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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)


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
You are here: Webster > Letter V > Page 22 of 38.
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Viaticum Vi·at"i·cum noun [ Latin , from viaticus , adjective See Viatic .] 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.

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

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

Viatometer Vi`a·tom"e·ter noun A viameter.

Vibices Vi·bi"ces noun plural [ Latin , plural of vibex , -icis , the mark of a blow.] (Medicine) More or less extensive patches of subcutaneous extravasation of blood.

Vibraculum Vi·brac"u·lum noun ; plural Vibracula . [ New Latin , dim. from Latin vibrare to vibrate.] (Zoology) 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.

Vibrancy Vi"bran·cy noun The state of being vibrant; resonance.

Vibrant Vi"brant adjective [ Latin vibrans , present participle: confer French vibrant . See Vibrate .] Vibrating; tremulous; resonant; as, vibrant drums. Longfellow.

Vibrate Vi"brate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Vibrate ; present participle & verbal noun Vibrating .] [ Latin vibratus , past participle of vibrare , transitive verb & intransitive verb , to snake, brandish, vibrate; akin to Sanskrit vip to tremble, Icelandic veifa to wave, vibrate. See Waive and confer Whip , transitive verb ] 1. To brandish; to move to and fro; to swing; as, to vibrate a sword or a staff.

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

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

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

Star to star vibrates light.
Tennyson.

Vibrate Vi"brate intransitive verb 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.

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.

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

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

Vibratile Vi"bra·tile adjective [ Confer French vibratile .] Adapted to, or used in, vibratory motion; having the power of vibrating; vibratory; as, the vibratile organs of insects.

Vibratility Vi`bra·til"i·ty noun [ Confer French vibratilité .] The quality or state of being vibratile; disposition to vibration or oscillation. Rush.

Vibration Vi·bra"tion noun [ Latin vibratio : confer French 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.

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

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.

» 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.

Amplitude of vibration , the maximum displacement of a vibrating particle or body from its position of rest. -- 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.

Vibratiuncle Vi·bra"ti·un`cle adjective [ Dim. of vibration .] A small vibration. [ R.] Chambers.

Vibrative Vi"bra·tive adjective Vibrating; vibratory. "A vibrative motion." Sir I. Newton.

Vibrator Vi"bra·tor noun One that vibrates, or causes vibration or oscillation of any kind; specif. (a) (Electricity) (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.

Vibratory Vi"bra·to·ry adjective [ Confer French vibratoire .] Consisting in, or causing, vibration, or oscillation; vibrating; as, a vibratory motion; a vibratory power.

Vibrio Vib"ri·o noun ; plural English Vibrios , Latin Vibriones . [ New Latin , from Latin 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.

Vibrissa Vi·bris"sa noun ; plural Vibrissæ . [ Latin vibrissae , plural, the hairs in the nostrils of man, from 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.

2. (Zoology) The bristlelike feathers near the mouth of many birds.

Vibrograph Vi"bro·graph noun [ Vibrate + -graph .] An instrument to observe and record vibrations.

Vibroscope Vi"bro·scope noun 1. An instrument for observing or tracing vibrations.

2. An instrument resembling the phenakistoscope.

Viburnum Vi·bur"num noun [ Latin , the wayfaring tree.] (Botany) A genus of shrubs having opposite, petiolate leaves and cymose flowers, several species of which are cultivated as ornamental, as the laurestine and the guelder-rose.

Vicar Vic"ar noun [ Middle English vicar , viker , vicair , French vicaire , from Latin vicarius . See Vicarious .] 1. One deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office; a deputy. [ R.]

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

» 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.

Apostolic vicar , or 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. -- Vicar forane . [ Confer Late Latin foraneus situated outside of the episcopal city, rural. See Vicar , and Foreign .] (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. -- 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. -- Vicar of Jesus Christ (R. C. Ch.) , the pope as representing Christ on earth.

Vicarage Vic"ar·age noun 1. The benefice of a vicar.

2. The house or residence of a vicar.

Vicarial Vi·ca"ri·al adjective [ Confer French vicarial .] 1. Of or pertaining to a vicar; as, vicarial tithes.

2. Delegated; vicarious; as, vicarial power.

Vicarian Vi·ca"ri·an noun A vicar. [ Obsolete] Marston.

Vicariate Vi·ca"ri·ate adjective Having delegated power, as a vicar; vicarious. Barrow.

Vicariate Vi·ca"ri·ate noun [ Late Latin vicariatus , or French vicariat .] Delegated office or power; vicarship; the office or oversight of a vicar.

The vicariate of that part of Germany which is governed by the Saxon laws devolved on the elector of Saxony.
Robertson.

Vicarious Vi·ca"ri·ous adjective [ Latin vicarius , from vicis change, alternation, turn, the position, place, or office of one person as assumed by another; akin to Greek ... to yield, give way, German wechsel a change, and probably also to English weak . See Weak , and confer Vice , preposition ] 1. Of or pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy; deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

2. Acting of suffering for another; as, a vicarious agent or officer.

The soul in the body is but a subordinate efficient, and vicarious . . . in the hands of the Almighty.
Sir M. Hale.

3. Performed of suffered in the place of another; substituted; as, a vicarious sacrifice; vicarious punishment.

The vicarious work of the Great Deliverer.
I. Taylor.

4. (Medicine) Acting as a substitute; -- said of abnormal action which replaces a suppressed normal function; as, vicarious hemorrhage replacing menstruation.

Vicariously Vi·ca"ri·ous·ly adverb In a vicarious manner.

Vicarship Vic"ar·ship noun The office or dignity of a vicar.

