But in the fruithful earth . . . His beams, unactive else, their vigor
find.
Milton.
Vigor and its derivatives commonly imply active strength, or the power
of action and exertion, in distinction from passive strength, or
strength to endure.
Vig"or, v. t. To invigorate. [Obs.] Feltham.
Vig"or*ite (?), n. [L. vigor strength.] An explosive containing
nitroglycerin. It is used in blasting.
||Vig`o*ro"so (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Vigorous; energetic; with
||energy; — a direction to perform a passage with energy and force.
||
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.
Vi"king (?), n. [Icel. vkingr, fr. vk 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.
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.
Vil"a*ny (?), n. Villainy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Vi`la*yet" (?), n. [Turk., from Ar. wilyah.] One of the chief
administrative divisions or provinces of the Ottoman Empire; — formerly
called eyalet.
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 (?), a. [Comp. Viler (?); superl. Vilest.] [OE. vil, F. vil, from
L. vilis cheap, worthless, vile, base.]