Chapter 1846

2. Watchfulness in respect of danger; care; caution; circumspection.

Cowper.

And flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthly charge; of these the vigilance I dread. Milton.

3. Guard; watch. [Obs.] "In at this gate none pass the vigilance here placed."

Milton.

Vigilance committee , a volunteer committee of citizens for the oversight and protection of any interest, esp. one organized for the summary suppression and punishment of crime, as when the processes of law appear inadequate.

Vigilancy <Xpage=1609>

Vig"i*lan*cy (?) , n. Vigilance. [Obs.]

Fuller.

Vigilant <Xpage=1609>

Vig"i*lant (?) , a. [L. vigilans , -antis , p. pr. of vigilare to watch, fr. vigil awake: cf. F. vigilant . See Vigil .] Attentive to discover and avoid danger, or to provide for safety; wakeful; watchful; circumspect; wary. "Be sober, be vigilant ."

1 Pet. v. 8.

Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant . Shak.

Vigilantly <Xpage=1609>

Vig"i*lant*ly , adv. In a vigilant manner.

Vigily <Xpage=1609>

Vig"i*ly (?) , n. [L. vigilia .] A vigil. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Vigintivirate <Xpage=1609>

Vi`gin*tiv"i*rate (?) , n. [L. vigintiviratus , fr. vigintiviri ; viginti twenty + vir a man.] The office of the vigintiviri , a body of officers of government consisting of twenty men; also, the vigintiviri. [R.]

Vignette <Xpage=1609>

Vi*gnette" (?; 277) , n. [F. vignette , fr. vigne a vine. See Vine , and cf. Vinette .] 1. (Arch.) A running ornament consisting of leaves and tendrils, used in Gothic architecture.

2. A decorative design, originally representing vine branches or tendrils, at the head of a chapter, of a manuscript or printed book, or in a similar position; hence, by extension, any small picture in a book; hence, also, as such pictures are often without a definite bounding line, any picture, as an engraving, a photograph, or the like, which vanishes gradually at the edge.

Vignette <Xpage=1609>

Vi*gnette" , v. t. To make, as an engraving or a photograph, with a border or edge insensibly fading away.

Vigonia <Xpage=1609>

Vi*go"ni*a (?) , a. [Cf. F. vigogne vicu&ntil;a. See Vicu&ntil;a .] Of or pertaining to the vicu&ntil;a; characterizing the vicu&ntil;a; -- said of the wool of that animal, used in felting hats, and for other purposes.

Prescott.

Vigor <Xpage=1609>

Vig"or (?) , n. [OE. vigour , vigor , OF. vigor , vigur , vigour , F. vigueur , fr. L. vigor , fr. vigere to be lively or strong. See Vegetable , Vigil .] 1. Active strength or force of body or mind; capacity for exertion, physically, intellectually, or morally; force; energy.

The vigor of this arm was never vain. Dryden.

2. Strength or force in animal or force in animal or vegetable nature or action; as, a plant grows with vigor .

3. Strength; efficacy; potency.

But in the fruithful earth . . . His beams, unactive else, their vigor find. Milton.

&hand; Vigor and its derivatives commonly imply active strength, or the power of action and exertion, in distinction from passive strength, or strength to endure.

Vigor <Xpage=1609>

Vig"or , v. t. To invigorate. [Obs.]

Feltham.

Vigorite <Xpage=1609>

Vig"or*ite (?) , n. [L. vigor strength.] An explosive containing nitroglycerin. It is used in blasting.

Vigoroso <Xpage=1609>

Vig`o*ro"so (?) , a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Vigorous; energetic; with energy; -- a direction to perform a passage with energy and force.

Vigorous <Xpage=1609>

Vig"or*ous (?) , a. [Cf. OF. vigoros , F. vigoureux , LL. vigorosus .] 1. Possessing vigor; full of physical or mental strength or active force; strong; lusty; robust; as, a vigorous youth; a vigorous plant .

Famed for his valor, young, At sea successful, vigorous and strong. Waller.

2. Exhibiting strength, either of body or mind; powerful; strong; forcible; energetic; as, vigorous exertions; a vigorous prosecution of a war .

The beginnings of confederacies have been always vigorous and successful. Davenant.

-- Vig"or*ous*ly , adv. -- Vig"or*ous*ness , n.

