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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Contents
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    VENGER — VERMICULOUS

    VENGER, n. An avenger. [Not in use.]

    VENIABLE, a. [See Venial.] Venial; pardonable. [Not in use.]

    VENIABLY, adv. Pardonably; excusably. [Not in use.]

    VENIAL, a. [L. venia, pardon, leave to depart, from the root of venio, and signifying literally a going or passing.]

    1. That may be forgiven; pardonable; as a venial fault or transgression. The reformed churches hold all sins to be venial, through the merits of the Redeemer; but the most trifling sins not to be venial, except through the righteousness and atonement of Christ.NWAD VENIAL.2

    2. In familiar language, excusable; that may be allowed or permitted to pass without censure; as a venial slip or fault.NWAD VENIAL.3

    3. Allowed.NWAD VENIAL.4

    Permitting him the while venial discourse unblam’d.NWAD VENIAL.5

    VENIALNESS, n. State of being excusable or pardonable.

    Venire facias, or venire, in law, a writ or precept directed to the sheriff, requiring him to summon twelve men, to try an issue between parties. It is also a writ in the nature of a summons to cause the party indicted on a penal statue, to appear.NWAD VENIALNESS.2

    VENISON, n. ven’izn, or ven’zn. [L. venactio, a hunting, from venor, to hunt.]

    The flesh of beasts of game, or of such wild animals as are taken in the chase. It is however, in the United States, applied exclusively to the flesh of the deer or cervine genus of animals.NWAD VENISON.2

    VENOM, n. [L. venenum, venor, to hunt, to drive or chase; venio, to come. See Venus, etc.]

    1. Poison; matter fatal or injurious to life. Venom is generally used to express noxious matter that is applied externally, or that is discharged from animals, as that of bites and stings of serpents, scorpions, etc.; and poison, to express substances taken into the stomach.NWAD VENOM.2

    2. Spite; malice.NWAD VENOM.3

    VENOM, v.t. To poison; to infect with venom. [Little used, but envenom is in use and elegant. Venom may be elegantly used in poetry.]

    VENOMOUS, a.

    1. Poisonous; noxious to animal life; as, the bite of a serpent may be venomous. The sack at the base of the rattlesnake’s teeth, contains venomous matter.NWAD VENOMOUS.2

    2. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; as a venomous progeny.NWAD VENOMOUS.3

    3. Spiteful; as a venomous writer.NWAD VENOMOUS.4

    VENOMOUSLY, adv. Poisonously; malignantly; spitefully.

    VENOMOUSNESS, n.

    1. Poisonousness; noxiousness to animal life.NWAD VENOMOUSNESS.2

    2. Malignity; spitefulness.NWAD VENOMOUSNESS.3

    VENOUS, a. [L. venosus, from vena, a vein.]

    1. Pertaining to a vein or to veins; contained in veins; as venous blood, which is distinguishable from arterial blood by its darker color.NWAD VENOUS.2

    2. In botany, veined. A venous leaf, has vessels branching, or variously divided, over its surface.NWAD VENOUS.3

    VENT, n. [L. venio, Eng. wind, etc.; properly a passage.]

    1. A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or other fluid to escape; as the vent of a cask.NWAD VENT.2

    2. The opening in a cannon or other piece of artillery, by which fire is communicated to the charge.NWAD VENT.3

    3. Passage from secrecy to notice; publication.NWAD VENT.4

    4. The act of opening.NWAD VENT.5

    5. Emission; passage; escape from confinement; as, his smothered passions urge for vent.NWAD VENT.6

    6. Discharge; utterance; means of discharge.NWAD VENT.7

    Had like grief been dew’d in tears, without the vent of words -;NWAD VENT.8

    7. Sale; as the vent of a thousand copies of a treatise.NWAD VENT.9

    8. Opportunity to sell; demand.NWAD VENT.10

    There is no vent for any commodity except wool.NWAD VENT.11

    9. An inn, a baiting place. [Not in use.]NWAD VENT.12

    To give vent to, to suffer to escape; to let out; to pour forth.NWAD VENT.13

    VENT, v.t.

