VOLKSRAAD, f[=o]lks'rät, _n._ the name of the legislative assembly of the
Orange Free State before its final annexation by England in 1900.
VOLLEY, vol'i, _n._ a flight of shot: the discharge of many small-arms at
once: an outburst of many at once: in tennis and lawn-tennis, a hard return
of the ball before it reaches the ground--_half-volley_ is a return by
striking the ball just as it touches or rises from the ground:--_pl._
VOLL'EYS.--_v.t._ to discharge in a volley.--_v.i._ to fly together, as
missiles: to sound together: in lawn-tennis, to use the stroke so called.
[Fr. _volée_, a flight--_voler_--L. _vol[=a]re_, to fly.]
VOLSUNGS, vol'sungz, _n.pl._ a famous heroic race in old German legend, its
founder _Volsung_ or Wolsung, the grandson of Odin, and its brightest
ornament Volsung's son, Siegmund.
VOLT, v[=o]lt, _n._ a turn or bound: a sudden movement or leap to avoid a
thrust: a gait of two treads made by a horse going sideways round a
centre.--_n._ VOL'TAGE. [Fr. _volte_--It. _volta_--L. _volv[)e]re_,
_volutum_, to turn.]
VOLT, v[=o]lt, _n._ the unit of electro-motive force now in universal use
among electricians, defined legally in terms of the ohm and ampere.--_adj._
VOL'TA-ELEC'TRIC, of or pertaining to galvanism.--_n._
VOL'TA-ELECTROM'ETER, an instrument for measuring electric
currents.--_adj._ VOL'TA-ELECTROM[=O]'TIVE.--_n._ V[=O]L'TAGE,
electro-motive force reckoned in volts.--_adj._ VOLT[=A]'IC, pertaining to
Alessandro _Volta_, an Italian scientist (1745-1826), who mainly developed
the theory of current electricity along purely physical lines, discovered
the electric decomposition of water, and invented a new electric battery,
the electrophorus, and the electroscope.--_ns._ VOL'TAISM, that branch of
electric science which treats of the production of an electric current from
the chemical interaction of two immersed dissimilar metals (same as
GALVANISM); VOLTAM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the decomposition
produced by an electric current; V[=O]LT'-AM'PERE, the rate of activity in
an electric circuit when the electro-motive force is one volt and the
current one ampere; VOLT'ATYPE, an electrotype; V[=O]LT'METER, an
instrument for measuring voltage.--VOLTAIC PILE, a galvanic battery.
VOLTA, v[=o]l'ta, _n._ an old dance: (_mus._) turn, time:--_pl._ VOL'TE
(-te). [It.]
VOLTAIRIAN, vol-t[=a]r'i-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Voltaire_, a famous
French poet, dramatist, historian, and sceptic (1694-1778).--_n._ one who
advocates the views and principles of VOLTAIRE.--_ns._ VOLTAIR'IANISM, the
spirit of Voltaire--i.e. a sceptical, incredulous, and sarcastic attitude,
especially towards Christianity; VOLTAIR'ISM, incredulity, scepticism.
VOLTIGEUR, vol-ti-zh[.e]r', _n._ a vaulter or tumbler: formerly in the
French army, one of a light-armed company of picked men placed on the left
of a battalion: under the Second Empire, a member of several special
infantry regiments. [Fr.]
VOLUBLE, vol'[=u]-bl, _adj._ easy to roll or move: flowing smoothly: fluent
in speech.--_adj._ VOL'UBILE (_Milt._), rolling: revolving.--_ns._
VOLUBIL'ITY, VOL'UBLENESS, state or quality of being voluble: fluency of
speech.--_adv._ VOL'UBLY. [L. _volubilis_--_volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to
roll.]
VOLUCRINE, vol'[=u]-krin, _adj._ pertaining to birds, bird-like. [L.
_volucris_, a bird--_vol[=a]re_, to fly.]
