Chapter 1825

Vap"o*rize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vaporized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vaporizing (?) .] [Cf. F. vaporiser .] To convert into vapor, as by the application of heat, whether naturally or artificially.

Vaporizing surface . (Steam Boilers) See Evaporating surface , under Evaporate , v. t.

Vaporize <Xpage=1595>

Vap"o*rize , v. i. To pass off in vapor.

Vaporizer <Xpage=1595>

Vap"o*ri`zer (?) , n. One who, or that which, vaporizes, or converts into vapor.

Vaporose <Xpage=1595>

Va"por*ose` (?) , a. Full of vapor; vaporous.

Vaporous <Xpage=1595>

Va"por*ous (?) , a. [L. vaporosus : cf. vaporeux .]

1. Having the form or nature of vapor.

Holland.

2. Full of vapors or exhalations.

Shak.

The warmer and more vaporous air of the valleys. Derham.

3. Producing vapors; hence, windy; flatulent.

Bacon.

The food which is most vaporous and perspirable is the most easily digested. Arbuthnot.

4. Unreal; unsubstantial; vain; whimsical.

Such vaporous speculations were inevitable. Carlyle.

Vaporousness <Xpage=1595>

Va"por*ous*ness , n. The quality of being vaporous.

Vapory <Xpage=1595>

Va"por*y (?) , a. 1. Full of vapors; vaporous.

2. Hypochondriacal; splenetic; peevish.

Vapulation <Xpage=1595>

Vap`u*la"tion (?) , n. [L. vapulare to be <?/ogged.] The act of beating or whipping. [Obs.]

Vaquero <Xpage=1595>

Va*que"ro (?) , n. [Sp., cowherd, fr. vaca a cow, L. vacca . Cf. Vacher .] One who has charge of cattle, horses, etc.; a herdsman. [Southwestern U. S.]

Vara <Xpage=1595>

Va"ra (?) , n. [Sp. See 1st Vare .] A Spanish measure of length equal to about one yard. The vara now in use equals 33.385 inches.

Johnson's Cyc.

Varan <Xpage=1595>

Va"ran (?) , n. [F.] (Zo\'94l.) The monitor. See Monitor , 3.

Varangian <Xpage=1595>

Va*ran"gi*an (?) , n. One of the Northmen who founded a dynasty in Russia in the 9th century; also, one of the Northmen composing, at a later date, the imperial bodyguard at Constantinople.

Varanus <Xpage=1595>

Va*ra"nus (?) , n. [NL., fr. Ar. waran , waral ; cf. F. varan , from the Arabic.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of very large lizards native of Asia and Africa. It includes the monitors. See Monitor , 3.

Vare <Xpage=1595>

Vare (?) , n. [Sp. vara staff, wand, L. vara forked pole.] A wand or staff of authority or justice. [Obs.]

His hand a vare of justice did uphold. Dryden.

Vare <Xpage=1595>

Vare , n. (Zo\'94l.) A weasel. [Prov. Eng.]

Vare widgeon (Zo\'94l.) , a female or young male of the smew; a weasel duck; -- so called from the resemblance of the head to that of a vare , or weasel. [Prov. Eng.]

Varec <Xpage=1595>

Var"ec (?) , n. [F. varech ; of Teutonic origin. See Wrack seaweed, wreck.] The calcined ashes of any coarse seaweed used for the manufacture of soda and iodine; also, the seaweed itself; fucus; wrack.

Vari <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri (?) , n. [Cf. F. vari .] (Zo\'94l.) The ringtailed lemur ( Lemur catta ) of Madagascar. Its long tail is annulated with black and white.

Variability <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. variabilit\'82 .]

1. The quality or state of being variable; variableness.

2. (Biol.) The power possessed by living organisms, both animal and vegetable, of adapting themselves to modifications or changes in their environment, thus possibly giving rise to ultimate variation of structure or function.

Variable <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*a*ble (?) , a. [L. variabilis : cf. F. variable .]