    1. To let out at a small aperture.NWAD VENT.15

    2. To let out; to suffer to escape from confinement; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint.NWAD VENT.16

    The queen of heav’n did thus her fury vent.NWAD VENT.17

    3. To utter; to report. [Not in use.]NWAD VENT.18

    4. To publish.NWAD VENT.19

    The sectators did greatly enrich their inventions by venting the stolen treasures of divine letters. [Not used.]NWAD VENT.20

    5. To sell.NWAD VENT.21

    Therefore did those nations vent such spice. [Not in use.]NWAD VENT.22

    [Instead of vent in the latter sense, we use vend.]NWAD VENT.23

    VENT, v.i. To snuff. [Not in use.]

    VENTAGE, n. A small hole. [Not in use.]

    VENTAIL, n. That part of a helmet made to be lifted up; the part intended for the admission of air, or for breathing.

    VENTANNA, VENTANA, n. A window. [Not English.]

    VENTER, n. One who utters, reports or publishes.

    VENTER, n. [L.]

    1. In anatomy, the abdomen, or lower belly; formerly applied to any large cavity containing viscera, as the head, thorax and abdomen, called three venters.NWAD VENTER.3

    2. The womb; and hence, mother. A has a son B by one venter, and a daughter C by another venter; children by different venters.NWAD VENTER.4

    3. The belly of a muscle.NWAD VENTER.5

    VENTIDUCT, n. [L. ventus, wind, and ductus, a canal.]

    In building, a passage for wind or air; a subterraneous passage or spiracle for ventilating apartments.NWAD VENTIDUCT.2

    VENTILATE, v.t. [L. ventilo, from ventus, wind.]

    1. To fan with wind; to open and expose to the free passage of air or wind; as, to ventilate a room; to ventilate a cellar.NWAD VENTILATE.2

    2. To cause the air to pass through; as, to ventilate a mine.NWAD VENTILATE.3

    3. To winnow; to fan; as, to ventilate wheat.NWAD VENTILATE.4

    4. To examine; to discuss; that is, to agitate; as, to ventilate questions of policy. [Not now in use.]NWAD VENTILATE.5

    VENTILATED, pp. Exposed to the action of the air; fanned; winnowed; discussed.

    VENTILATING, ppr. Exposing to the action of wind; fanning; discussing.

    VENTILATION, n. [L. ventilatio.]

    1. The act of ventilating; the act or operation of exposing to the free passage of air, or of causing the air to pass through any place, for the purpose of expelling impure air and dissipating any thing noxious.NWAD VENTILATION.2

    2. The act of fanning or winnowing, for the purpose of separating chaff and dust.NWAD VENTILATION.3

    3. Vent; utterance. [Not in use.]NWAD VENTILATION.4

    4. Refrigeration. [Not in use.]NWAD VENTILATION.5

    VENTILATOR, n. An instrument or machine for expelling foul or stagnant air from any close place or apartment, and introducing that which is fresh and pure. Ventilators are of very different constructions and sizes.

    VENTOSITY, n. [L. ventosus.] Windiness; flatulence.

    VENTRAL, a. [from L. venter, belly.] Belonging to the belly.

    The ventral fins, in fishes, are placed between the anus and the throat.NWAD VENTRAL.2

    VENTRICLE, n. [L. ventriculus, from venter, belly.]

    In a general sense, a small cavity in an animal body. It is applied to the stomach. It is also applied to two cavities of the heart, which propel the blood into the arteries. The word is also applied to cavities in different parts of the brain.NWAD VENTRICLE.2

    VENTRICOUS, a. [L. ventricosus, from venter, belly.]

    In botany, bellied; distended; swelling out in the middle; as a ventricous perianth.NWAD VENTRICOUS.2

    VENTRICULOUS, a. [supra.] Somewhat distended in the middle.

    VENTRILOQUISM, VENTRILOQUY, n. [L. venter, belly, and loquor, to speak.]

    The act, art or practice of speaking in such a manner that the voice appears to come not from the person, but from some distant place, as from the opposite side of the room, from the cellar, etc.NWAD VENTRILOQUISM.2

    VENTRILOQUIST, n. One who speaks in such a manner that his voice appears to come from some distant place.

