R.]
[ Webster]

2. (Eng. Eccl. Law) The incumbent of an appropriated benefice.
[ Webster]

☞ The distinction between a parson [or rector] and vicar is this: The parson has, for the most part, the whole right to the ecclesiastical dues in his parish; but a vicar has generally an appropriator over him, entitled to the best part of the profits, to whom he is in fact perpetual curate with a standing salary. Burrill.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Apostolic vicar , or Coloq. Vicar apostolic . (R. C. Ch.) (a) A bishop to whom the Roman pontiff delegates a portion of his jurisdiction. (b) Any ecclesiastic acting under a papal brief, commissioned to exercise episcopal authority. (c) A titular bishop in a country where there is no episcopal see, or where the succession has been interrupted. -- Coloq. Vicar forane . [Cf. LL. foraneus situated outside of the episcopal city, rural. See , and .] (R. C. Ch.) A dignitary or parish priest appointed by a bishop to exercise a limited jurisdiction in a particular town or district of a diocese. Addis & Arnold. -- Coloq. Vicar-general . (a) (Ch. of Eng.) The deputy of the Archbishop of Canterbury or York, in whose court the bishops of the province are confirmed. Encyc. Brit. (b) (R. C. Ch.) An assistant to a bishop in the discharge of his official functions. -- Coloq. Vicar of Jesus Christ (R. C. Ch.), the pope as representing Christ on earth.
[ 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