1. Having the capacity of varying or changing; capable of alternation in any manner; changeable; as, variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity.

2. Liable to vary; too susceptible of change; mutable; fickle; unsteady; inconstant; as, the affections of men are variable ; passions are variable .

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable . Shak.

His heart, I know, how variable and vain! Milton.

Variable exhaust (Steam Eng.) , a blast pipe with an adjustable opening. -- Variable quantity (Math.) , a variable. -- Variable stars (Astron.) , fixed stars which vary in their brightness, usually in more or less uniform periods. <-- variable-rate mortgage -->

Syn. -- Changeable; mutable; fickle; wavering; unsteady; versatile; inconstant.

Variable <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*a*ble , n. 1. That which is variable; that which varies, or is subject to change.

2. (Math.) A quantity which may increase or decrease; a quantity which admits of an infinite number of values in the same expression; a variable quantity; as, in the equation x 2 - y 2 = R 2 , x and y are variables .

3. (Naut.) (a) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force. (b) pl. Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.

Independent variable (Math.) , that one of two or more variables, connected with each other in any way whatever, to which changes are supposed to be given at will. Thus, in the equation x 2 - y 2 = R 2 , if arbitrary changes are supposed to be given to x , then x is the independent variable , and y is called a function of x . There may be two or more independent variables in an equation or problem. Cf. Dependent variable , under Dependent .

Variableness <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*a*ble*ness , n. The quality or state of being variable; variability.

James i. 17.

Variably <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*a*bly , adv. In a variable manner.

Variance <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*ance (?) , n. [L. variantia .]

1. The quality or state of being variant; change of condition; variation.

2. Difference that produce dispute or controversy; disagreement; dissension; discord; dispute; quarrel.

That which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance . Shak.

3. (Law) A disagreement or difference between two parts of the same legal proceeding, which, to be effectual, ought to agree, -- as between the writ and the declaration, or between the allegation and the proof.

Bouvier.

A variance , in disagreement; in a state of dissension or controversy; at enmity. "What cause brought him so soon at variance with himself?"

Milton.

Variant <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*ant (?) , a. [L. varians , p. pr. of variare to change: cf. F. variant . See Vary .]

1. Varying in from, character, or the like; variable; different; diverse.

2. Changeable; changing; fickle. [Obs.]

He is variant , he abit [abides] nowhere. Chaucer.

Variant <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*ant (?) , n. [Cf. F. variante .] Something which differs in form from another thing, though really the same; as, a variant from a type in natural history; a variant of a story or a word.

Variate <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*ate (?) , v. t. & i. [L. variatus , p. p. of variare . See Vary .] To alter; to make different; to vary.

Variation <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*a"tion (?) , n. [OE. variatioun , F. variation , L. variatio . See Vary .]

1. The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language.

The essences of things are conceived not capable of any such variation . Locke.

2. Extent to which a thing varies; amount of departure from a position or state; amount or rate of change.

3. (Gram.) Change of termination of words, as in declension, conjugation, derivation, etc.

4. (Mus.) Repetition of a theme or melody with fanciful embellishments or modifications, in time, tune, or harmony, or sometimes change of key; the presentation of a musical thought in new and varied aspects, yet so that the essential features of the original shall still preserve their identity.

5. (Alg.) One of the different arrangements which can be made of any number of quantities taking a certain number of them together.

Annual variation (Astron.) , the yearly change in the right ascension or declination of a star, produced by the combined effects of the precession of the equinoxes and the proper motion of the star. -- Calculus of variations . See under Calculus . -- Variation compass . See under Compass . -- Variation of the moon (Astron.) , an inequality of the moon's motion, depending on the angular distance of the moon from the sun. It is greater at the octants, and zero at the quadratures. -- Variation of the needle (Geog. & Naut.) , the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of the direction of a magnetic needle from the true north and south line; -- called also declination of the needle .

Syn. -- Change; vicissitude; variety; deviation.

Varicella <Xpage=1595>

Var`i*cel"la (?) , n. [NL., dim. of LL. variola smallpox.] (Med.) Chicken pox.

