The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1849
Vir"e*o (?) , n. [L., a species of bird.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of American singing birds belonging to Vireo and allied genera of the family Vireonid\'91 . In many of the species the back is greenish, or olive-colored. Called also greenlet .
&hand; In the Eastern United States the most common species are the white-eyed vireo ( Vireo Noveboracensis ), the redeyed vireo ( V. olivaceus ), the blue-headed, or solitary, vireo ( V. solitarius ), the warbling vireo ( V. gilvus ), and the yellow-throated vireo ( V. flavifrons ). All these are noted for the sweetness of their songs.
Virescence <Xpage=1612>
Vi*res"cence (?) , (Bot.) The act or state of becoming green through the formation of chlorophyll.
Virescent <Xpage=1612>
Vi*res"cent (?) , a. [L. virescens , p. pr. of virescere to grow green, verb incho. fr. virere to be green.] Beginning to be green; slightly green; greenish.
Vireton <Xpage=1612>
Vir"e*ton (?) , n. [F. See Vire .] An arrow or bolt for a crossbow having feathers or brass placed at an angle with the shaft to make it spin in flying.
Virgalieu <Xpage=1612>
Vir"ga*lieu (?) , n. [Cf. Virgouleuse .] (Bot.) A valuable kind of pear, of an obovate shape and with melting flesh of delicious flavor; -- more properly called White Doyenn\'82 . [Written also virgaloo , vergalieu , vergaloo , etc.]
Virgate <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gate (?) , a. [L. virgatus made of twigs, fr. virga a twig, rod. See Verge a rod.] (Bot.) Having the form of a straight rod; wand-shaped; straight and slender.
Virgate <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gate , n. [LL. virgata , virgata terrae , so much land as virga terrae , a land measure, contains, fr. L. virga a twig, rod.] A yardland, or measure of land varying from fifteen to forty acres. [Obs.]
T. Warton.
Virgated <Xpage=1612>
Vir"ga*ted (?) , a. [L. virgatus striped. See Virgate , a. ] Striped; streaked. [Obs.]
Virge <Xpage=1612>
Virge (?) , n. A wand. See Verge . [Obs.]
Virger <Xpage=1612>
Vir"ger (?) , n. See Verger . [Obs.]
Virgilian <Xpage=1612>
Vir*gil"i*an (?) , a. [L. Virgilianus , better Vergilianus .] Of or pertaining to Virgil, the Roman poet; resembling the style of Virgil. [Spelt also Vergilian .]
The rich Virgilian rustic measure Of Lari Maxume. Tennyson.
Virgin <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin (?) , n. [L. virgo , -inis : cf. OF. virgine , virgene , virge , vierge , F. vierge .] 1. A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man; a maid.
2. A person of the male sex who has not known sexual indulgence. [Archaic]
Wyclif.
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins . Rev. xiv. 4.
He his flesh hath overcome; He was a virgin , as he said. Gower.
3. (Astron.) See Virgo .
4. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of gossamer-winged butterflies of the family Lyc\'91nid\'91 .
5. (Zo\'94l.) A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect.
The Virgin , ∨ The Blessed Virgin , the Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord. -- Virgin's bower (Bot.) , a name given to several climbing plants of the genus Clematis , as C. Vitalba of Europe, and C. Virginiana of North America.
Virgin <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin (?) , a. 1. Being a virgin; chaste; of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin; maidenly; modest; indicating modesty; as, a virgin blush . " Virgin shame."
Cowley.
Innocence and virgin modesty . . . That would be wooed, and unsought be won. Milton.
2. Pure; undefiled; unmixed; fresh; new; as, virgin soil; virgin gold. " Virgin Dutch."
G. W. Cable.
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart. Shak.
A few ounces of mutton, with a little virgin oil. Landor.
3. Not yet pregnant; impregnant.
Milton.
Virgin <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin , v. i. To act the virgin; to be or keep chaste; -- followed by it . See It , 5. [Obs.] "My true lip hath virgined it e'er since [that kiss]."
Shak.
Virginal <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin*al (?) , a. [L. virginalis : cf. F. virginal .] Of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin; maidenly. "Chastity and honor virginal ."
