VARVELS, värv'elz, _n._ same as VERVELS.--_adj._ VAR'VELED (_her._),
provided with vervels or rings.
VARY, v[=a]'ri, _v.t._ to make different: to diversify, modify: (_mus._) to
alter or embellish a melody, preserving its identity: (_Shak._) to express
variously: to change to something else: to make of different kinds.--_v.i._
to alter or be altered: to be or become different: to change in succession:
to deviate (with _from_): to disagree: (_math._) to be subject to continual
increase or decrease:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ v[=a]'ried.--_n._ (_Shak._)
change.--_adj._ V[=A]'RIED.--_adv._ V[=A]'RIEDLY.--_n._ V[=A]'RIER, one who
varies. [Fr. _varier_--L. _vari[=a]re_--_varius_.]
VAS, vas, _n._ (_anat._, _zool._) a vessel containing blood, &c.:--_pl._
V[=A]'SA.--_adjs._ V[=A]'SAL, pertaining to a vas; VAS'IFORM, having the
form of a duct; VASOM[=O]'TOR, serving to regulate the tension of
blood-vessels, as nerves; VASOM[=O]'TORY, VASOMOT[=O]'RIAL. [L.]
VASALIUM, va-s[=a]'li-um, _n._ vascular tissue proper.
VASCULAR, vas'k[=u]-lar, _adj._ of or relating to the vessels of animal and
vegetable bodies.--_n.pl._ VASCUL[=A]'RES, a division of the vegetable
kingdom embracing plants with vessels or ducts.--_v.t._ VAS'CULARISE.--_n._
VASCULAR'ITY.--_adv._ VAS'CULARLY.--_adjs._ VASCULIF'EROUS;
VAS'CULIFORM.--_ns._ VAS'CULOSE, the substance, closely allied to
cellulose, that makes up the greater part of the vessels of plants;
VAS'CULUM, a botanist's specimen-box. [Fr. _vasculaire_--L. _vasculum_,
dim. of _vas_, a vessel.]
VASE, v[=a]z, or v[ä]z, _n._ a vessel of stone, metal, glass, or
earthenware, anciently used for domestic purposes and in offering
sacrifices: an ornamental vessel generally of an antique pattern: a
sculptured, vaselike ornament: (_archit._) the body of the Corinthian
capital.--_n._ VASE'-PAINT'ING, the decoration of vases with pigments, esp.
the decoration of the pottery of the ancient Greeks.--_adj._
V[=A]'SIFORM.--ETRUSCAN VASES, Greek vases so called mistakenly because
found in Etruscan tombs; PORTLAND VASE, a famous Græco-Roman cameo-glass
with reliefs in opaque white glass on a dark-blue ground, 9¾ inches high,
now preserved in the British Museum. [Fr.,--L. _vasum_ or _vas_.]
VASELINE, vas'e-lin, _n._ a yellowish, almost tasteless and inodorous,
translucent substance obtained from petroleum, used as a salve, liniment,
lubricant, &c. [Formed from Ger. _wasser_, water, and Gr. _elaion_, oil.]
VASIFORM, VASOMOTOR. See VAS.
VASSAL, vas'al, _n._ one who holds land from, and renders homage to, a
superior: a dependant, retainer: a bondman, slave: (_Shak._) a low
wretch.--_adj._ (_Shak._) servile.--_v.t._ to enslave, to dominate.--_ns._
VASS'AL[=A]GE, state of being a vassal: dependence: subjection: a fee,
fief: (_Shak._) vassals collectively; VASS'ALESS (_Spens._), a female
vassal; VASS'ALRY, vassals collectively. [Fr.,--Low L. _vassalis_--Bret.
_gwaz_, a servant; cf. W. _gwas_, a youth.]
VAST, vast, _adj._ of great extent: very great in amount: very great in
degree, mighty: (_Shak._) vacant, desolate.--_n._ immensity: (_coll._) a
large quantity: (_Shak._) the darkness of night.--_ns._ VASTID'ITY
(_Shak._), immensity, desolation; VAS'TITUDE.--_adv._ VAST'LY.--_ns._
VAST'NESS; VAS'TUS, one of the great muscles upon the front of the
thigh.--_adj._ VAS'TY, large, enormously great. [Fr. _vaste_--L. _vastus_,
waste, vast; cf. A.S. _wéste_, waste.]