Viking <Xpage=1609>

Vi"king (?) , n. [Icel. v\'c6kingr , fr. v\'c6k a bay, inlet.] One belonging to the pirate crews from among the Northmen, who plundered the coasts of Europe in the eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries.

Of grim Vikings , and the rapture Of the sea fight, and the capture, And the life of slavery. Longfellow.

&hand; Vikings differs in meaning from sea king , with which frequently confounded. "The sea king was a man connected with a royal race, either of the small kings of the country, or of the Haarfager family, and who, by right, received the title of king as soon he took the command of men, although only of a single ship's crew, and without having any land or kingdom . . . Vikings were merely pirates, alternately peasants and pirates, deriving the name of viking from the vicks , wicks , or inlets, on the coast in which they harbored with their long ships or rowing galleys."

Laing.

Vilany <Xpage=1609>

Vil"a*ny (?) , n. Villainy. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Vilayet <Xpage=1609>

Vi`la*yet" (?) , n. [Turk., from Ar. wil\'beyah .] One of the chief administrative divisions or provinces of the Ottoman Empire; -- formerly called eyalet .

Vild <Xpage=1609>

Vild (?) , a. [As if the p. p. of a verb to vile . See Vile , a. ] Vile. [Obs.] "That vild race." Spenser . -- Vild"ly , adv. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Vile <Xpage=1609>

Vile (?) , a. [ Comp. Viler (?) ; superl. Vilest .] [OE. vil , F. vil , from L. vilis cheap, worthless, vile, base.]

1. Low; base; worthless; mean; despicable.

A poor man in vile raiment. James ii. 2.

The craft either of fishing, which was Peter's, or of making tents, which was Paul's, were [was] more vile than the science of physic. Ridley.

The inhabitants account gold but as a vile thing. Abp. Abbot.

2. Morally base or impure; depraved by sin; hateful; in the sight of God and men; sinful; wicked; bad. "Such vile base practices."

Shak.

Behold, I am vile ; what shall I answer thee ? Job xl. 4.

Syn. -- See Base .

-- Vile"ly , adv. -- Vile"ness , n.

Viled <Xpage=1609>

Viled (?) , a. [See Vild .] Abusive; scurrilous; defamatory; vile. [Obs.] " Viled speeches."

Hayward.

Vileyns <Xpage=1609>

Vil"eyns (?) , a. [See Villain .] Villainous. [Obs.] " Vileyns sinful deeds make a churl." Chaucer .

Vilification <Xpage=1609>

Vil`i*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. The act of vilifying or defaming; abuse.

South.

Vilifier <Xpage=1609>

Vil"i*fi`er (?) , n. One who vilifies or defames.

Vilify <Xpage=1609>

Vil"i*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vilified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Vilifying .] [L. vilis vile + -fly ; cf. L. vilificare to esteem of little value.] 1. To make vile; to debase; to degrade; to disgrace. [R.]

When themselves they vilified To serve ungoverned appetite. Milton.

2. To degrade or debase by report; to defame; to traduce; to calumniate.

I. Taylor.

Many passions dispose us to depress and vilify the merit of one rising in the esteem of mankind. Addison.

3. To treat as vile; to despise. [Obs.]

I do vilify your censure. Beau. & Fl.

<page="1610"> Page 1610

Vilipend <Xpage=1610>

Vil"i*pend (?) , v. t. [L. vilipendere ; vilis vile + pendere to weigh, to value: cf. F. vilipender .] To value lightly; to depreciate; to slight; to despise.

To vilipend the art of portrait painting. Longfellow.

Vilipendency <Xpage=1610>

Vil"i*pend"en*cy (?) , n. Disesteem; slight; disparagement. [R.]

E. Waterhouse.

Vility <Xpage=1610>

Vil"i*ty (?) , n. [L. vilitas : cf. F. vilet\'82 , vilit\'82 , OF. vilt\'82 .] Vileness; baseness. [Obs.]

Kennet.

Vill <Xpage=1610>

Vill (?) , n. [OF. ville , vile , a village, F. ville a town, city. See Villa .] A small collection of houses; a village. "Every manor, town, or vill ."

Sir M. Hale.

Not should e'er the crested fowl From thorp or vill his matins sound for me. Wordsworth.