Spenser.
Virginal generation (Biol.) , parthenogenesis. -- Virginal membrane (Anat.) , the hymen.
Virginal <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin*al , n. [Cf. F. virginale ; -- probably so called from being used by young girls, or virgins .] (Mus.) An instrument somewhat resembling the spinet, but having a rectangular form, like the small piano. It had strings and keys, but only one wire to a note. The instrument was used in the sixteenth century, but is now wholly obsolete. It was sometimes called a pair of virginals .
Virginal <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin*al , v. i. To play with the fingers, as if on a virginal; to tap or pat. [Obs.] "Still virginaling upon his palm!"
Shak.
Virginhood <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gin*hood (?) , n. Virginity; maidenhood.
Virginia <Xpage=1612>
Vir*gin"i*a (?) , n. One of the States of the United States of America. -- a. Of or pertaining to the State of Virginia.
Virginia cowslip (Bot.) , the American lungwort ( Mertensia Virginica ). -- Virginia creeper (Bot.) , a common ornamental North American woody vine ( Ampelopsis quinquefolia ), climbing extensively by means of tendrils; -- called also woodbine , and American ivy . [U.S.] -- Virginia fence . See Worm fence , under Fence . -- Virginia nightingale (Zo\'94l.) , the cardinal bird. See under Cardinal . -- Virginia quail (Zo\'94l.) , the bobwhite. -- Virginia reel , an old English contradance; -- so called in the United States. Bartlett . -- Virginia stock . (Bot.) See Mahon stock .
Virginity <Xpage=1612>
Vir*gin"i*ty (?) , n. [OE. virgintee , F. virginit\'82 , L. virginitas .] 1. The quality or state of being a virgin; undefiled purity or chastity; maidenhood.
2. The unmarried life; celibacy. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Virgo <Xpage=1612>
Vir"go (?) , n. [L. virgo a virgin, the constellation Virgo in the zodiac. See Virgin .] (Astron.) (a) A sign of the zodiac which the sun enters about the 21st of August, marked thus [<Virgo/] in almanacs. (b) A constellation of the zodiac, now occupying chiefly the sign Libra, and containing the bright star Spica.
Virgouleuse <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gou*leuse (?) , n. [F. virgouleuse , from the village of Virgoul\'82e , near Limoges.] (Bot.) An old French variety of pear, of little value.
Virgularian <Xpage=1612>
Vir`gu*la"ri*an (?) , n. [From. L. virgula a small rod.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of long, slender Alcyonaria belonging to Virgularia and allied genera of the family Virgularid\'91 . These corals are allied to the sea-pens, but have a long rodlike rhachis inclosing a slender, round or square, calcareous axis. The polyps are arranged in transverse rows or clusters along each side of the rhachis.
Virgulate <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gu*late (?) , a. Shaped like a little twig or rod.
Virgule <Xpage=1612>
Vir"gule (?) , n. [F. virgule , fr. L. virgula , dim. of virga . See Verge a rod.] A comma. [R.]
In the MSS. of Chaucer, the line is always broken by a c\'91sura in the middle, which is pointed by a virgule . Hallam.
Virial <Xpage=1612>
Vir"i*al (?) , n. [L. vis , viris , force.] (Physics) A certain function relating to a system of forces and their points of application, -- first used by Clausius in the investigation of problems in molecular physics.
Virid <Xpage=1612>
Vir"id (?) , a. [L. viridis green. See Verdant .] Green. [Obs.]
The virid marjoram Her sparkling beauty did but see. Crompton.
Viridescence <Xpage=1612>
Vir`i*des"cence (?) , n. Quality or state of being viridescent.
Viridescent <Xpage=1612>
Vir`i*des"cent (?) , a. [L. viridescens , p. pr. of viridescere to grow green.] Slightly green; greenish.
Viridine <Xpage=1612>
Vir"i*dine (?) , n. [L. viridis green.] (Chem.) A greenish, oily, nitrogenous hydrocarbon, C12H19N7 , obtained from coal tar, and probably consisting of a mixture of several metameric compounds which are higher derivatives of the base pyridine.
