Vambrace Vam"brace noun [ See
Vantbrass .]
(Anc. Armor) The piece designed to protect the arm from the elbow to the wrist.
Vamose Va·mose" intransitive verb & t. [ Spanish
vamos let us go.]
To depart quickly; to depart from. [ Written also
vamos , and
vamoose .] [ Slang, Eng. & U. S.]
Vamp Vamp intransitive verb To advance; to travel. [ Obsolete]
Vamp Vamp noun [ Middle English
vampe ,
vaumpe ,
vauntpe , French
avantpied the forefoot, vamp;
anat before, fore +
pied foot, Latin
pes . See
Advance ,
Van of an army, and
Foot .]
1. The part of a boot or shoe above the sole and welt, and in front of the ankle seam; an upper. 2. Any piece added to an old thing to give it a new appearance. See Vamp , transitive verb
Vamp Vamp transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Vamped (?; 215);
present participle & verbal noun Vamping .]
To provide, as a shoe, with new upper leather; hence, to piece, as any old thing, with a new part; to repair; to patch; -- often followed by up . I had never much hopes of your vamped play.
Swift.
Vamper Vamp"er noun One who vamps; one who pieces an old thing with something new; a cobbler.
Vamper Vamp"er intransitive verb [ Confer
Vaunt .]
To swagger; to make an ostentatious show. [ Prov. eng. & Scot.]
Jamieson.
Vampire Vam"pire noun [ French
vampire (cf. Italian
vampiro , G. & Dutch
vampir ), from Servian
vampir .] [ Written also
vampyre .]
1. A blood-sucking ghost; a soul of a dead person superstitiously believed to come from the grave and wander about by night sucking the blood of persons asleep, thus causing their death. This superstition is now prevalent in parts of Eastern Europe, and was especially current in Hungary about the year 1730. The persons who turn vampires are generally wizards, witches, suicides, and persons who have come to a violent end, or have been cursed by their parents or by the church,
Encyc. Brit. 2. Fig.: One who lives by preying on others; an extortioner; a bloodsucker. 3. (Zoology) Either one of two or more species of South American blood-sucking bats belonging to the genera Desmodus and Diphylla . These bats are destitute of molar teeth, but have strong, sharp cutting incisors with which they make punctured wounds from which they suck the blood of horses, cattle, and other animals, as well as man, chiefly during sleep. They have a cæcal appendage to the stomach, in which the blood with which they gorge themselves is stored. 4. (Zoology) Any one of several species of harmless tropical American bats of the genus Vampyrus , especially V. spectrum . These bats feed upon insects and fruit, but were formerly erroneously supposed to suck the blood of man and animals. Called also false vampire . Vampire bat (Zoology) ,
a vampire, 3.
Vampirism Vam"pir·ism noun [ Confer French
vampirisme .]
1. Belief in the existence of vampires. 2. The actions of a vampire; the practice of bloodsucking. 3. Fig.: The practice of extortion. Carlyle.
Vamplate Vam"plate` noun [ French
avant fore, fore + English
plate .]
A round of iron on the shaft of a tilting spear, to protect the hand. [ Written also
vamplet .]
Vamure Va"mure noun See Vauntmure . [ Obsolete]
Van Van noun [ Abbrev. from
vanguard .]
The front of an army; the first line or leading column; also, the front line or foremost division of a fleet, either in sailing or in battle. Standards and gonfalons, twixt van and rear,
Stream in the air.
Milton.
Van Van noun [ Cornish.]
(Mining) A shovel used in cleansing ore.
Van Van transitive verb (Mining) To wash or cleanse, as a small portion of ore, on a shovel. Raymond.
Van Van noun [ Abbreviated from
caravan .]
1. A light wagon, either covered or open, used by tradesmen and others fore the transportation of goods. [ Eng.]
2. A large covered wagon for moving furniture, etc., also for conveying wild beasts, etc., for exhibition. 3. A close railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car , 2. [ Eng.]
Van Van noun [ Latin
vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: confer French
van . Confer
Fan ,
Van a wing
Winnow .]
1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain. 2. [ Old French
vanne , French
vanneau beam feather (cf. Italian
vanno a wing) from Latin
vannus . See Etymology above.]
A wing with which the air is beaten. [ Archaic] "[ /Angels] on the air plumy
vans received him. "
Milton. He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain;
His vans no longer could his flight sustain.
