Victualer - Vilify

Prev Next
[ Webster]

Victualer (vĭt'lẽr), n. [F. victuailleur.] [Written also victualler.] 1. One who furnishes victuals.
[ Webster]

2. One who keeps a house of entertainment; a tavern keeper; an innkeeper. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. A vessel employed to carry provisions, usually for military or naval use; a provision ship.
[ Webster]

4. One who deals in grain; a corn factor. [Scot.]
[ Webster]

Coloq. Licensed victualer . See under .
[ Webster]

Victualing, a. Of or pertaining to victuals, or provisions; supplying provisions; as, a victualing ship.
[ Webster]

Victuals (vĭt'lz), n. pl. [OE. vitaille, OF. vitaille, F. victuaille, pl. victuailles, fr. L. victualia, pl. of. victualis belonging to living or nourishment, fr. victus nourishment, from vivere, victum, to live; akin to vivus living. See .] Food for human beings, esp. when it is cooked or prepared for the table; that which supports human life; provisions; sustenance; meat; viands.
[ Webster]

Then had we plenty of victuals. Jer. xliv. 17.
[ Webster]

Victus (?), n. [L.] (Zoöl.) Food; diet.
[ Webster]

{ Vicuña, Vicugna } (?), n. [Sp. vicuña. Cf. .] (Zoöl.) A South American mammal (Auchenia vicunna) native of the elevated plains of the Andes, allied to the llama but smaller. It has a thick coat of very fine reddish brown wool, and long, pendent white hair on the breast and belly. It is hunted for its wool and flesh.
[ Webster]

Vida finch (?). (Zoöl.) The whidah bird.
[ Webster]

Vidame (?), n. [F., fr. LL. vice-dominus, fr. L. vice instead of + dominus master, lord.] (Fr. Feud. Law) One of a class of temporal officers who originally represented the bishops, but later erected their offices into fiefs, and became feudal nobles.
[ Webster]

Vide (?), imperative sing. of L. videre, to see; -- used to direct attention to something; as, vide supra, see above.
[ Webster]

Videlicet (?), adv. [L., contr. fr. videre licet, literally, it is easy to see, one may or can see.] To wit; namely; -- often abbreviated to viz.
[ Webster]

videocasette n. a casette containing magnetic tape, which can be used in a videocasette recorder to record and play back electronic signals, such as from television programs. The long magnetic tape in the videocasette is moved between two spindles, and a small portion of the tape at any one time is passed over a recording or playback head.
[PJC]

videocasette recorder n. an electronic device which can record electronic signals, as from a television program, on magnetic tape contained in a videocassette, and can also play back the recording. It is used, for example, to record television programs broadcast at some particular time, which can then be viewed at any subsequent time by attaching the videocasette recorder to a television receiver and playing the signals throught the television receiver. Also called VCR.
[PJC]

videotape n. 1. a video recording made on magnetic tape.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. a relatively wide magnetic tape for use in recording visual images and associated sound.
[WordNet 1.5]

Vidette (?), n. (Mil.) Same as .
[ Webster]

Vidonia (?), n. [Cf. Pg. vidonho the quality of grapes, Sp. veduño.] A dry white wine, of a tart flavor, produced in Teneriffe; -- called also Teneriffe.
[ Webster]

Viduage (?), n. [See .] The state of widows or of widowhood; also, widows, collectively.
[ Webster]

Vidual (?), a. [L. vidualis, fr. vidua a widow, fr. viduus widowed. See .] Of or pertaining to the state of a widow; widowed. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
[ Webster]

Viduation (?), n. The state of being widowed or bereaved; loss; bereavement. [R.]
[ Webster]

Viduity (?), n. [L. viduitas: cf. F. viduité.] Widowhood. [R.] “Chaste viduity.” Ld. Ellenborough.
[ Webster]

Vie (vī), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Vied (vīd); p. pr. & vb. n. Vying (vīĭng).] [OE. vien, shortened fr. envien, OF. envier to invite, to challenge, a word used in gambling, L. invitare to invite; of uncertain origin. Cf. , .] 1. To stake a sum upon a hand of cards, as in the old game of gleek. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

2. To strive for superiority; to contend; to use emulous effort, as in a race, contest, or competition.
[ Webster]

In a trading nation, the younger sons may be placed in such a way of life as . . . to vie with the best of their family. Addison.
[ Webster]

While Waterloo with Cannæ's carnage vies. Byron.
[ Webster]

Vie, v. t. 1. To stake; to wager. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

2. To do or produce in emulation, competition, or rivalry; to put in competition; to bandy. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast. Shak.
[ Webster]

Nor was he set over us to vie wisdom with his Parliament, but to be guided by them. Milton.
[ Webster]

