Chapter 1839

Ver"dured (?) , a. Covered with verdure.

Poe.

Verdureless <Xpage=1602>

Ver"dure*less (?) , a. Destitute of verdure.

Verdurous <Xpage=1602>

Ver"dur*ous (?) , a. Covered with verdure; clothed with the fresh green of vegetation; verdured; verdant; as, verdurous pastures .

Milton.

Verecund <Xpage=1602>

Ver"e*cund (?) , a. [L. verecundus , fr. vereri to feel awe.] Rashful; modest. [Obs.]

Verecundious <Xpage=1602>

Ver`e*cun"di*ous (?) , a. Verecund. [Obs.] " Verecundious generosity."

Sir H. Wotton.

Verecundity <Xpage=1602>

Ver`e*cun"di*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being verecund; modesty. [Obs.]

Veretillum <Xpage=1602>

Ver`e*til"lum (?) , n. [L., dim. of veretrum the private parts.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of club-shaped, compound Alcyonaria belonging to Veretillum and allied genera, of the tribe Pennatulacea. The whole colony can move about as if it were a simple animal.

Vergalien, Vergaloo <Xpage=1602>

Ver"ga*lien , Ver"ga*loo (?) , n. [Cf. Virgouleuse .] (Bot.) See Virgalieu .

Verge <Xpage=1602>

Verge (?) , n. [F. verge , L. virga ; perhaps akin to E. wisp .] 1. A rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; as, the verge , carried before a dean .

2. The stick or wand with which persons were formerly admitted tenants, they holding it in the hand, and swearing fealty to the lord. Such tenants were called tenants by the verge . [Eng.]

3. (Eng. Law) The compass of the court of Marshalsea and the Palace court, within which the lord steward and the marshal of the king's household had special jurisdiction; -- so called from the verge, or staff, which the marshal bore.

4. A virgate; a yardland. [Obs.]

5. A border, limit, or boundary of a space; an edge, margin, or brink of something definite in extent.

Even though we go to the extreme verge of possibility to invent a supposition favorable to it, the theory . . . implies an absurdity. J. S. Mill.

But on the horizon's verge descried, Hangs, touched with light, one snowy sail. M. Arnold.

6. A circumference; a circle; a ring.

The inclusive verge Of golden metal that must round my brow. Shak.

7. (Arch.) (a) The shaft of a column, or a small ornamental shaft. Oxf. Gloss . (b) The edge of the tiling projecting over the gable of a roof.

Encyc. Brit.

8. (Horol.) The spindle of a watch balance, especially one with pallets, as in the old vertical escapement. See under Escapement .

9. (Hort.) (a) The edge or outside of a bed or border. (b) A slip of grass adjoining gravel walks, and dividing them from the borders in a parterre.

10. The penis.

11. (Zo\'94l.) The external male organ of certain mollusks, worms, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.

Syn. -- Border; edge; rim; brim; margin; brink.

<page="1603"> Page 1603

Verge <Xpage=1603>

Verge (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Verged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Verging (?) .] [L. vergere to bend, turn, incline; cf. Skr. v<?/j to turn.] 1. To border upon; to tend; to incline; to come near; to approach.

2. To tend downward; to bend; to slope; as, a hill verges to the north .

Our soul, from original instinct, vergeth towards him as its center. Barrow.

I find myself verging to that period of life which is to be labor and sorrow. Swift.

Vergeboard <Xpage=1603>

Verge"board` (?) , n. [ Verge + board. Cf. Bargeboard .] (Arch.) The ornament of woodwork upon the gable of a house, used extensively in the 15th century. It was generally suspended from the edge of the projecting roof (see Verge , n. , 4), and in position parallel to the gable wall. Called also bargeboard .

Vergency <Xpage=1603>

Ver"gen*cy (?) , n. 1. The act of verging or approaching; tendency; approach. [R.]

2. (Opt.) The reciprocal of the focal distance of a lens, used as measure of the divergence or convergence of a pencil of rays. [R.]

Humphrey Lloyd.

Verger <Xpage=1603>

Ver"ger (?) , n. [F. verger , from verge a rod. See 1st Verge .] One who carries a verge, or emblem of office. Specifically: --

(a) An attendant upon a dignitary, as on a bishop, a dean, a justice, etc. [Eng.]