Viridite <Xpage=1612>
Vir"i*dite (?) , n. [L. viridis green.] (Min.) A greenish chloritic mineral common in certain igneous rocks, as diabase, as a result of alternation.
Viridity <Xpage=1612>
Vi*rid"i*ty (?) , n. [L. viriditas , fr. viridis green: cf. F. viridit\'82 . See Verdant .] 1. Greenness; verdure; the color of grass and foliage.
2. Freshness; soundness. [Obs.]
Evelyn.
Viridness <Xpage=1612>
Vir"id*ness (?) , n. Viridity; greenness.
Virile <Xpage=1612>
Vi"rile (?; 277) , a. [L. virilis , fr. vir a man; akin to AS. wer : cf. F. viril . See Werewolf , World , and cf. Decemvir , Virago , Virtue .] Having the nature, properties, or qualities, of an adult man; characteristic of developed manhood; hence, masterful; forceful; specifically, capable of begetting; -- opposed to womanly , feminine , and puerile ; as, virile age, virile power, virile organs .
<page="1613"> Page 1613
Virility <Xpage=1613>
Vi*ril"i*ty (?) , n. [L. virilitas : cf. F. virilit\'82 .] The quality or state of being virile; developed manhood; manliness; specif., the power of procreation; as, exhaustion . " Virility of visage."
Holland.
Viripotent <Xpage=1613>
Vi*rip"o*tent (?) , a. [L. vir man + potens fit for.] Developed in manhood; hence, able to beget; marriageable. [Obs.]
Being not of ripe years, not viripotent . Holinshed.
Virmilion <Xpage=1613>
Vir*mil"ion (?) , n. See Vermilion . [R.]
Virole <Xpage=1613>
Vi*role" (?) , n. [F., a ferrule. See Ferrule .] (Her.) A ring surrounding a bugle or hunting horn.
Viroled <Xpage=1613>
Vi*roled" (?) , a. (Her.) Furnished with a virole or viroles; -- said of a horn or a bugle when the rings are of different tincture from the rest of the horn.
Virose <Xpage=1613>
Vi*rose" (?) , a. [L. virosus . See Virus .] Having a nauseous odor; fetid; poisonous. [R.]
Virtu <Xpage=1613>
Vir*tu" (?; 277) , n. [It. virt\'97 virtue, excellence, from L. virtus . See Virtue .] A love of the fine arts; a taste for curiosities.
J. Spence.
An article , ∨ piece , of virtu , an object of art or antiquity; a curiosity, such as those found in museums or private collections.
I had thoughts, in my chambers to place it in view, To be shown to my friends as a piece of virt\'97 . Goldsmith.
Virtual <Xpage=1613>
Vir"tu*al (?; 135) , a. [Cf. F. virtuel . See Virtue .] 1. Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or sensible part; potential; energizing.
Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance. Bacon.
Every kind that lives, Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed. Milton.
2. Being in essence or effect, not in fact; as, the virtual presence of a man in his agent or substitute .
A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence. Fleming.
To mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance. De Quincey.
Principle of virtual velocities (Mech.) , the law that when several forces are in equilibrium, the algebraic sum of their virtual moments is equal to zero. -- Virtual focus (Opt.) , the point from which rays, having been rendered divergent by reflection of refraction, appear to issue; the point at which converging rays would meet if not reflected or refracted before they reach it. -- Virtual image . (Optics) See under Image . -- Virtual moment (of a force) (Mech.) , the product of the intensity of the force multiplied by the virtual velocity of its point of application; -- sometimes called virtual work . -- Virtual velocity (Mech.) , a minute hypothetical displacement, assumed in analysis to facilitate the investigation of statical problems. With respect to any given force of a number of forces holding a material system in equilibrium, it is the projection, upon the direction of the force, of a line joining its point of application with a new position of that point indefinitely near to the first, to which the point is conceived to have been moved, without disturbing the equilibrium of the system, or the connections of its parts with each other. Strictly speaking, it is not a velocity but a length. -- Virtual work . (Mech.) See Virtual moment , above.
Virtuality <Xpage=1613>
Vir`tu*al"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. virtualit\'82 .] 1. The quality or state of being virtual.