And vying malice with my gentleness,
Pick quarrels with their only happiness. Herbert.
[ Webster]

Vie, n. A contest for superiority; competition; rivalry; strife; also, a challenge; a wager. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

We 'll all to church together instantly,
And then a vie for boys. J. Fletcher.
[ Webster]

Vielle (?), n. [F. Cf. .] An old stringed instrument played upon with a wheel; a hurdy-gurdy.
[ Webster]

Vienna paste (?). (Pharm.) A caustic application made up of equal parts of caustic potash and quicklime; -- called also Vienna caustic.
[ Webster]

Viennese (?), a. Of or pertaining to Vienna, or the people of Vienna. -- n. sing. & pl. An inhabitant, or the inhabitants, of Vienna.
[ Webster]

Vierkleur (?), n. [D., fr. vier four + kleur color, F. couleur.] The four-colored flag of the South African Republic, or Transvaal, -- red, white, blue, and green.
[Webster Suppl.]

View (vū), n. [OF. veue, F. vue, fr. OF. veoir to see, p. p. veu, F. voir, p. p. vu, fr. L. videre to see. See , and cf. , , , .] 1. The act of seeing or beholding; sight; look; survey; examination by the eye; inspection.
[ Webster]

Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view. Milton.
[ Webster]

Objects near our view are thought greater than those of a larger size that are more remote. Locke.
[ Webster]

Surveying nature with too nice a view. Dryden.
[ Webster]

2. Mental survey; intellectual perception or examination; as, a just view of the arguments or facts in a case.
[ Webster]

I have with exact view perused thee, Hector. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. Power of seeing, either physically or mentally; reach or range of sight; extent of prospect.
[ Webster]

The walls of Pluto's palace are in view. Dryden.
[ Webster]

4. That which is seen or beheld; sight presented to the natural or intellectual eye; scene; prospect; as, the view from a window.
[ Webster]

'T is distance lends enchantment to the view. Campbell.
[ Webster]

5. The pictorial representation of a scene; a sketch, either drawn or painted; as, a fine view of Lake George.
[ Webster]

6. Mode of looking at anything; manner of apprehension; conception; opinion; judgment; as, to state one's views of the policy which ought to be pursued.
[ Webster]

To give a right view of this mistaken part of liberty. Locke.
[ Webster]

7. That which is looked towards, or kept in sight, as object, aim, intention, purpose, design; as, he did it with a view of escaping.
[ Webster]

No man sets himself about anything but upon some view or other which serves him for a reason. Locke.
[ Webster]

8. Appearance; show; aspect. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

[Graces] which, by the splendor of her view
Dazzled, before we never knew. Waller.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Field of view . See under . -- Coloq. Point of view . See under . -- Coloq. To have in view , to have in mind as an incident, object, or aim; as, to have one's resignation in view. -- Coloq. View halloo , the shout uttered by a hunter upon seeing the fox break cover. -- Coloq. View of frankpledge (Law), a court of record, held in a hundred, lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet. Blackstone. -- Coloq. View of premises (Law), the inspection by the jury of the place where a litigated transaction is said to have occurred.
[ Webster]

View (vū), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Viewed (vūd); p. pr. & vb. n. Viewing.] 1. To see; to behold; especially, to look at with attention, or for the purpose of examining; to examine with the eye; to inspect; to explore.
[ Webster]

O, let me view his visage, being dead. Shak.
[ Webster]

Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied,
To mark what of their state he more might learn. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. To survey or examine mentally; to consider; as, to view the subject in all its aspects.
[ Webster]

The happiest youth, viewing his progress through. Shak.
[ Webster]

Viewer (?), n. 1. One who views or examines.
[ Webster]

2. (Law) A person appointed to inspect highways, fences, or the like, and to report upon the same.
[ Webster]

3. The superintendent of a coal mine. [Eng.]
[ Webster]

Viewiness (?), n. The quality or state of being viewy, or of having unpractical views.
[ Webster]

Viewless, a. Not perceivable by the eye; invisible; unseen. “Viewless winds.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Swift through the valves the visionary fair
Repassed, and viewless mixed with common air. Pope.
[ Webster]

{ Viewly (?), Viewsome (?), } a. Pleasing to the sight; sightly. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Viewy (?), a. 1. Having peculiar views; fanciful; visionary; unpractical; as, a viewy person.
[ Webster]

2. Spectacular; pleasing to the eye or the imagination.
[ Webster]

A government intent on showy absurdities and viewy enterprises rather than solid work. London Spectator.
[ Webster]

Vifda (?), n. In the Orkney and Shetland Islands, beef and mutton hung and dried, but not salted. [Scot.] [Written also vivda.] Jamieson.
[ Webster]