Strype.

(b) The official who takes care of the interior of a church building.

Verger <Xpage=1603>

Ver"ger , n. A garden or orchard. [Obs.]

Vergett\'82 <Xpage=1603>

Ver`get`t\'82" (?) , a. [Cf. F. verget\'82 .] Divided by pallets, or pales; paly.

W. Berry.

Vergette <Xpage=1603>

Ver*gette" (?) , n. (Her.) A small pale.

Veridical <Xpage=1603>

Ve*rid"ic*al (?) , a. [L. veridicus ; verus true + dicere to say, tell.] Truth-telling; truthful; veracious. [R.]

Carlyle.

Verifiable <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*fi`a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being verified; confirmable.

Bp. Hall.

Verfication <Xpage=1603>

Ver`fi*ca"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. v\'82rification .] 1. The act of verifying, or the state of being verified; confirmation; authentication.

2. (Law) (a) Confirmation by evidence. (b) A formal phrase used in concluding a plea.

Verification of an equation (Math.) , the operation of testing the equation of a problem, to see whether it expresses truly the conditions of the problem.

Davies & Peck. (Math. Dict.)

Verificative <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*fi*ca*tive (?) , a. Serving to verify; verifying; authenciating; confirming.

Verifier <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*fi`er (?) , n. One who, or that which, verifies.

Verify <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Verified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Verifying .] [F. v\'82rifier , LL. verificare , from L. verus true + -ficare to make. See Very , and -fy .] 1. To prove to be true or correct; to establish the truth of; to confirm; to substantiate.

This is verified by a number of examples. Bacon.

So shalt thou best fulfill, best verify . The prophets old, who sung thy endless reign. Milton.

2. To confirm or establish the authenticity of by examination or competent evidence; to authenciate; as, to verify a written statement; to verify an account, a pleading, or the like .

To verify our title with their lives. Shak.

3. To maintain; to affirm; to support. [Obs.]

Shak.

Veriloquent <Xpage=1603>

Ve*ril"o*quent (?) , a. [L. verus true + <?/quens speaking.] Speaking truth; truthful. [Obs.]

Verily <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*ly (?) , adv. [From Very .] In very truth; beyond doubt or question; in fact; certainly.

Bacon.

Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the <?/<?/nd, and verily thou shalt be fed. Ps. xxxvii. 3.

Verine <Xpage=1603>

Ver"ine (?) , n. [Contr. from ver atr ine .] (Chem.) An alkaloid obtained as a yellow amorphous substance by the decomposition of veratrine.

Verisimilar <Xpage=1603>

Ver`i*sim"i*lar (?) , a. [L. verisimilis ; verus true + similis like, similar. See Very , and Similar .] Having the appearance of truth; probable; likely. "How verisimilar it looks."

Carlyle.

Verisimilitude <Xpage=1603>

Ver`i*si*mil"i*tude (?) , n. [L. verisimilitudo : cf. OF. verisimilitude . See Verisimilar .] The quality or state of being verisimilar; the appearance of truth; probability; likelihood.

Verisimilitude and opinion are an easy purchase; but true knowledge is dear and difficult. Glanvill.

All that gives verisimilitude to a narrative. Sir. W. Scott.

Verisimility <Xpage=1603>

Ver`i*si*mil"i*ty (?) , n. Verisimilitude. [Obs.]

The verisimility or probable truth. Sir T. Browne.

Versimilous <Xpage=1603>

Ver`*sim"i*lous (?) , a. Verisimilar. [Obs.]

Veritable <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*ta*ble (?) , a. [F. v\'82ritable . See Verity .] Agreeable to truth or to fact; actual; real; true; genuine. "The veritable Deity." Sir W. Hamilton . -- Ver"i*ta*bly , adv.

Veritas <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*tas (?) , n. [Cf. F. v\'82ritas . See Verity .] The Bureau Veritas. See under Bureau .

Verity <Xpage=1603>

Ver"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Verities (#) . [F. v\'82rit\'82 , L. veritas , fr. verus true. See Very .] 1. The quality or state of being true, or real; consonance of a statement, proposition, or other thing, with fact; truth; reality. "The verity of certain words."

Shak.