    The ancient ventriloquists seems to speak from their bellies.NWAD VENTRILOQUIST.2

    VENTILOQUOUS, a. Speaking in such a manner as to make the sound appear to come from a place remote from the speaker.

    VENTURE, n. [L. venio, ventus, venturus, to come.]

    1. A hazard; an undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event which cannot be foreseen with tolerable certainty.NWAD VENTURE.2

    I, in this venture, double gains pursue.NWAD VENTURE.3

    2. Chance; hap; contingency; luck; an event that is not or cannot be foreseen.NWAD VENTURE.4

    3. The thing put to hazard; particularly, something sent to sea in trade.NWAD VENTURE.5

    My ventures are not in one bottom trusted.NWAD VENTURE.6

    At a venture, at hazard; without seeing the end or mark; or without foreseeing the issue.NWAD VENTURE.7

    A bargain at a venture made.NWAD VENTURE.8

    A certain man drew a bow at a venture. 1 Kings 22:34.NWAD VENTURE.9

    VENTURE, v.i.

    1. To dare; to have courage or presumption to do, undertake or say. A man ventures to mount a ladder; he ventures into battle; he ventures to assert things which he does not know.NWAD VENTURE.11

    2. To run a hazard or risk.NWAD VENTURE.12

    Who freights a ship to venture on the seas.NWAD VENTURE.13

    To venture at,NWAD VENTURE.14

    To venture on or upon, To dare to engage in; to attempt without any certainty of success. It is rash to venture upon such a project.NWAD VENTURE.15

    And when I venture at the comic style.NWAD VENTURE.16

    VENTURE, v.t.

    1. To expose to hazard; to risk; as, to venture one’s person in a balloon.NWAD VENTURE.18

    2. To put or send on a venture or chance; as, to venture a horse to the West Indies.NWAD VENTURE.19

    VENTURED, pp. Put to the hazard; risked.

    VENTURER, n. One who ventures or puts to hazards.

    VENTURESOME, a. Bold; daring; intrepid; as a venturesome boy.

    VENTURESOMELY, adv. In a bold, daring manner.

    VENTURING, ppr. Putting to hazard; daring.

    VENTURING, n. The act of putting to risk; a hazarding.

    VENTUROUS, a. Daring; bold; hardy; fearless; intrepid; adventurous; as a venturous soldier.

    With vent’rous arm he pluck’d, he tasted.NWAD VENTUROUS.2

    VENTUROUSLY, adv. Daringly; fearlessly; boldly.

    VENTUROUSNESS, n. Boldness; hardiness; fearlessness; intrepidity. The event made then repent of their venturousness.

    VENUE, VISNE, n. [L. vicinia.] In law, a neighborhood or near place; the place where an action is laid. In certain cases, the court has power to change the venue.

    The twelve men who are to try the cause, must be of the same venue where the demand is made.NWAD VENUE.2

    VENUE, n. A thrust. [See Veney.]

    VENULITE, n. A petrified shell of the genus Venus.

    VENUS, n. [L. ventus, venenum; Eng. venom to poison, to fret or irritate. These affinities lead to the true origin of these words. The primary sense of the root is to shoot or rush, as light or wind. From light is derived the sense of white, fair, Venus, or it is from opening, parting; and from rushing, moving, comes wind, and the sense of raging, fury, whence L. venenum, poison, that which frets or causes to rage. These words all coincide with L. venio, which signifies to rush, to fall, to happen; venor, to hunt, etc. The Greeks had the same idea of the goddess of love, viz. that her name signified fairness, whiteness, and hence the fable that she sprung from froth, whence her Green name.]

    1. In mythology, the goddess of beauty and love; that is, beauty or love deified; just as the Gaelic and Irish diana, swiftness, impetuosity, is denominated the goddess of hunting.NWAD VENUS.2

    2. In astronomy, one of the inferior planets, whose orbit is between the earth and Mercury; a star of brilliant splendor.NWAD VENUS.3

    3. In the old chimistry, a name given to copper.NWAD VENUS.4

    VENUS’S COMB, n. A plant of the genus Scandix; shepherd’s needle.