Dryden.
Van Van transitive verb [ Confer French
vanner to winnow, to fan. See
Van a winnowing machine.]
To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [ Obsolete]
Bacon.
Van-courier Van"-cou`ri·er noun [ French
avant- courrier . See
Avant ,
Van of an army, and
Courier , and confer
Avant-courier ,
Vaunt-courier .]
One sent in advance; an avant-courier; a precursor.
Van't Hoff's law Van't Hoff's law [ After J.H. van't Hoff , Dutch physical chemist.] (Physics Chem.) The generalization that: when a system is in equilibrium, of the two opposed interactions the endothermic is promoted by raising the temperature, the exothermic by lowering it.
Vanadate Van"a·date noun [ Confer French
vanadate .]
(Chemistry) A salt of vanadic acid. [ Formerly also
vanadiate .]
Vanadic Va·nad"ic adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or obtained from, vanadium; containing vanadium; specifically distinguished those compounds in which vanadium has a relatively higher valence as contrasted with the vanadious compounds; as, vanadic oxide. Vanadic acid (Chemistry) ,
an acid analogous to phosphoric acid, not known in the free state but forming a well-known series of salts.
Vanadinite Va·nad"i·nite noun (Min.) A mineral occurring in yellowish, and ruby-red hexagonal crystals. It consist of lead vanadate with a small proportion of lead chloride.
Vanadious Va·na"di·ous adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or containing, vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a lower valence as contrasted with the vanadic compounds; as, vanadious acid. [ Sometimes written also
vanadous .]
Vanadite Van"a·dite noun (Chemistry) A salt of vanadious acid, analogous to a nitrite or a phosphite.
Vanadium Va·na"di·um noun [ New Latin , from Icelandic
Vanadīs , a surname of the Scandinavian goddess Freya.]
(Chemistry) A rare element of the nitrogen-phosphorus group, found combined, in vanadates, in certain minerals, and reduced as an infusible, grayish-white metallic powder. It is intermediate between the metals and the non-metals, having both basic and acid properties. Symbol V (or Vd, rarely). Atomic weight 51.2.
Vanadium bronze Va·na"di·um bronze` (Chemistry) A yellow pigment consisting of a compound of vanadium.
Vanadous Van"a·dous adjective (Chemistry) Of or pertaining to vanadium; obtained from vanadium; -- said of an acid containing one equivalent of vanadium and two of oxygen.
Vanadyl Van"a·dyl noun [
Vanad ium +
- yl .]
(Chemistry) The hypothetical radical VO, regarded as a characterized residue of certain vanadium compounds.
Vandal Van"dal noun [ Latin
Vandalus ,
Vandalius ; of Teutonic origin, and probably originally signifying, a wanderer. Confer
Wander .]
1. (Anc. Hist.) One of a Teutonic race, formerly dwelling on the south shore of the Baltic, the most barbarous and fierce of the northern nations that plundered Rome in the 5th century, notorious for destroying the monuments of art and literature. 2. Hence, one who willfully destroys or defaces any work of art or literature. The Vandals of our isle,
Sworn foes to sense and law.
Cowper.
Vandal, Vandalic Van"dal, Van·dal"ic adjective Of or pertaining to the Vandals; resembling the Vandals in barbarism and destructiveness.
Vandalism Van"dal·ism noun The spirit or conduct of the Vandals; ferocious cruelty; hostility to the arts and literature, or willful destruction or defacement of their monuments.
Vandyke Van·dyke" (văn*dīk")
adjective Of or pertaining to the style of Vandyke the painter; used or represented by Vandyke. "His
Vandyke dress."
Macaulay. [ Written also
Vandyck .]
Vandyke brown (Paint.) ,
a pigment of a deep semitransparent brown color, supposed to be the color used by Vandyke in his pictures. --
Vandyke collar or
cape ,
a broad collar or cape of linen and lace with a deep pointed or scalloped edge, worn lying on the shoulders; -- so called from its appearance in pictures by Vandyke. --
Vandyke edge ,
an edge having ornamental triangular points.
Vandyke Van·dyke" noun A picture by Vandyke. Also, a Vandyke collar, or a Vandyke edge. [ Written also
Vandyck .]
Vandyke Van·dyke" transitive verb fit or furnish with a Vandyke; to form with points or scallops like a Vandyke. [ R.] [ Written also
Vandyck .]
