Chapter 1843

3. (Prot. Epis. Ch.) A body, composed of wardens and vestrymen, chosen annually by a parish to manage its temporal concerns.

Metropolitan vestry , in the city of London, and certain specified parishes and places in England, a body composed of householders who pay poor rates. Its duties include the repair of churches, care of highways, the appointment of certain officers, etc. -- Select vestry , a select number of persons chosen in large and populous English parishes to represent and manage the concerns of the parish for one year. Mozley & W. -- Vestry board (Ch. of Eng.) , a vestry. See def. 2, above. -- Vestry clerk , an officer chosen by the vestry, who keeps a record of its proceedings; also, in England, one who keeps the parish accounts and books. -- Vestry meeting , the meeting of a vestry or vestry board; also, a meeting of a parish held in a vestry or other place.

Vestryman <Xpage=1606>

Ves"try*man (?) , n. ; pl. Vestrymen (<?/) . A member of a vestry; especially (Prot. Epis. Ch.) , a member other than a warden. See Vestry .

Vesture <Xpage=1606>

Ves"ture (?; 135) , n. [OF. vesture , vesteure , F. v\'88ture , LL. vestitura , from L. vestire to clothe, dress. See Vest , v. t. , and cf. Vestiture .] 1. A garment or garments; a robe; clothing; dress; apparel; vestment; covering; envelope.

Piers Plowman.

Approach, and kiss her sacred vesture's hem. Milton.

Rocks, precipices, and gulfs, appareled with a vesture of plants. Bentley.

There polished chests embroidered vestures graced. Pope.

2. (O. Eng. Law) (a) The corn, grass, underwood, stubble, etc., with which land was covered; as, the vesture of an acre . (b) Seizin; possession.

Vestured <Xpage=1606>

Ves"tured (?) , a. Covered with vesture or garments; clothed; enveloped.

We be vestured with poor cloth. Ld. Berners.

Vesuvian <Xpage=1606>

Ve*su"vi*an (?) , a. [Cf. F. V\'82suvien , It. Vesuviano .] Of or pertaining to Vesuvius, a volcano near Naples.

Vesuvian <Xpage=1606>

Ve*su"vi*an , n. [G. vesuvian . See Vesuvian , a. ] (Min.) Vesuvianite.

Vesuvianite <Xpage=1606>

Ve*su"vi*an*ite (?) , n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals, and also massive, of a brown to green color, rarely sulphur yellow and blue. It is a silicate of alumina and lime with some iron magnesia, and is common at Vesuvius. Also called idocrase .

Vesuvine <Xpage=1606>

Ve*su"vine (?) , n. A trade name for a brown dyestuff obtained from certain basic azo compounds of benzene; -- called also Bismarck brown , Manchester brown , etc.

Vetch <Xpage=1606>

Vetch (?) , n. [Also fitch ; OE. ficche , feche , for veche , OF. veche , vecce , vesche , vesce , F. vesce , fr. L. vicia .] (Bot.) Any leguminous plant of the genus Vicia , some species of which are valuable for fodder. The common species is V. sativa .

&hand; The name is also applied to many other leguminous plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of the genus Lathyrus ; the horse vetch, of the genus Hippocrepis ; the kidney vetch ( Anthyllis vulneraria ); the milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus ; the licorice vetch, or wild licorice ( Abrus precatorius ).

Vetchling <Xpage=1606>

Vetch"ling (?) , n. [ Vetch + -ling .] (Bot.) Any small leguminous plant of the genus Lathyrus , especially L. Nissolia .

Vetchy <Xpage=1606>

Vetch"y (?) , a. 1. Consisting of vetches or of pea straw. "A vetchy bed."

Spenser.

2. Abounding with vetches.

Veteran <Xpage=1606>

Vet"er*an (?) , a. [L. veteranus , from vetus , veteris , old; akin to Gr. <?/ year, Skr. vatsara . See Wether .] Long exercised in anything, especially in military life and the duties of a soldier; long practiced or experienced; as, a veteran officer or soldier; veteran skill.

The insinuating eloquence and delicate flattery of veteran diplomatists and courtiers. Macaulay.