&hand; A word of various significations in English, law; as, a manor; a tithing; a town; a township; a parish; a part of a parish; a village. The original meaning of vill , in England, seems to have been derived from the Roman sense of the term villa , a single country residence or farm; a manor. Later, the term was applied only to a collection of houses more than two, and hence came to comprehend towns. Burrill . The statute of Exeter, 14 Edward I., mentions entire-vills , demivills , and hamlets .

Villa <Xpage=1610>

Vil"la (?) , n. ; pl. Villas (#) . [L. villa , LL. also village, dim. of L. vicus a village: cf. It. & F. villa . See Vicinity , and cf. Vill , Village , Villain .] A country seat; a country or suburban residence of some pretensions to elegance.

Dryden. Cowper.

Village <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lage (?; 48) , n. [F., fr. L. villaticus belonging to a country house or villa. See Villa , and cf. Villatic .] A small assemblage of houses in the country, less than a town or city.

Village cart , a kind of two-wheeled pleasure carriage without a top.

Syn. -- Village , Hamlet , Town , City . In England, a hamlet denotes a collection of houses, too small to have a parish church. A village has a church, but no market. A town has both a market and a church or churches. A city is, in the legal sense, an incorporated borough town, which is, or has been, the place of a bishop's see. In the United States these distinctions do not hold.

Villager <Xpage=1610>

Vil"la*ger (?) , n. An inhabitant of a village.

Brutus had rather be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard condition. Shak.

Villagery <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lage*ry (?) , n. Villages; a district of villages. [Obs.] "The maidens of the villagery ."

Shak.

Villain <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lain (?) , n. [OE. vilein , F. vilain , LL. villanus , from villa a village, L. villa a farm. See Villa .]

1. (Feudal Law) One who holds lands by a base, or servile, tenure, or in villenage; a feudal tenant of the lowest class, a bondman or servant. [In this sense written also villan , and villein .]

If any of my ansectors was a tenant, and a servant, and held his lands as a villain to his lord, his posterity also must do so, though accidentally they become noble. Jer. Taylor.

&hand; Villains were of two sorts; villains regardant , that is, annexed to the manor (LL. adscripti gleb\'91 ); and villains in gross , that is, annexed to the person of their lord, and transferable from one to another.

Blackstone.

2. A baseborn or clownish person; a boor. [R.]

Pour the blood of the villain in one basin, and the blood of the gentleman in another, what difference shall there be proved? Becon.

3. A vile, wicked person; a man extremely depraved, and capable or guilty of great crimes; a deliberate scoundrel; a knave; a rascal; a scamp.

Like a villain with a smiling cheek. Shak.

Calm, thinking villains , whom no faith could fix. Pope.

Villain <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lain , a. [F. vilain .] Villainous. [R.]

Shak.

Villain <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lain , v. t. To debase; to degrade. [Obs.]

Sir T. More.

Villainous <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lain*ous (?) , a. [Written also villanous .]

1. Base; vile; mean; depraved; as, a villainous person or wretch .

2. Proceeding from, or showing, extreme depravity; suited to a villain; as, a villainous action .

3. Sorry; mean; mischievous; -- in a familiar sense. "A villainous trick of thine eye."

Shak.

Villainous judgment (O. E. Law) , a judgment that casts reproach on the guilty person.

--- Vil"lain*ous*ly , adv. Vil"lain*ous*ness , n.

Villainy <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lain*y (?) , n. ; pl. Villainies (#) . [OE. vilanie , OF. vilanie , vilainie , vileinie , vilanie , LL. villania . See Villain , n. ] [Written also villany .] 1. The quality or state of being a villain, or villainous; extreme depravity; atrocious wickedness; as, the villainy of the seducer . "Lucre of vilanye ."

Chaucer.

The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy . Shak.

2. Abusive, reproachful language; discourteous speech; foul talk. [Archaic]

He never yet not vileinye ne said In all his life, unto no manner wight. Chaucer.

In our modern language, it [foul language] is termed villainy , as being proper for rustic boors, or men of coarsest education and employment. Barrow.

Villainy till a very late day expressed words foul and disgraceful to the utterer much oftener than deeds. Trench.

3. The act of a villain; a deed of deep depravity; a crime.

Such villainies roused Horace into wrath. Dryden.