Vigesimal (?), a. [L. vigesimus twentieth, from viginti twenty.] Twentieth; divided into, or consisting of, twenties or twenty parts. Tylor.
[ Webster]

Vigesimation (?), n. The act of putting to death every twentieth man. [R.]
[ Webster]

Vigesimo-quarto (?), a. [L. vigesimus quartus twenty-fourth. Cf. .] Having twenty-four leaves to a sheet; as, a vigesimo-quarto form, book, leaf, size, etc.
[ Webster]

Vigesimo-quarto, n.; pl. -tos (�). A book composed of sheets each of which is folded into twenty-four leaves; hence, indicating more or less definitely a size of book so made; -- usually written 24mo, or 24°.
[ Webster]

Vigil (?), n. [OE. vigile, L. vigilia, from vigil awake, watchful, probably akin to E. wake: cf. F. vigile. See , v. i., and cf. , , , , .] 1. Abstinence from sleep, whether at a time when sleep is customary or not; the act of keeping awake, or the state of being awake; sleeplessness; wakefulness; watch. “Worn out by the labors and vigils of many months.” Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Nothing wears out a fine face like the vigils of the card table and those cutting passions which attend them. Addison.
[ Webster]

2. Hence, devotional watching; waking for prayer, or other religious exercises.
[ Webster]

So they in heaven their odes and vigils tuned. Milton.
[ Webster]

Be sober and keep vigil,
The Judge is at the gate. Neale (Rhythm of St. Bernard).
[ Webster]

3. (Eccl.) (a) Originally, the watch kept on the night before a feast. (b) Later, the day and the night preceding a feast.
[ Webster]

He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors,
And say, “To-morrow is St. Crispian.” Shak.
[ Webster]

(c) A religious service performed in the evening preceding a feast.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vigils of flowers or Coloq. Watchings of flowers (Bot.), a peculiar faculty belonging to the flowers of certain plants of opening and closing their petals at certain hours of the day. [R.]
[ Webster]

Vigilance (?), n. [L. vigilantia: cf. F. vigilance.] 1. The quality or state of being vigilant; forbearance of sleep; wakefulness.
[ Webster]

2. Watchfulness in respect of danger; care; caution; circumspection. Cowper.
[ Webster]

And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Their earthly charge; of these the vigilance
I dread. Milton.
[ Webster]

3. Guard; watch. [Obs.] “In at this gate none pass the vigilance here placed.” Milton.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Vigilance committee , a volunteer committee of citizens for the oversight and protection of any interest, esp. one organized for the summary suppression and punishment of crime, as when the processes of law appear inadequate.
[ Webster]

Vigilancy (?), n. Vigilance. [Obs.] Fuller.
[ Webster]

Vigilant (?), a. [L. vigilans, -antis, p. pr. of vigilare to watch, fr. vigil awake: cf. F. vigilant. See .] Attentive to discover and avoid danger, or to provide for safety; wakeful; watchful; circumspect; wary. “Be sober, be vigilant.” 1 Pet. v. 8.
[ Webster]

Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant. Shak.
[ Webster]

Vigilantly, adv. In a vigilant manner.
[ Webster]

Vigily (?), n. [L. vigilia.] A vigil. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Vigintivirate (?), n. [L. vigintiviratus, fr. vigintiviri; viginti twenty + vir a man.] The office of the vigintiviri, a body of officers of government consisting of twenty men; also, the vigintiviri. [R.]
[ Webster]

Vignette (?; 277), n. [F. vignette, fr. vigne a vine. See , and cf. .] 1. (Arch.) A running ornament consisting of leaves and tendrils, used in Gothic architecture.
[ Webster]

2. A decorative design, originally representing vine branches or tendrils, at the head of a chapter, of a manuscript or printed book, or in a similar position; hence, by extension, any small picture in a book; hence, also, as such pictures are often without a definite bounding line, any picture, as an engraving, a photograph, or the like, which vanishes gradually at the edge.
[ Webster]

3. A picture, illustration, or depiction in words, esp. one of a small or dainty kind.
[Webster Suppl.]

Vignette, v. t. To make, as an engraving or a photograph, with a border or edge insensibly fading away.
[ Webster]

Vignetter (?), n. 1. A device used by photographers in printing vignettes, consisting of a screen of paper or glass with a central aperture the edges of which become opaque by insensible gradations.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. A maker of vignettes.
[Webster Suppl.]