Varices <Xpage=1595>

Var"i*ces (?) , n. pl. See Varix .

Variciform <Xpage=1595>

Va*ric"i*form (?) , a. [ Varix + -form .] (Med.) Resembling a varix.

Varicocele <Xpage=1595>

Var"i*co*cele (?) , n. [ Varix a dilated vein + Gr. <?/ tumor: cf. F. varicoc\'8ale .] (Med.) A varicose enlargement of the veins of the spermatic cord; also, a like enlargement of the veins of the scrotum.

Varicose <Xpage=1595>

Var"i*cose` (?; 277) , a. [L. varicosus , from varix , -icis , a dilated vein; cf. varus bent, stretched, crooked.]

1. Irregularly swollen or enlarged; affected with, or containing, varices, or varicosities; of or pertaining to varices, or varicosities; as, a varicose nerve fiber; a varicose vein; varicose ulcers .

2. (Med.) Intended for the treatment of varicose veins; -- said of elastic stockings, bandages. and the like.

Varicosity <Xpage=1595>

Var`i*cos"i*ty (?) , n. 1. The quality or state of being varicose.

2. An enlargement or swelling in a vessel, fiber, or the like; a varix; as, the varicosities of nerve fibers .

Varicous <Xpage=1595>

Var"i*cous (?) , a. Varicose. [Obs.]

Varied <Xpage=1595>

Va"ried (?) , a. Changed; altered; various; diversified; as, a varied experience; varied interests; varied scenery. -- Va"ried*ly , adv.

The varied fields of science, ever new. Cowper.

Variegate <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*e*gate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Variegated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Variegating .] [L. variegatus , p. p. of variegare to variegate; varius various + agere to move, make. See Various , and Agent .] To diversify in external appearance; to mark with different colors; to dapple; to streak; as, to variegate a floor with marble of different colors .

The shells are filled with a white spar, which variegates and adds to the beauty of the stone. Woodward.

Variegated <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*e*ga`ted (?) , a. Having marks or patches of different colors; as, variegated leaves, or flowers .

Ladies like variegated tulips show. Pope.

Variegation <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*e*ga"tion (?) , n. The act of variegating or diversifying, or the state of being diversified, by different colors; diversity of colors.

Varier <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*er (?) , n. [From Vary .] A wanderer; one who strays in search of variety. [Poetic]

Pious variers from the church. Tennyson.

Varietal <Xpage=1595>

Va*ri"e*tal (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a variety; characterizing a variety; constituting a variety, in distinction from an individual or species.

Perplexed in determining what differences to consider as specific, and what as varietal . Darwin.

Varietas <Xpage=1595>

Va*ri"e*tas (?) , n. [L.] A variety; -- used in giving scientific names, and often abbreviated to var .

Variety <Xpage=1595>

Va*ri"e*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Varieties (#) . [L. varietas : cf. F. vari\'82t\'82 . See Various .]

1. The quality or state of being various; intermixture or succession of different things; diversity; multifariousness.

Variety is nothing else but a continued novelty. South.

The variety of colors depends upon the composition of light. Sir I. Newton.

For earth this variety from heaven. Milton.

There is a variety in the tempers of good men. Atterbury.

2. That which is various. Specifically: --

(a) A number or collection of different things; a varied assortment; as, a variety of cottons and silks.

He . . . wants more time to do that variety of good which his soul thirsts after. Law.

(b) Something varying or differing from others of the same general kind; one of a number of things that are akin; a sort; as, varieties of wood, land, rocks, etc .

(c) (Biol.) An individual, or group of individuals, of a species differing from the rest in some one or more of the characteristics typical of the species, and capable either of perpetuating itself for a period, or of being perpetuated by artificial means; hence, a subdivision, or peculiar form, of a species.