<page="1607"> Page 1607

Veteran <Xpage=1607>

Vet"er*an (?) , n. [L. veteranus (sc. miles ): cf. F. v\'82t\'82ran .] One who has been long exercised in any service or art, particularly in war; one who has had.

Ensigns that pierced the foe's remotest lines, The hardy veteran with tears resigns. Addison.

&hand; In the United States, during the civil war, soldiers who had served through one term of enlistment and had re\'89nlisted were specifically designated veterans .

Veteranize <Xpage=1607>

Vet"er*an*ize (?) , v. i. To re\'89nlist for service as a soldier. [U.S.]

Gen. W. T. Sherman.

Veterinarian <Xpage=1607>

Vet`er*i*na"ri*an (?) , n. [L. veterinarius . See Veterinary .] One skilled in the diseases of cattle or domestic animals; a veterinary surgeon.

Veterinary <Xpage=1607>

Vet"er*i*na*ry (?) , a. [L. veterinarius of or belonging to beasts of burden an draught, fr. veterinus , probably originally, of or pertaining to yearlings: cf. F. v\'82t\'82rinaire . See Veteran , Wether .] Of or pertaining to the art of healing or treating the diseases of domestic animals, as oxen, horses, sheep, etc.; as, a veterinary writer or school .

Vetiver <Xpage=1607>

Vet"i*ver (?) , n. (Bot.) An East Indian grass ( Andropogon muricatus ); also, its fragrant roots which are much used for making mats and screens. Also called kuskus , and khuskhus . [Sometimes written vetivert , and vitivert .]

Veto <Xpage=1607>

Ve"to (?) , n. ; pl. Vetoes (<?/) . [L. veto I forbid.]

1. An authoritative prohibition or negative; a forbidding; an interdiction.

This contemptuous veto of her husband's on any intimacy with her family. G. Eliot.

2. Specifically: --

(a) A power or right possessed by one department of government to forbid or prohibit the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; especially, in a constitutional government, a power vested in the chief executive to prevent the enactment of measures passed by the legislature. Such a power may be absolute, as in the case of the Tribunes of the People in ancient Rome, or limited, as in the case of the President of the United States. Called also the veto power .

(b) The exercise of such authority; an act of prohibition or prevention; as, a veto is probable if the bill passes .

(c) A document or message communicating the reasons of the executive for not officially approving a proposed law; -- called also veto message . [U.S.]

&hand; Veto is not a term employed in the Federal Constitution, but seems to be of popular use only. Abbott.

Veto <Xpage=1607>

Ve"to , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vetoed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vetoing .] To prohibit; to negative; also, to refuse assent to, as a legislative bill, and thus prevent its enactment; as, to veto an appropriation bill .

Vetoist <Xpage=1607>

Ve"to*ist , n. One who uses, or sustains the use of, the veto.

Vettura <Xpage=1607>

Vet*tu"ra (?) , n. ; pl. Vetture (#) . [It. vettura , fr. L. vectura conveyance. Cf. Vecture .] An Italian four-wheeled carriage, esp. one let for hire; a hackney coach.

Vetturino <Xpage=1607>

Vet`tu*ri"no (?) , n. ; pl. Vetturini (#) . [It.] 1. One who lets or drives a vettura.

2. A vettura.

Vetust <Xpage=1607>

Ve*tust" (?) , a. [L. vetustus old, ancient.] Venerable from antiquity; ancient; old. [Obs.]

Vex <Xpage=1607>

Vex (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vexed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vexing .] [F. vexer , L. vexare , vexatum , to vex, originally, to shake, toss, in carrying, v. intens. fr. vehere , vectum , to carry. See Vehicle .] 1. To to<?/s back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.

White curl the waves, and the vexed ocean roars. Pope.

2. To make angry or annoyed by little provocations; to irritate; to plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict; to trouble; to tease. "I will not vex your souls."

Shak.

Then thousand torments vex my heart. Prior.

3. To twist; to weave. [R.]

Some English wool, vexed in a Belgian loom. Dryden.

Syn. -- See Tease .

Vex <Xpage=1607>

Vex , v. i. To be irritated; to fret. [R.]