2. Potentiality; efficacy; potential existence. [Obs.]
In one grain of corn, there lieth dormant a virtuality of many other. Sir T. Browne.
Virtually <Xpage=1613>
Vir"tu*al*ly (?) , adv. In a virtual manner; in efficacy or effect only, and not actually; to all intents and purposes; practically.
Virtuate <Xpage=1613>
Vir"tu*ate (?) , v. t. To make efficacious; to give virtue of efficacy. [Obs.]
Harvey.
Virtue <Xpage=1613>
Vir"tue (?; 135) , n. [OE. vertu , F. vertu , L. virtus strength, courage, excellence, virtue, fr. vir a man. See Virile , and cf. Virtu .] 1. Manly strength or courage; bravery; daring; spirit; valor. [Obs.]
Shak.
Built too strong For force or virtue ever to expugn. Chapman.
2. Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency; efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine .
Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about. Mark v. 30.
A man was driven to depend for his security against misunderstanding, upon the pure virtue of his syntax. De Quincey.
The virtue of his midnight agony. Keble.
3. Energy or influence operating without contact of the material or sensible substance.
She moves the body which she doth possess, Yet no part toucheth, but by virtue's touch. Sir. J. Davies.
4. Excellence; value; merit; meritoriousness; worth.
I made virtue of necessity. Chaucer.
In the Greek poets, . . . the economy of poems is better observed than in Terence, who thought the sole grace and virtue of their fable the sticking in of sentences. B. Jonson.
5. Specifically, moral excellence; integrity of character; purity of soul; performance of duty.
Virtue only makes our bliss below. Pope.
If there's Power above us, And that there is all nature cries aloud Through all her works, he must delight in virtue . Addison.
6. A particular moral excellence; as, the virtue of temperance, of charity, etc . "The very virtue of compassion." Shak . "Remember all his virtues ." Addison .
7. Specifically: Chastity; purity; especially, the chastity of women; virginity.
H. I believe the girl has virtue . M. And if she has, I should be the last man in the world to attempt to corrupt it. Goldsmith.
8. pl. One of the orders of the celestial hierarchy.
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues , powers. Milton.
Cardinal virtues . See under Cardinal , a. -- In , ∨ By , virtue of , through the force of; by authority of. "He used to travel through Greece by virtue of this fable, which procured him reception in all the towns." Addison . "This they shall attain, partly in virtue of the promise made by God, and partly in virtue of piety." Atterbury . -- Theological virtues , the three virtues, faith, hope, and charity. See 1 Cor. xiii. 13 .
Virtueless <Xpage=1613>
Vir"tue*less (?) , a. Destitute of virtue; without efficacy or operating qualities; powerless.
Virtueless she wished all herbs and charms. Fairfax.
Virtuosity <Xpage=1613>
Vir`tu*os"i*ty (?) , n. 1. The quality or state of being a virtuoso; in a bad sense, the character of one in whom mere artistic feeling or \'91sthetic cultivation takes the place of religious character; sentimentalism.
This famous passage . . . over which the virtuosity of modern times, rejoicing in evil, has hung so fondly. C. Kingsley.
2. Virtuosos, collectively.
Carlyle.
3. An art or study affected by virtuosos.
Virtuoso <Xpage=1613>
Vir`tu*o"so (?) , n. ; pl. Virtuosos (#) ; It. Virtuosi (#) . [It. See Virtuous .] 1. One devoted to virtu; one skilled in the fine arts, in antiquities, and the like; a collector or ardent admirer of curiosities, etc.
Virtuoso the Italians call a man who loves the noble arts, and is a critic in them. Dryden.
2. (Mus.) A performer on some instrument, as the violin or the piano, who excels in the technical part of his art; a brilliant concert player.
Virtuosoship <Xpage=1613>
Vir`tu*o"so*ship , n. The condition, pursuits, or occupation of a virtuoso.
Bp. Hurd.
Virtuous <Xpage=1613>
Vir"tu*ous (?; 135) , a. [OE. vertuous , OF. vertuos , vertuous , F. vertueux , fr. L. Virtuous . See Virtue , and cf. Virtuoso .] 1. Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: --
(a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.]
Old Priam's son, amongst them all, was chiefly virtuous . Chapman.