&hand; Varieties usually differ from species in that any two, however unlike, will generally propagate indefinitely (unless they are in their nature unfertile, as some varieties of rose and other cultivated plants); in being a result of climate, food, or other extrinsic conditions or influences, but generally by a sudden, rather than a gradual, development; and in tending in many cases to lose their distinctive peculiarities when the individuals are left to a state of nature, and especially if restored to the conditions that are natural to typical individuals of the species. Many varieties of domesticated animals and of cultivated plants have been directly produced by man.

(d) In inorganic nature, one of those forms in which a species may occur, which differ in minor characteristics of structure, color, purity of composition, etc.

&hand; These may be viewed as variations from the typical species in its most perfect and purest form, or, as is more commonly the case, all the forms, including the latter, may rank as Varieties. Thus, the sapphire is a blue variety, and the ruby a red variety, of corundum; again, calcite has many Varieties differing in form and structure, as Iceland spar, dogtooth spar, satin spar, and also others characterized by the presence of small quantities of magnesia, iron, manganese, etc. Still again, there are Varieties of granite differing in structure, as graphic granite, porphyritic granite, and other Varieties differing in composition, as albitic granite, hornblendic, or syenitic, granite, etc.

Geographical variety (Biol.) , a variety of any species which is coincident with a geographical region, and is usually dependent upon, or caused by, peculiarities of climate. -- Variety hybrid (Biol.) , a cross between two individuals of different varieties of the same species; a mongrel.

Syn. -- Diversity; difference; kind. -- Variety , Diversity . A man has a variety of employments when he does many things which are not a mere repetition of the same act; he has a diversity of employments when the several acts performed are unlike each other, that is, diverse . In most cases, where there is variety there will be more or less of diversity , but not always. One who sells railroad tickets performs a great variety of acts in a day, while there is but little diversity in his employment.

All sorts are here that all the earth yields! Variety without end. Milton.

But see in all corporeal nature's scene, What changes, what diversities , have been! Blackmore.

Variform <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*form (?) , a. [L. varius various + -form .] Having different shapes or forms.

Variformed <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*formed (?) , a. Formed with different shapes; having various forms; variform.

Varify <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*fy (?) , v. t. [L. varius various + -fly .] To make different; to vary; to variegate. [R.]

Sylvester.

Variola <Xpage=1595>

Va*ri"o*la (?) , n. [LL., fr. L. varius various. See Various .] (Med.) The smallpox.

Variolar <Xpage=1595>

Va*ri"o*lar (?) , a. (Med.) Variolous.

Variolation <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*o*la"tion (?) , n. (Med.) Inoculation with smallpox.

Variolic <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*ol"ic (?) , a. (Med.) Variolous.

Variolite <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*o*lite (?) , n. [L. varius various + -lite : cf. F. variolite .] (Geol.) A kind of diorite or diabase containing imbedded whitish spherules, which give the rock a spotted appearance.

Variolitic <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*o*lit"ic (?) , a. [From Variola .]

1. Thickly marked with small, round specks; spotted.

2. (Geol.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, variolite.

Varioloid <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*o*loid (?; 277) , a. [ Variola + -oid : cf. F. variolo\'8bde .] (Med.) Resembling smallpox; pertaining to the disease called varioloid.

Varioloid <Xpage=1595>

Va"ri*o*loid , n. [Cf. F. variolo\'8bde . See Varioloid , a. ] (Med.) The smallpox as modified by previous inoculation or vaccination.

&hand; It is almost always a milder disease than smallpox, and this circumstance, with its shorter duration, exhibits the salutary effects of previous vaccination or inoculation.

Dunglison.

Variolous <Xpage=1595>

Va*ri"o*lous (?) , a. [LL. variolosus , fr. variola the smallpox: cf. F. varioleux .] (Med.) Of or pertaining to the smallpox; having pits, or sunken impressions, like those of the smallpox; variolar; variolic.

Variorum <Xpage=1595>

Va`ri*o"rum (?) , a. [L., abbrev. fr. cum notis variorum with notes of various persons.] Containing notes by different persons; -- applied to a publication; as, a variorum edition of a book .

Various <Xpage=1595>