    VENUS’S LOOKING-GLASS, n. A plant of the genus Campanula.

    VENUS’S NAVELWORT, n. A plant of the genus Cynoglossum.

    VENUST, a. [L. venustus.] Beautiful. [Not used.]

    VERACIOUS, a. [L. verax, from verus, true.]

    1. Observant of truth; habitually disposed to speak truth.NWAD VERACIOUS.2

    2. True. [Little used.]NWAD VERACIOUS.3

    VERACITY, n. [L. verax, from verus, true.]

    1. Habitual observance of truth, or habitual truth; as a man of veracity. His veracity is not called in question. The question of the court is, whether you know the witness to be a man of veracity. We rely on history, when we have confidence in the veracity and industry of the historian.NWAD VERACITY.2

    “The veracity of facts.” is not correct language. Truth is applicable to men and to facts; veracity to men only, or to sentient beings.NWAD VERACITY.3

    2. Invariable expression of truth; as the veracity of our senses.NWAD VERACITY.4

    VERANDA, n. An oriental word denoting a kind of open portico, formed by extending a sloping roof beyond the main building.

    VERATRIA, n. [L. veratrum, hellebore.] A newly discovered vegetable alkali, extracted from the white hellebore.

    VERB, n. [L. verbum, fero.]

    1. In grammar, a part of speech that expresses action, motion, being, suffering, or a request or command to do or forbear any thing. The verb affirms, declares, asks or commands; as, I write; he runs; the river flows; they sleep; we see; they are deceived; depart; go; come; write; does he improve?NWAD VERB.2

    When the action expressed by a verb is exerted on an object, or terminates upon it, the act is considered as passing to that object, and the verb is called transitive; as, I read Livy. When the act expressed by the verb, terminates in the agent or subject, the verb is called intransitive; as, I run; I walk, I sleep.NWAD VERB.3

    When the agent and object change places, and the agent is considered as the instrument by which the object is affected, the verb is called passive; as, Goliath was slain by David.NWAD VERB.4

    2. A word.NWAD VERB.5

    VERBAL, a. [L. verbalis.]

    1. Spoken; expressed to the ear in words; not written; as a verbal message; a verbal contract; verbal testimony.NWAD VERBAL.2

    2. Oral; uttered by the mouth.NWAD VERBAL.3

    3. Consisting in mere words; as a verbal reward.NWAD VERBAL.4

    4. Respecting words only; as a verbal dispute.NWAD VERBAL.5

    5. Minutely exact in words, or attending to words only; as a verbal critic.NWAD VERBAL.6

    6. Literal; having word answering to word; as a verbal translation.NWAD VERBAL.7

    7. In grammar, derived from a verb; as a verbal noun.NWAD VERBAL.8

    8. Verbose; abounding with words. [Not in use.]NWAD VERBAL.9

    VERBALITY, n. Mere words; bare literal expressions.

    VERBALIZE, v.t. To convert into a verb.

    VERBALLY, adv.

    1. In words spoken; by words uttered; orally.NWAD VERBALLY.2

    2. Word for word; as, to translate verbally.NWAD VERBALLY.3

    VERBATIM, adv. [L.] Word for word; in the same words; as, to tell a story verbatim as another has related it.

    VERBERATE, v.t. [L. verbero.] To beat; to strike. [Not in use.]

    VERBERATION, n.

    1. A beating or striking; blows.NWAD VERBERATION.2

    2. The impulse of a body, which causes sound.NWAD VERBERATION.3

    VERBIAGE, n. Verbosity; use of many words without necessity; superabundance of words.

    VERBOSE, a. [L. verbosus.] Abounding in words; using or containing more words than are necessary; prolix; tedious by a multiplicity of words; as a verbose speaker; a verbose argument.

    VERBOSITY, VERBOSENESS, n.

    1. Employment of a superabundance of words; the use of more words than are necessary; as the verbosity of a speaker.NWAD VERBOSITY.2

    2. Superabundance of words; prolixity; as the verbosity of a discourse or argument.NWAD VERBOSITY.3

    VERDANCY, n. [See Verdant.] Greenness.