That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called a slave trade.

John Wesley.

Villakin <Xpage=1610>

Vil"la*kin (?) , n. A little villa. [R.]

Gay.

Villan <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lan (?) , n. A villain. [R.]

Villanage <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lan*age (?; 48) , n. [OF. villenage , vilenage . See Villain .] 1. (Feudal Law) The state of a villain, or serf; base servitude; tenure on condition of doing the meanest services for the lord. [In this sense written also villenage , and villeinage .]

I speak even now as if sin were condemned in a perpetual villanage , never to be manumitted. Milton.

Some faint traces of villanage were detected by the curious so late as the days of the Stuarts. Macaulay.

2. Baseness; infamy; villainy. [Obs.]

Dryden.

Villanel <Xpage=1610>

Vil`la*nel" (?) , n. [See Villanelle .] A ballad. [Obs.]

Cotton.

Villanella <Xpage=1610>

Vil`la*nel"la (?) , n. ; pl. Villanelle (#) . [It., a pretty country girl.] (Mus.) An old rustic dance, accompanied with singing.

Villanelle <Xpage=1610>

Vil`la*nelle" (?) , n. [F.] A poem written in tercets with but two rhymes, the first and third verse of the first stanza alternating as the third verse in each successive stanza and forming a couplet at the close.

E. W. Gosse.

Villanette <Xpage=1610>

Vil`la*nette" (?) , n. [Dim. of villa ; formed on the analogy of the French.] A small villa. [R.]

Villanize <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lan*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Villanized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Villanizing (?) .] To make vile; to debase; to degrade; to revile. [R.]

Were virtue by descent, a noble name Could never villanize his father's fame. Dryden.

Villanizer <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lan*i`zer (?) , n. One who villanizes. [R.]

Villanous, a. Villanously, adv., Villanousness <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lan*ous (?) , a. Vil"lan*ous*ly , adv. , Vil"lan*ous*ness , n. , See Villainous , etc.

Villany <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lan*y (?) , n. See Villainy .

Villatic <Xpage=1610>

Vil*lat"ic (?) , a. [L. villaticus belonging to a country house. See Village .] Of or pertaining to a farm or a village; rural. "Tame villatic fowl."

Milton.

Villein <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lein (?) , n. (Feudal Law) See Villain , 1.

Villenage <Xpage=1610>

Vil"len*age (?) , n. [See Villanage .] (Feudal Law) Villanage.

Blackstone.

Villenous <Xpage=1610>

Vil"len*ous (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a villein.

Villi <Xpage=1610>

Vil"li (?) , n. , pl . of Villus .

Villiform <Xpage=1610>

Vil"li*form (?) , a. [ Villus + -form .] Having the form or appearance of villi; like close-set fibers, either hard or soft; as, the teeth of perch are villiform .

Villose <Xpage=1610>

Vil*lose" (?) , a. (Bot.) See Villous .

Villosity <Xpage=1610>

Vil*los"i*ty (?) , n. 1. State of being villous.

2. (Bot.) A coating of long, slender hairs.

3. (Anat.) A villus.

Villous <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lous (?) , a. [L. villosus : cf. F. villeux . Cf. Velvet .] 1. Abounding in, or covered with, fine hairs, or a woolly substance; shaggy with soft hairs; nappy.

2. (Anat.) Furnished or clothed with villi.

Villus <Xpage=1610>

Vil"lus (?) , n. ; pl. Villi (#) . [L., shaggy hair, a tuft of hair.] 1. (Anat.) One of the minute papillary processes on certain vascular membranes; a villosity; as, villi cover the lining of the small intestines of many animals and serve to increase the absorbing surface .

2. pl. (Bot.) Fine hairs on plants, resembling the pile of velvet.

Vim <Xpage=1610>

Vim (?) , n. [L., accusative of vis strength.] Power; force; energy; spirit; activity; vigor. [Colloq.]

Vimen <Xpage=1610>

Vi"men (?) , n. [L., a twig.] (Bot.) A long, slender, flexible shoot or branch.

Viminal <Xpage=1610>

Vim"i*nal (?; 277) , a. [L. viminalis pertaining to osiers, fr. vimen a pliant twig, osier.] Of or pertaining to twigs; consisting of twigs; producing twigs.