VOLUME, vol'[=u]m, _n._ a roll or scroll, which was the form of ancient
books: a book, whether complete in itself or part of a work: a rounded
mass, convolution: cubical content: a quantity: dimensions: fullness of
voice.--_v.i._ to swell.--_adj._ VOL'UMED, having the form of a volume or
roll: of volume or bulk.--_ns._ VOLUMENOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring
the volume of a solid body by the quantity of fluid it displaces;
VOL'UM[=E]TER, an instrument for measuring the volumes of gases.--_adjs._
VOLUMET'RIC, -AL.--_adv._ VOLUMET'RICALLY.--_adjs._ VOL[=U]'MINAL,
pertaining to cubical content; VOL[=U]'MINOUS, consisting of many volumes
or books, or of many coils: of great bulk: having written much, as an
author: in many volumes, capable of filling many volumes.--_adv._
VOL[=U]'MINOUSLY.--_ns._ VOL[=U]'MINOUSNESS, VOLUMINOS'ITY; VOL'[=U]MIST
(_rare_), an author.--VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS, the analysis of a compound by
determining the quantity of a standard solution required to satisfy a
reaction in a known quantity of the compound.--SPEAK, TELL, VOLUMES, to
mean much, to be very significant. [Fr.,--L. _volumen_, a
roll--_volv[)e]re_, _volutum_, to roll.]
VOLUNTARY, vol'un-ta-ri, _adj._ willing: acting by choice: free: proceeding
from the will: subject to the will: done by design or without compulsion:
of or pertaining to voluntaryism.--_n._ one who does anything of his own
free-will: a piece of music played at will: an upholder of
voluntaryism.--_adv._ VOL'UNTARILY.--_ns._ VOL'UNTARINESS; VOL'UNTARYISM,
the system of maintaining the Church by voluntary offerings, instead of by
the aid of the State, as alone consistent with true religious liberty,
involving freedom from State support, patronage, or control;
VOL'UNTARYIST.--_adj._ VOL'UNT[=A]TIVE, voluntary.--VOLUNTARY SCHOOL, in
England, one of a number of elementary schools supported by voluntary
subscriptions, and in many cases controlled by religious bodies. [L.
_voluntarius_--_voluntas_, choice--_volo_, _velle_, to will.]
VOLUNTEER, vol-un-t[=e]r', _n._ one who enters any service, esp. military,
voluntarily or of his own free choice: a soldier belonging to any body
other than the regular army.--_adj._ entering into service
voluntarily.--_v.t._ to offer voluntarily.--_v.i._ to enter into any
service of one's own free-will or without being asked. [Fr.
_volontaire_--L. _voluntarius_.]
VOLUPTUARY, v[=o]-lup't[=u]-a-ri, _n._ a voluptuous person, or one
excessively given to bodily enjoyments or luxury: a sensualist.--_adj._
promoting sensual pleasure. [L. _voluptuarius_--_voluptas_, pleasure.]
VOLUPTUOUS, v[=o]-lup't[=u]-us, _adj._ full of pleasure: given to excess of
pleasure, esp. sensual: contributing to sensual pleasure.--_adv._
VOLUP'TUOUSLY.--_n._ VOLUP'TUOUSNESS. [L. _voluptuosus_--_voluptas_,
pleasure.]
VOLUSPA, vol-us-pä', _n._ one of the poems of the Elder Edda: a sibyl or
prophetess--a wrong use, though found in Scott's _Pirate_. [Ice. _Völuspá_,
the song of the sibyl, _völu_, gen. of _völva_, a prophetess, _spá_,
prophecy.]
VOLUTE, v[=o]-l[=u]t', _n._ a spiral scroll used in the Ionic and
Corinthian capitals: a kind of spiral shell, chiefly tropical: whorl of a
spiral shell.--_adj._ (_bot._) rolled up in any direction.--_adj._
VOL[=U]'TED, having a volute.--_n._ VOL[=U]'TION, a convolution: a
whorl.--_adj._ VOL'[=U]TOID, like a volute. [Fr.,--L. _volv[)e]re_,
_volutum_, to roll.]
VOLVE, volv, _v.t._ (_obs._) to turn over, ponder. [L. _volv[)e]re_, to
turn.]
VOLVOX, vol'voks, _n._ a genus of simple organisms found in ponds, canals,
&c., being fresh-water algæ, consisting of green flagellate cells, united
by protoplasmic bridges in a hollow spherical colony. [Formed from L.
_volv[)e]re_, to roll.]