    VERDANT, a. [L. vividans, from viridis, from vireo, to be green.] The radical sense of the verb is to grow or advance with strength.

    1. Green; fresh; covered with growing plants or grass; as verdant fields; a verdant lawn.NWAD VERDANT.2

    2. Flourishing.NWAD VERDANT.3

    VERDERER, VERDEROR, n. [Low L. viridarius.]

    An officer in England, who has the charge of the king’s forest, to preserve the vert and venison, keep the assizes, view, receive and enroll attachments and presentments of all manner of trespasses.NWAD VERDERER.2

    VERDICT, n. [L. verum dictum, true declaration.]

    1. The answer of a jury given to the court concerning any matter of face in any cause, civil or criminal, committed to their trial and examination. In criminal causes, the jury decide the law as well as the fact. Verdicts are general or special; general, when they decide in general terms, or in the terms of the general issue, as no wrong, no disseisin; special, when the jury find and state the facts at large, and as to the law, pray the judgment of the court.NWAD VERDICT.2

    2. Decision; judgment; opinion pronounced; as, to be condemned by the verdict of the public.NWAD VERDICT.3

    These enormities were condemned by the verdict of common humanity.NWAD VERDICT.4

    VERDIGRIS, n.

    Rust of copper, or an acetate of copper, formed by the combination of an acid with copper.NWAD VERDIGRIS.2

    VERDITER, n. [verde-terre, green earth; terre-verde.]

    A preparation of copper sometimes used by painters, etc. for a blue, but more generally mixed with a yellow for a green color. It is a factitious substance of blue pigment, obtained by adding chalk or whiting to a solution of copper in nitric acid or aqua fortis.NWAD VERDITER.2

    VERDURE, n. [L. vireo.] Green; greenness; freshness of vegetation; as the verdure of the meadows in June; the verdure of spring.

    VERDUROUS, a. Covered with green; clothed with the fresh color of vegetables; as verdurous pastures.

    VERECUND, a. [L. vrcundus.] Bashful; modest. [Not much used.]

    VERECUNDITY, n. Bashfulness; modesty; blushing. [Not in much use.]

    VERGE, n. verj. [L. virga, a rod, that is, a shoot.]

    1. A rod, or something in the form of a rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; the mace of a dean.NWAD VERGE.2

    2. The stick or wand with which persons are admitted tenants, by holding it in the hand, and swearing fealty to the lord. On this account, such tenants are called tenants by the verge.NWAD VERGE.3

    3. In law, the compass or extent of the king’s court, within which is bounded the jurisdiction of the lord steward of the king’s household; so called from the verge or staff which the marshal bears.NWAD VERGE.4

    4. The extreme side or end of any thing which has some extent of length; the brink; edge; border; margin. [This seems to be immediately connected with the L. vergo.]NWAD VERGE.5

    5. Among gardeners, the edge or outside of a border; also, a slip of grass adjoining to gravel-walks, and dividing them from the borders in the parterre-garden.NWAD VERGE.6

    6. A part of a time piece.NWAD VERGE.7

    VERGE, v.i. [L. vergo.]

    1. To tend downwards; to bend; to slope; as, a hill verges to the north.NWAD VERGE.9

    2. To tend; to incline; to approach.NWAD VERGE.10

    I find myself verging to that period of life which is to be labor and sorrow.NWAD VERGE.11

    VERGER, n.

    1. He that carries the mace before the bishop, dean, etc.NWAD VERGER.2

    2. An officer who carries a white wand before the justices of either bend in England.NWAD VERGER.3

    VERGING, ppr. Bending or inclining; tending.

    VERGOULEUSE, n. A species of pear; contracted to vergaloo.

    VERIDICAL, a. [L. veridicus; verus and dico.] Telling truth. [Not used.]

    VERIFIABLE, a. [from verify.] That may be verified; that may be proved or confirmed by incontestable evidence.

    VERIFICATION, n. [See Verify.] The act of verifying or proving to be true; the act of confirming or establishing the authenticity of any powers granted, or of any transaction, by legal or competent evidence.