Vicary Vic"ar·y noun [ Latin vicarius .] A vicar. [ Obsolete]

Vice Vice noun [ French, from Latin vitium .] 1. A defect; a fault; an error; a blemish; an imperfection; as, the vices of a political constitution; the vices of a horse.

Withouten vice of syllable or letter.
Chaucer.

Mark the vice of the procedure.
Sir W. Hamilton.

2. A moral fault or failing; especially, immoral conduct or habit, as in the indulgence of degrading appetites; customary deviation in a single respect, or in general, from a right standard, implying a defect of natural character, or the result of training and habits; a harmful custom; immorality; depravity; wickedness; as, a life of vice ; the vice of intemperance.

I do confess the vices of my blood.
Shak.

Ungoverned appetite . . . a brutish vice .
Milton.

When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
The post of honor is a private station.
Addison.

3. The buffoon of the old English moralities, or moral dramas, having the name sometimes of one vice, sometimes of another, or of Vice itself; -- called also Iniquity .

» This character was grotesquely dressed in a cap with ass's ears, and was armed with a dagger of lath: one of his chief employments was to make sport with the Devil, leaping on his back, and belaboring him with the dagger of lath till he made him roar. The Devil, however, always carried him off in the end. Nares.

How like you the Vice in the play?
. . . I would not give a rush for a Vice that has not a wooden dagger to snap at everybody.
B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Crime; sin; iniquity; fault. See Crime .

Vice Vice noun [ See Vise .] 1. (Mech.) A kind of instrument for holding work, as in filing. Same as Vise .

2. A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements. [ Written also vise .]

3. A gripe or grasp. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Vice Vice transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Viced ; present participle & verbal noun Vicing .] To hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice. Shak.

The coachman's hand was viced between his upper and lower thigh.
De Quincey.

Vice Vi"ce preposition [ Latin , abl. of vicis change, turn. See Vicarious .] In the place of; in the stead; as, A. B. was appointed postmaster vice C. D. resigned.

Vice Vice adjective [ Confer French vice- . See Vice , preposition ] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul, etc.

Vice admiral . [ Confer French vice-amiral .] (a) An officer holding rank next below an admiral. By the existing laws, the rank of admiral and vice admiral in the United States Navy will cease at the death of the present incumbents. (b) A civil officer, in Great Britain, appointed by the lords commissioners of the admiralty for exercising admiralty jurisdiction within their respective districts. -- Vice admiralty , the office of a vice admiral. -- Vice-admiralty court , a court with admiralty jurisdiction, established by authority of Parliament in British possessions beyond the seas. Abbott. -- Vice chamberlain , an officer in court next in rank to the lord chamberlain. [ Eng.] - - Vice chancellor . (a) (Law) An officer next in rank to a chancellor. (b) An officer in a university, chosen to perform certain duties, as the conferring of degrees, in the absence of the chancellor. (c) (R. C. Ch.) The cardinal at the head of the Roman Chancery. -- Vice consul [ cf. French vice- consul ], a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consul. -- Vice king , one who acts in the place of a king; a viceroy. -- Vice legate [ cf. French vice-légat ], a legate second in rank to, or acting in place of, another legate. -- Vice presidency , the office of vice president. -- Vice president [ cf. French vice-président ], an officer next in rank below a president.

Vice-regal Vice`-re"gal adjective Of or pertaining to a viceroy or viceroyalty. Macaulay.

Viced Viced adjective Vicious; corrupt. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Vicegerency Vice·ge"ren·cy noun The office of a vicegerent. South.

Vicegerent Vice·ge"rent adjective [ Vice , adjective + gerent : confer French vicegérant .] Having or exercising delegated power; acting by substitution, or in the place of another. Milton.

Vicegerent Vice·ge"rent adjective [ Vice , adjective + gerent : confer French vicegérant .] Having or exercising delegated power; acting by substitution, or in the place of another. Milton.

Vicegerent Vice·ge"rent noun An officer who is deputed by a superior, or by proper authority, to exercise the powers of another; a lieutenant; a vicar. Bacon.

The symbol and vicegerent of the Deity.
C. A. Young.

Viceman Vice"man noun ; plural Vicemen A smith who works at the vice instead of at the anvil.

Vicenary Vic"e·na·ry adjective [ Latin vicenarius , from viceni twenty each; akin to viginti twenty.] Of or pertaining to twenty; consisting of twenty.

Vicennial Vi·cen"ni·al adjective [ Latin vicennium a period of twenty years; viceni twenty + annus year.] 1. Lasting or comprising twenty years.

2. Happening once in twenty years; as, a vicennial celebration.

Viceroy Vice"roy noun [ French vice-roi ; prefix vice- in the place of (L. vice ) + roi a king, Latin rex . See Vice , preposition and Royal.] 1. The governor of a country or province who rules in the name of the sovereign with regal authority, as the king's substitute; as, the viceroy of India.

2. (Zoology) A large and handsome American butterfly ( Basilarchia, or Limenitis, archippus ). Its wings are orange-red, with black lines along the nervures and a row of white spots along the outer margins. The larvæ feed on willow, poplar, and apple trees.

Viceroyalty Vice·roy"al·ty noun The dignity, office, or jurisdiction of a viceroy.

Viceroyship Vice"roy·ship noun Viceroyalty.

Vicety Vi"ce·ty noun [ From Vice a fault.] Fault; defect; coarseness. [ Obsolete] B. Jonson.

Vichy water Vi"chy wa`ter A mineral water found at Vichy , France. It is essentially an effervescent solution of sodium, calcium, and magnetism carbonates, with sodium and potassium chlorides; also, by extension, any artificial or natural water resembling in composition the Vichy water proper. Called also, colloquially, Vichy .

Viciate Vi"ci·ate transitive verb See Vitiate . [ R.]

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