It is a proposition of eternal verity , that none can govern while he is despised. South.

2. That which is true; a true assertion or tenet; a truth; a reality.

Mark what I say, which you shall find By every syllable a faithful verity . Shak.

Verjuice <Xpage=1603>

Ver"juice` (?) , n. [OE. vergeous , F. verjus , that is, the juice of green fruits; verd , vert , green + jus juice. See Verdant , and Juice .] 1. The sour juice of crab apples, of green or unripe grapes, apples, etc.; also, an acid liquor made from such juice.

2. Tartness; sourness, as of disposition.

Vermeil <Xpage=1603>

Ver"meil (?) , n. [F., vermilion, fr. LL. vermiculus , fr. L. vermiculus a little worm, the coccus Indicus, from vermis a worm. See Worm , and cf. Vermicule .] 1. Vermilion; also, the color of vermilion, a bright, beautiful red. [Poetic & R.]

In her cheeks the vermeil red did show Like roses in a bed of lilies shed. Spenser.

2. Silver gilt or gilt bronze.

3. A liquid composition applied to a gilded surface to give luster to the gold.

Knight.

Vermeologist <Xpage=1603>

Ver`me*ol"o*gist (?) , n. One who treats of vermes, or worms; a helminthologist.

Vermeology <Xpage=1603>

Ver`me*ol"o*gy (?) , n. [L. vermes worms + -logy .] (Zo\'94l.) A discourse or treatise on worms; that part of zo\'94logy which treats of worms; helminthology. [R.]

Vermes <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mes (?) , n. pl. [L. vermes , pl. of vermis a worm.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) An extensive artificial division of the animal kingdom, including the parasitic worms, or helminths, together with the nemerteans, annelids, and allied groups. By some writers the branchiopods, the bryzoans, and the tunicates are also included. The name was used in a still wider sense by Linn\'91us and his followers. (b) A more restricted group, comprising only the helminths and closely allied orders.

Vermetid <Xpage=1603>

Ver"me*tid (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of vermetus.

Vermetus <Xpage=1603>

Ver*me"tus (?) , n. [NL., from L. vermis worm.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of many species of marine gastropods belonging to Vermetus and allied genera, of the family Vermetid\'91 . Their shells are regularly spiral when young, but later in life the whorls become separate, and the shell is often irregularly bent and contorted like a worm tube.

Vermicelli <Xpage=1603>

Ver`mi*cel"li (?) , n. [It., pl. of vermicello , literally, a little worm, dim. of verme a worm, L. vermis . See Worm , and cf. Vermicule , Vermeil .] The flour of a hard and small-grained wheat made into dough, and forced through small cylinders or pipes till it takes a slender, wormlike form, whence the Italian name. When the paste is made in larger tubes, it is called macaroni .

Vermicide <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mi*cide (?) , n. [L. vermis a worm + caedere to kill.] A medicine which destroys intestinal worms; a worm killer.

Pereira.

Vermicious <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mi"cious (?) , a. [L. vermis a worm.] Of or pertaining to worms; wormy.

Vermicular <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic"u*lar (?) , a. [L. vermiculus a little worm, dim. of vermis a worm: cf. F. vermiculaire . See Vermicelli .] Of or pertaining to a worm or worms; resembling a worm; shaped like a worm; especially, resembling the motion or track of a worm; as, the vermicular , or peristaltic, motion of the intestines . See Peristaltic . "A twisted form vermicular ."

Cowper.

Vermiculate <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic"u*late (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vermiculated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vermiculating .] [L. vermiculatus inlaid so as to resemble the tracks of worms, p. p. of vermiculari to be full of worms, vermiculus a little worm. See Vermicular .] To form or work, as by inlaying, with irregular lines or impressions resembling the tracks of worms, or appearing as if formed by the motion of worms.

Vermiculate <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic"u*late (?) , a. 1. Wormlike in shape; covered with wormlike elevations; marked with irregular fine lines of color, or with irregular wavy impressed lines like worm tracks; as, a vermiculate nut .

2. Crawling or creeping like a worm; hence, insinuating; sophistical. " Vermiculate questions." Bacon . " Vermiculate logic." R. Choate .

Vermiculated <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic"u*la`ted (?) , a. Made or marked with irregular wavy lines or impressions; vermiculate.