Vigonia (?), a. [Cf. F. vigogne vicuña. See .] Of or pertaining to the vicuña; characterizing the vicuña; -- said of the wool of that animal, used in felting hats, and for other purposes. Prescott.
[ Webster]

Vigor (?), n. [OE. vigour, vigor, OF. vigor, vigur, vigour, F. vigueur, fr. L. vigor, fr. vigere to be lively or strong. See , .] 1. Active strength or force of body or mind; capacity for exertion, physically, intellectually, or morally; force; energy.
[ Webster]

The vigor of this arm was never vain. Dryden.
[ Webster]

2. Strength or force in animal or vegetable nature or action; as, a plant grows with vigor.
[ Webster]

3. Strength; efficacy; potency.
[ Webster]

But in the fruithful earth . . .
His beams, unactive else, their vigor find. Milton.
[ Webster]

☞ Vigor and its derivatives commonly imply active strength, or the power of action and exertion, in distinction from passive strength, or strength to endure.
[ Webster]

Vigor, v. t. To invigorate. [Obs.] Feltham.
[ Webster]

Vigorite (?), n. [L. vigor strength.] An explosive containing nitroglycerin. It is used in blasting.
[ Webster]

Vigoroso (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Vigorous; energetic; with energy; -- a direction to perform a passage with energy and force.
[ Webster]

Vigorous (?), a. [Cf. OF. vigoros, F. vigoureux, LL. vigorosus.] 1. Possessing vigor; full of physical or mental strength or active force; strong; lusty; robust; as, a vigorous youth; a vigorous plant.
[ Webster]

Famed for his valor, young,
At sea successful, vigorous and strong. Waller.
[ Webster]

2. Exhibiting strength, either of body or mind; powerful; strong; forcible; energetic; as, vigorous exertions; a vigorous prosecution of a war.
[ Webster]

The beginnings of confederacies have been always vigorous and successful. Davenant.
[ Webster]

-- Vigorously, adv. -- Vigorousness, n.
[ Webster]

Viking (?), n. [Icel. vīkingr, fr. vīk a bay, inlet.] One belonging to the pirate crews from among the Northmen, who plundered the coasts of Europe in the eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries.
[ Webster]

Of grim Vikings, and the rapture
Of the sea fight, and the capture,
And the life of slavery. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

☞ Viking differs in meaning from sea king, with which it is frequently confounded. “The sea king was a man connected with a royal race, either of the small kings of the country, or of the Haarfager family, and who, by right, received the title of king as soon he took the command of men, although only of a single ship's crew, and without having any land or kingdom . . . Vikings were merely pirates, alternately peasants and pirates, deriving the name of viking from the vicks, wicks, or inlets, on the coast in which they harbored with their long ships or rowing galleys.” Laing.
[ Webster]

Vilany (vĭlȧn�), n. Villainy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Vilayet (?), n. [Turk., from Ar. wilāyah.] One of the chief administrative divisions or provinces of the Ottoman Empire; -- formerly called eyalet.
[ Webster]

Vild (?), a. [As if the p. p. of a verb to vile. See , a.] Vile. [Obs.] “That vild race.” Spenser. -- Vildly, adv. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Vile (vīl), a. [Comp. Viler (vīlẽr); superl. Vilest.] [OE. vil, F. vil, from L. vilis cheap, worthless, vile, base.]
[ Webster]

1. Low; base; worthless; mean; despicable.
[ Webster]

A poor man in vile raiment. James ii. 2.
[ Webster]

The craft either of fishing, which was Peter's, or of making tents, which was Paul's, were [was] more vile than the science of physic. Ridley.
[ Webster]

The inhabitants account gold but as a vile thing. Abp. Abbot.
[ Webster]

2. Morally base or impure; depraved by sin; hateful in the sight of God and men; sinful; wicked; bad. “Such vile base practices.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee ? Job xl. 4.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- See .
[ Webster]

-- Vilely, adv. -- Vileness, n.
[ Webster]

Viled (vīld), a. [See .] Abusive; scurrilous; defamatory; vile. [Obs.] “Viled speeches.” Hayward.
[ Webster]

Vileyns (?), a. [See .] Villainous. [Obs.] “Vileyns sinful deeds make a churl.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Vilification (vĭlĭfĭkāshŭn), n. The act of vilifying or defaming; abuse. South.
[ Webster]

Vilifier (vĭlĭfīẽr), n. One who vilifies or defames.
[ Webster]

Vilify (vĭlĭfī), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vilified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Vilifying.] [L. vilis vile + -fy; cf. L. vilificare to esteem of little value.] 1. To make vile; to debase; to degrade; to disgrace. [R.]
[ Webster]

When themselves they vilified
To serve ungoverned appetite. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. To degrade or debase by report; to defame; to traduce; to calumniate. I. Taylor.
[ Webster]

Many passions dispose us to depress and vilify the merit of one rising in the esteem of mankind. Addison.
[ Webster]

3. To treat as vile; to despise. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

I do vilify your censure. Beau. & Fl.
[ 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