Chapman.

Vexation <Xpage=1607>

Vex*a"tion (?) , n. [L. vexatio : cf. F. vexation .] 1. The act of vexing, or the state of being vexed; agitation; disquiet; trouble; irritation.

Passions too violent . . . afford us nothing but vexation and pain. Sir W. Temple.

Those who saw him after a defeat looked in vain for any trace of vexation . Macaulay.

2. The cause of trouble or disquiet; affliction.

Your children were vexation to your youth. Shak.

3. A harassing by process of law; a vexing or troubling, as by a malicious suit.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Chagrin; agitation; mortification; uneasiness; trouble; grief; sorrow; distress. See Chagrin .

Vexatious <Xpage=1607>

Vex*a"tious (?) , a. [See Vexation .] 1. Causing vexation; agitating; afflictive; annoying; as, a vexatious controversy; a vexatious neighbor . "Continual vexatious wars."

South.

2. Full or vexation, trouble, or disquiet; disturbed.

He leads a vexatious life. Sir K. Digby.

Vexatious suit (Law) , a suit commenced for the purpose of giving trouble, or without cause.

-- Vex*a"tious*ly , adv. -- Vex*a"tious*ness , n.

Vexed <Xpage=1607>

Vexed (?) , a. 1. Annoyed; harassed; troubled.

2. Much debated or contested; causing discussion; as, a vexed question .

Vexer <Xpage=1607>

Vex"er (?) , n. One who vexes or troubles.

Vexil <Xpage=1607>

Vex"il (?) , n. A vexillum.

Vexillar, Vexillary <Xpage=1607>

Vex"il*lar (?) , Vex"il*la*ry (?) , [Cf. F. vexillaire , L. vexillarius a standard bearer.]

1. Of or pertaining to an ensign or standard.

2. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the vexillum, or upper petal of papilionaceous flowers.

Vexilary \'91stivation (Bot.) , a mode of \'91stivation in which one large upper petal folds over, and covers, the other smaller petals, as in most papilionaceous plants.

Vexillary <Xpage=1607>

Vex"il*la*ry (?) , n. [L. vexillarius : cf. F. vexillaire .] A standard bearer.

Tennyson.

Vexillation <Xpage=1607>

Vex`il*la"tion (?) , n. [L. vexillatio .] (Rom. Antiq.) A company of troops under one vexillum.

Vexillum <Xpage=1607>

Vex*il"lum (?) , n. ; pl. Vexilla (#) . [L., a standard, a flag.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A flag or standard. (b) A company of troops serving under one standard.

2. (Eccl.) (a) A banner. (b) The sign of the cross.

3. (Bot.) The upper petal of a papilionaceous flower; the standard.

4. (Zo\'94l.) The rhachis and web of a feather taken together; the vane.

Vexingly <Xpage=1607>

Vex"ing*ly (?) , adv. In a vexing manner; so as to vex, tease, or irritate.

Tatler.

V hook <Xpage=1607>

V" hook` (?) . (Steam Engine) A gab at the end of an eccentric rod, with long jaws, shaped like the letter V.

Via <Xpage=1607>

Vi"a (?) , n. [L. See Way .] A road way.

Via Lactea [L.] (Anat.) , the Milky Way, or Galaxy. See Galaxy , 1. -- Via media [L.] (Theol.) , the middle way; -- a name applied to their own position by the Anglican high-churchmen, as being between the Roman Catholic Church and what they term extreme Protestantism.

Via <Xpage=1607>

Vi"a , prep. [L., ablative of via way. See Way .] By the way of; as, to send a letter via Queenstown to London .

Viability <Xpage=1607>

Vi`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being viable. Specifically: --

(a) (Law) The capacity of living after birth.

Bouvier.

(b) The capacity of living, or being distributed, over wide geographical limits; as, the viability of a species .

Viable <Xpage=1607>

Vi"a*ble (?) , a. [F., from vie life, L. vita . See Vital .] (Law) Capable of living; born alive and with such form and development of organs as to be capable of living; -- said of a newborn, or a prematurely born, infant.