Vermiculated work , &or; Vermicular work (Arch.) , rustic work so wrought as to have the appearance of convoluted worms, or of having been eaten into by, or covered with tracks of, worms.

Gwilt.

Vermiculation <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic`u*la"tion (?) , n. [L. vermiculatio a being worm-eaten.] 1. The act or operation of moving in the manner of a worm; continuation of motion from one part to another; as, the vermiculation , or peristaltic motion, of the intestines .

2. The act of vermiculating, or forming or inlaying so as to resemble the motion, track, or work of a worm.

3. Penetration by worms; the state of being wormeaten.

4. (Zo\'94l.) A very fine wavy crosswise color marking, or a patch of such markings, as on the feathers of birds.

Vermicule <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mi*cule (?) , n. [L. vermiculus , dim. of vermis a worm. See Vermicular .] A small worm or insect larva; also, a wormlike body. [R.]

Derham.

Vermiculite <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic"u*lite (?) , n. [L. vermiculus , dim. of vermis worm.] (Min.) A group of minerals having, a micaceous structure. They are hydrous silicates, derived generally from the alteration of some kind of mica. So called because the scales, when heated, open out into wormlike forms.

Vermiculose, Vermiculous <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mic"u*lose` (?) , Ver*mic"u*lous (?) , a. [L. vermiculosus . See Vermicule .] Containing, or full of, worms; resembling worms.

Vermiform <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mi*form (?) , a. [L. vermis a worm + -form .] Resembling a worm in form or motions; vermicular; as, the vermiform process of the cerebellum .

Vermiform appendix (Anat.) , a slender blind process of the c\'91cum in man and some other animals; -- called also vermiform appendage , and vermiform process . Small solid bodies, such as grape seeds or cherry stones, sometimes lodge in it, causing serious, or even fatal, inflammation. See Illust . under Digestion .

Vermiformia <Xpage=1603>

Ver`mi*for"mi*a (?) , n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) A tribe of worms including Phoronis. See Phoronis .

Vermifugal <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mif"u*gal (?) , a. [L. vermis a worm + fugare to drive away, fr. fugere to flee. See Worm , and Fugitive .] (Med.) Tending to prevent, destroy, or expel, worms or vermin; anthelmintic.

Vermifuge <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mi*fuge (?) , n. [Cf. F. vermifuge . See Vermifugal .] (Med.) A medicine or substance that expels worms from animal bodies; an anthelmintic.

Vermil <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mil (?) , n. See Vermeil . [Obs.]

Spenser.

Vermilinguia <Xpage=1603>

Ver`mi*lin"gui*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. L. vermis worm + lingua tongue.] [Called also Vermilingues .] (Zo\'94l.) (a) A tribe of edentates comprising the South American ant-eaters. The tongue is long, slender, exsertile, and very flexible, whence the name. (b) A tribe of Old World lizards which comprises the chameleon. They have long, flexible tongues.

Vermilion <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mil"ion (?) , n. [F. vermillon . See Vermeil .] 1. (Chem.) A bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulphide, obtained either from the mineral cinnabar or artificially. It has a fine red color, and is much used in coloring sealing wax, in printing, etc.

&hand; The kermes insect has long been used for dyeing red or scarlet. It was formerly known as the worm dye , vermiculus , or vermiculum , and the cloth was called vermiculatia . Hence came the French vermeil for any red dye, and hence the modern name vermilion , although the substance it denotes is very different from the kermes, being a compound of mercury and sulphur.

R. Hunt.

2. Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion .

Vermilion <Xpage=1603>

Ver*mil"ion , v. t. To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to dye red; to cover with a delicate red.

Vermily <Xpage=1603>

Ver"mi*ly (?) , n. Vermeil. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Vermin <Xpage=1603>

Ver"min (?) , n. sing. & pl. ; used chiefly as plural. [OE. vermine , F. vermine , from L. vermis a worm; cf. LL. vermen a worm, L. verminosus full of worms. See Vermicular , Worm .] 1. An animal, in general. [Obs.]

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and vermin , and worms, and fowls. Acts x. 12. (Geneva Bible).

This crocodile is a mischievous fourfooted beast, a dangerous vermin , used to both elements. Holland.