Who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secrecy.
Milton.
Horned viper. (Zoöl.) See Cerastes. — Red viper (Zoöl.), the
copperhead. — Viper fish (Zoöl.), a small, slender, phosphorescent
deep-sea fish (Chauliodus Sloanii). It has long ventral and dorsal
fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth. — Viper's bugloss
(Bot.), a rough-leaved biennial herb (Echium vulgare) having showy
purplish blue flowers. It is sometimes cultivated, but has become a
pestilent weed in fields from New York to Virginia. Also called blue
weed. — Viper's grass (Bot.), a perennial composite herb (Scorzonera
Hispanica) with narrow, entire leaves, and solitary heads of yellow
flowers. The long, white, carrot-shaped roots are used for food in
Spain and some other countries. Called also viper grass.
||Vi`per*i"na (?), n. pl. (Zoöl.) See Viperoidea.
||
Vi"per*ine (?; 277), a. [L. viperinus: cf. F. vipérin.] Of or
pertaining to a viper or vipers; resembling a viper.
Viperine snake. (Zoöl.) (a) Any venomous snake of the family Viperidæ.
(b) A harmless snake resembling a viper in form or color, esp.
Tropidonotus viperinus, a small European species which resembles the
viper in color.
Vi"per*ish, a. Somewhat like a viper; viperous.
{ ||Vi`per*oi"de*a (?), Vi`per*oi"des (?), } n. pl. [NL. See Viper, and
-oid.] (Zoöl.) A division of serpents which includes the true vipers of
the Old World and the rattlesnakes and moccasin snakes of America; —
called also Viperina.
Vi"per*ous (?), a. Having the qualities of a viper; malignant;
venomous; as, a viperous tongue. "This viperous slander." Shak. —
Vi"per*ous*ly, adv.
Vi`ra*gin"i*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to a virago; having the
qualities of a virago. Milton.
Vi`ra*gin"i*ty (?), n. The qualities or characteristics of a virago.
Vi*ra"go (?; 277), n.; pl. Viragoes (#). [L. virago, -intis, from vir a
man. See Virile.] 1. A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and
courage; a woman who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a
female warrior.
To arms! to arms! the fierce virago cries.
Pope.
2. Hence, a mannish woman; a bold, turbulent woman; a termagant; a
vixen.
Virago . . . serpent under femininity.
Chaucer.
Vire (?), n. [OF. vire, fr. virer to turn. Cf. Veer, Vireton.] An
arrow, having a rotary motion, formerly used with the crossbow. Cf.
Vireton. Gower.
Vir"e*lay (?), n. [F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay.] An
ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed
in short lines, with a refrain.
Of such matter made he many lays, Songs, complains, roundels,
virelayes.
Chaucer.
To which a lady sung a virelay.
Dryden.
"The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for
some time, the poet was virer, or to turn, to the other." Nares.
Vi"rent (?), a. [L. virens, p. pr. of virere to be green.] Green; not
withered. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Vir"e*o (?), n. [L., a species of bird.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous
species of American singing birds belonging to Vireo and allied genera
of the family Vireonidæ. In many of the species the back is greenish,
or olive-colored. Called also greenlet.
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.
Vi*res"cence (?), (Bot.) The act or state of becoming green through the
formation of chlorophyll.
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.
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.
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 Doyenné. [Written also virgaloo, vergalieu,
vergaloo, etc.]
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.
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.
Vir"ga*ted (?), a. [L. virgatus striped. See Virgate, a.] Striped;
streaked. [Obs.]