&hand; Unless he [an infant] is born viable , he acquires no rights, and can not transmit them to his heirs, and is considered as if he had never been born. Bouvier.

Viaduct <Xpage=1607>

Vi`a*duct (?) , n. [L. via a way + -duct , as in aqueduct : cf. F. viaduc . See Via , and Aqueduct .] A structure of considerable magnitude, usually with arches or supported on trestles, for carrying a road, as a railroad, high above the ground or water; a bridge; especially, one for crossing a valley or a gorge. Cf. Trestlework .

Viage <Xpage=1607>

Vi"age (?) , n. [See Voyage .] A voyage; a journey. [Obs.]

Chaucer. Gower.

Vial <Xpage=1607>

Vi"al (?) , n. [OE. viole , fiole , F. fiole . See Phial .] A small bottle, usually of glass; a little glass vessel with a narrow aperture intended to be closed with a stopper; as, a vial of medicine . [Written also phial .]

Take thou this vial , being then in bed, And this distilled liquor thou off. Shak.

Vial <Xpage=1607>

Vi"al , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vialed (?) or Vialled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vialing or Vialling .] To put in a vial or vials. "Precious vialed liquors."

Milton.

Viameter <Xpage=1607>

Vi*am"e*ter (?) , n. [L. via a way + -meter .] An odometer; -- called also viatometer .

Viand <Xpage=1607>

Vi"and (?) , n. [F. viande meat, food, LL. vianda , vivanda , vivenda , properly, things to live on, fr. L. vivere to live; akin to vivus living. See Vivid , and cf. Victualis .] An article of food; provisions; food; victuals; -- used chiefly in the plural.

Cowper.

Viands of various kinds allure the taste. Pope.

Viander <Xpage=1607>

Vi"and*er (?) , n. A feeder; an eater; also, one who provides viands, or food; a host. [Obs.]

Holinshed.

Vi-apple <Xpage=1607>

Vi"-ap`ple (?) , n. See Otaheite apple .

Viary <Xpage=1607>

Vi"a*ry (?) , a. [L. viarius , fr. via a way, road.] Of or pertaining to roads; happening on roads. [Obs.]

Viatecture <Xpage=1607>

Vi"a*tec`ture (?; 135) , n. [L. via way + -tecture , as in architecture .] The art of making roads or ways for traveling, including the construction of bridges, canals, viaducts, etc. [R.]

R. Park.

Viatic <Xpage=1607>

Vi*at"ic (?) , a. [L. viaticus , fr. via a way. See Voyage .] Of or pertaining to a journey or traveling.

Viaticum <Xpage=1607>

Vi*at"i*cum (?) , n. [L., from viaticus , a. 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 <Xpage=1607>

Vi`a*tom"e*ter (?) , n. A viameter.

Vibices <Xpage=1607>

Vi*bi"ces (?) , n. pl. [L., pl. of vibex , -icis , the mark of a blow.] (Med.) More or less extensive patches of subcutaneous extravasation of blood.

Vibraculum <Xpage=1607>

Vi*brac"u*lum (?) , n. ; pl. Vibracula (#) . [NL., dim. from L. vibrare to vibrate.] (Zo\'94l.) 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 <Xpage=1607>

Vi"bran*cy (?) , n. The state of being vibrant; resonance.

Vibrant <Xpage=1607>

Vi"brant (?) , a. [L. vibrans , p. pr.: cf. F. vibrant . See Vibrate .] Vibrating; tremulous; resonant; as, vibrant drums .

Longfellow.

Vibrate <Xpage=1607>

Vi"brate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vibrate (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vibrating .] [L. vibratus , p. p. of vibrare , v. t. & v. i., to snake, brandish, vibrate; akin to Skr. vip to tremble, Icel. veifa to wave, vibrate. See Waive and cf. Whip , v. t. ] 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 <Xpage=1607>

Vi"brate (?) , v. i. 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 <Xpage=1607>

Vi"bra*tile (?) , a. [Cf. F. vibratile .] Adapted to, or used in, vibratory motion; having the power of vibrating; vibratory; as, the vibratile organs of insects .

Vibratility <Xpage=1607>