Vandyke beard Van·dyke" beard` A trim, pointed beard, such as those often seen in pictures by Vandyke .
Vane Vane noun [ Middle English & E. Prov. English
fane weathercock, banner, Anglo-Saxon
fana a banner, flag; akin to Dutch
vaan , German
fahne , Old High German
fano cloth, gund
fano flag, Icelandic
fāni , Swedish
fana , Danish
fane , Goth.
fana cloth, Latin
pannus , and perhaps to Greek ... a web, ... a bobbin, spool. Confer
Fanon ,
Pane a compartment, panel.]
1. A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely. Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane .
Chaucer. 2. Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc. 3. (Zoology) The rhachis and web of a feather taken together. 4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling staff .
(Surv.) Same as Target , 3.
Vanessa Van·es"sa noun [ Probably from Swift's poem of Cadenus and
Vanessa . See
Vanessa , in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.]
(Zoology) Any one of numerous species of handsomely colored butterflies belonging to Vanessa and allied genera. Many of these species have the edges of the wings irregularly scalloped.
Vanessian Van·es"si·an noun (Zoology) A vanessa.
Vanfess Van"fess` noun [ French
avant- fossé ;
avant before +
fossé ditch. Confer
Fosse .]
(Fort.) A ditch on the outside of the counterscarp, usually full of water.
Vang Vang noun [ Dutch
vangen to catch, seize. See
Fang .]
(Nautical) A rope to steady the peak of a gaff.
Vanglo Van"glo noun (Botany) Benne ( Sesamum orientale ); also, its seeds; -- so called in the West Indies.
Vanguard Van"guard` noun [ For
vantguard ,
avantguard , French
avant-garde ;
avant before, fore +
garde guard. See
Avant ,
Ab- ,
Ante- , and
Guard , and confer
Advance ,
Vamp ,
Van of an army,
Vaward .]
(Mil.) The troops who march in front of an army; the advance guard; the van.
Vanilla Va·nil"la noun [ New Latin , from Spanish
vainilla , dim. of Spanish
vaina a sheath, a pod, Latin
vagina ; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods.]
1. (Botany) A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants, natives of tropical America. 2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia , and V. claviculata , remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odor, for the volatile, odoriferous oil extracted from them; also, the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc. » As a medicine,
vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful.
Cuban vanilla ,
a sweet-scented West Indian composite shrub ( Eupatorium Dalea ). --
Vanilla bean ,
the long capsule of the vanilla plant. --
Vanilla grass .
Same as Holy grass , under Holy .
Vanillate Va·nil"late noun (Chemistry) A salt of vanillic acid.
Vanillic Va·nil"lic adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or derived from, vanilla or vanillin; resembling vanillin; specifically, designating an alcohol and an acid respectively, vanillin being the intermediate aldehyde.
Vanillin Va·nil"lin noun (Chemistry) A white crystalline aldehyde having a burning taste and characteristic odor of vanilla. It is extracted from vanilla pods, and is also obtained by the decomposition of coniferin, and by the oxidation of eugenol.
Vanilloes Va·nil"loes noun plural An inferior kind of vanilla, the pods of Vanilla Pompona .
Vanillyl Va·nil"lyl noun [
Vanill ic +
- yl .]
(Chemistry) The hypothetical radical characteristic of vanillic alcohol.
Vaniloquence Va·nil"o·quence noun [ Latin
vaniloquentia ;
vanus vain +
loquentia talk,
loqui to speak.]
Vain or foolish talk. [ Obsolete]
Vanish Van"ish intransitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Vanished ;
present participle & verbal noun Vanishing .] [ Middle English
vanissen , Old French
vanir (in comp.): confer Old French
envanir ,
esvanir ,
esvanuïr , French
s'évanouir ; from Latin
vanus empty, vain; confer Latin
vanescere ,
evanescere , to vanish. See
Vain , and confer
Evanescent ,
-ish .]
1. To pass from a visible to an invisible state; to go out of sight; to disappear; to fade; as, vapor vanishes from the sight by being dissipated; a ship vanishes from the sight of spectators on land. The horse vanished . . . out of sight.
Chaucer. Go; vanish into air; away!
Shak. The champions vanished from their posts with the speed of lightning.
Sir W. Scott. Gliding from the twilight past to vanish among realities.
Hawthorne. 2. To be annihilated or lost; to pass away. "All these delights will
vanish ."
Milton.
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