    VERIFIED, pp. Proved; confirmed by competent evidence.

    VERIFIER, n. One that proves or makes appear to be true.

    VERIFY, v.t. [L. verus, true, and facio, to make.]

    1. To prove to be true; to confirm.NWAD VERIFY.2

    This is verified by a number of examples.NWAD VERIFY.3

    2. To fulfill, as a promise; to confirm the truth of a prediction; to show to be true. The predictions of this venerable patriot have been verified. Genesis 42:20; 1 Kings 8:26.NWAD VERIFY.4

    3. To confirm or establish the authenticity of any thing by examination or competent evidence. The first act of the house of representatives is to verify their powers, by exhibiting their credentials to a committee of the house, or other proper authority.NWAD VERIFY.5

    VERIFYING, ppr. Proving to be true; confirming; establishing as authentic.

    VERILY, adv. [from very.]

    1. In truth; in fact; certainly.NWAD VERILY.2

    2. Really; truly; with great confidence. It was verily thought the enterprise would succeed.NWAD VERILY.3

    VERISIMILAR, a. [L. verisimilis; verus, true, and similis, like.] having the appearance of truth; probable; likely.

    VERISIMILITUDE, n. [L. verisimilitudo.] the appearance of truth; probability; likelihood.

    Verisimilitude and opinion are an easy purchase; but true knowledge is dear and difficult.NWAD VERISIMILITUDE.2

    VERISIMILITY, for verisimilitude, is not in use.

    VERITABLE, a. True; agreeable to fact. [Little used.]

    VERITABLY, adv. In a true manner. [Not in use.]

    VERITY, n. [L. veritas, from verus, true.]

    1. Truth; consonance of a statement, proposition or other thing to fact. 1 Timothy 2:7.NWAD VERITY.2

    It is a proposition of eternal verity, that none can govern while he is despised.NWAD VERITY.3

    2. A true assertion or tenet.NWAD VERITY.4

    By this it seems to be a verity.NWAD VERITY.5

    3. Moral truth; agreement of the words with the thoughts.NWAD VERITY.6

    VERJUICE, n.

    A liquor expressed from wild apples, sour grapes, etc. used in sauces, ragouts and the like. it is used also in the purification of wax for candles, in poultices, etc.NWAD VERJUICE.2

    VERMEIL. [See Vermilion.]

    VERMEOLOGIST, n. [infra.] One who treats of vermes.

    VERMEOLOGY, n. [L. vermes, worms, and Gr. discourse.]

    A discourse or treatise on vermes, or that part of natural history which treats of vermes. [Little used.]NWAD VERMEOLOGY.2

    VERMICELLI, n. [L. vermiculus, from vermis, a worm.]

    A cookery, little rolls or threads of paste, or a composition of flour, eggs, sugar and saffron, used in soups and pottages.NWAD VERMICELLI.2

    VERMICULAR, a. [L. vermiculus, a little worm, from vermis, a worm.]

    Pertaining to a worm; resembling a worm; particularly, resembling the motion of a worm; as the vermicular motion of the intestines, called also peristaltic.NWAD VERMICULAR.2

    Vermicular or vermiculated work, in sculpture, a sort of ornament consisting of frets or knobs, in Mosaic pavements, winding and representing the tracks of worms.NWAD VERMICULAR.3

    VERMICULATE, v.t. [L. vermiculatus.] To inlay; to form work by inlaying, resembling the motion or the tracks of worms.

    VERMICULATED, pp. Formed in the likeness of the motion of a worm.

    VERMICULATING, ppr. Forming so as to resemble the motion of a worm.

    VERMICULATION, n.

    1. The act or operation of moving in the form of a worm; continuation of motion from one part to another, as in the peristaltic motion of the intestines.NWAD VERMICULATION.2

    2. The act of forming so as to resemble the motion of a worm.NWAD VERMICULATION.3

    VERMICULE, n. [L. vermiculus.] A little worm or grub.

    VERMICULOUS, a. [L. vermiculosus.]

    1. Full of worms or grubs.NWAD VERMICULOUS.2

    2. Resembling worms.NWAD VERMICULOUS.3

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