VAT, vat, _n._ a large vessel or tank, esp. one for holding
liquors.--_v.t._ to put in a vat.--_n._ VAT'FUL, the contents of a vat.
[Older form _fat_--A.S. _fæt_; Dut. _vat_, Ice. _fat_, Ger. _fass_.]
VATICAN, vat'i-kan, _n._ an assemblage of buildings on the Vatican hill in
Rome, including one of the pope's palaces: the papal authority.--_ns._
VAT'ICANISM, the system of theology and ecclesiastical government based on
absolute papal authority, ultramontanism; VAT'ICANIST, one who upholds such
a system.--VATICAN CODEX, a famous uncial MS. of the Greek Testament, of
the 4th century, in the Vatican library at Rome; VATICAN COUNCIL, the
Twentieth Ecumenical Council, according to popish reckoning, which met 8th
December 1869 and proclaimed the Infallibility of the Pope. [Fr.,--It.
_Vaticano_--L. _Mons Vaticanus_, a hill in Rome.]
VATICIDE, vat'i-s[=i]d, _n._ the killing of a prophet: one who kills a
prophet. [L. _vates_, _vatis_, a prophet, _cæd[)e]re_, to kill.]
VATICINATE, va-tis'i-n[=a]t, _v.t._ to prophesy.--_adj._ VAT'IC, prophetic,
oracular, inspired--also VATIC'INAL.--_ns._ VATICIN[=A]'TION, prophecy:
prediction; VATIC'INATOR, a prophet. [L. _vaticin[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_, to
prophesy--_vates_, a seer.]
VAUDEVILLE, v[=o]d'vil, _n._ originally a popular song with topical
allusions: a play interspersed with dances and songs incidentally
introduced and usually comic.--_n._ VAUDE'VILLIST, a composer of these.
[From _vau_ (_val_) _de Vire_, the valley of the VIRE, in Normandy, where
they were first composed about 1400 A.D.]
VAUDOIS, v[=o]-dwo', _n._ a native of _Vaud_: the dialect spoken in
Vaud.--_adj._ pertaining to Vaud or its people.
VAUDOIS, v[=o]-dwo', _n._ one of the Waldenses (q.v.).--_adj._ Waldensian.
VAUDOO. See VOODOO.
VAULT, vawlt, _n._ an arched roof: a chamber with an arched roof, esp. one
underground: a cellar: anything vault-like: a leap or spring by means of a
pole or by resting the hands on something: the bound of a horse: a
jump.--_v.t._ to shape as a vault: to arch: to roof with an arch: to form
vaults in.--_v.i._ to curvet or leap, as a horse: to leap: to exhibit feats
of leaping or tumbling.--_n._ VAUL'TAGE (_Shak._), an arched cellar:
vaulted work.--_adj._ VAUL'TED, arched: concave overhead: covered with an
arch or vault.--_ns._ VAUL'TER, one who vaults or leaps; VAUL'TING
(_archit._), vaulted work; VAUL'TING-HORSE, a wooden horse used in
gymnasiums for vaulting over.--_adj._ VAUL'TY (_Shak._), arched, concave.
[O. Fr. _volte_ (Fr. _voûte_)--L. _volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to roll.]
VAUNCE, väns, _v.i._ (_Spens._) to advance.
VAUNT, vawnt', or vänt, _v.i._ to make a vain display: to boast.--_v.t._ to
make a vain display of: to boast of.--_n._ vain display: boast.--_ns._
VAUN'TER; VAUN'TERY, vaunting.--_adj._ VAUNT'FUL.--_n._ VAUN'TING.--_adv._
VAUN'TINGLY. [O. Fr. _vanter_--Low L. _vanit[=a]re_--L. _vanitas_,
vanity--_vanus_, vain.]