VOLVULUS, vol'v[=u]-lus; _n._ occlusion of the intestine through twisting.
VOMER, v[=o]'m[.e]r, _n._ the thin flat bone forming part of the middle
partition of the nose, separating the nostrils. [L., 'a ploughshare.']
VOMIT, vom'it, _v.i._ to throw up the contents of the stomach by the mouth,
to spew.--_v.t._ to throw out with violence.--_n._ matter ejected from the
stomach: something that excites vomiting.--_adj._ VOM'IC, purulent.--_n._
VOM'ICA, a cavity in the lung containing pus; VOM'ITING, act of one who
vomits: matter vomited.--_adjs._ VOM'ITIVE, VOM'ITORY, causing to
vomit.--_n._ a vomit or emetic.--_ns._ VOM'ITO, the worst form of yellow
fever, usually attended with the black vomit; VOM'ITORY, a door of a large
building by which the crowd is let out; VOMITURI'TION, violent retching.
[L. _vom[)e]re_, _-[)i]tum_, to throw up; Gr. _emein_.]
VOODOO, VOUDOU, v[=oo]-d[=oo], _n._ the name given in the southern United
States to any practiser of witchcraft, or of any charm, incantation, &c.,
especially when tinctured with African rites or superstitions: the supreme
evil spirit of the voodoos.--_adj._ pertaining to the rites or practices of
the voodoo.--_v.t._ to affect by voodoo charms.--_n._ VOODOO'ISM, voodoo
superstitions. [Creole Fr. _vaudoux_, a negro sorcerer, prob. a form of Fr.
_Vaudois_, a Waldensian--a heretic being capable of any kind of
wickedness.]
VORACIOUS, v[=o]-r[=a]'shus, _adj._ eager to devour: greedy: very
hungry.--_adv._ VOR[=A]'CIOUSLY.--_ns._ VORAC'ITY, VOR[=A]'CIOUSNESS,
quality of being voracious. [L. _vorax_, _voracis_--_vor[=a]re_, to
devour.]
VORAGINOUS, v[=o]-raj'i-nus, _adj._ pertaining to a whirlpool.--_n._
VOR[=A]'GO (-g[=o]), a gulf. [L. _vorago_.]
VORANT, v[=o]'rant, _adj._ (_her._) devouring. [L. _vorans_, pr.p. of
_vorare_, to devour.]
VORTEX, vor'teks, _n._ a whirling motion of a fluid forming a cavity in the
centre: a whirlpool: an eddy having a rotational motion of the smallest
visible portion in the centre:--_pl._ VOR'TICES, VOR'TEXES.--_ns._
VOR'TEX-RING (_phys._), a vortical molecular filament or column forming a
ring composed of a number of small rotating circles, placed side by
side--e.g. the smoke-rings emitted by a skilful cigarette-smoker;
VOR'TEX-TH[=E]'ORY, the theory that matter is ultimately composed of
vortices in a fluid--a conception due to Lord Kelvin.--_adj._ VOR'TICAL,
whirling.--_adv._ VOR'TICALLY.--_adjs._ VOR'TICOSE, VORTIC'[=U]LAR,
VORTIGINAL (-ij'-), VORTIGINOUS (-ij'-). [L. _vortex_,
_vertex_--_vort[)e]re_, _vert[)e]re_, to turn.]
VORTICELLA, vor-ti-sel'a, _n._ a genus of ciliated Infusorians belonging to
the order _Peritricha_, in which the cilia are restricted to a fringe round
the mouth. [From L. _vortex_, a whirl.]
VOTARY, v[=o]'ta-ri, _adj._ bound or consecrated by a vow.--_n._ one
devoted as by a vow to some service, worship, or way of life:--_fem._
V[=O]'TARESS.--_n._ V[=O]'TARIST, a votary. [Low L. _votarius_--L. _votum_,
to vow.]
VOTE, v[=o]t, _n._ expression of a wish or opinion, as to a matter in which
one has interest: that by which a choice is expressed, as a ballot:
decision by a majority: something granted by the will of the
majority.--_v.i._ to express the choice by a vote.--_v.t._ to choose by a
vote: to grant by a vote: (_coll._) to declare by general consent.--_adjs._
V[=O]'TABLE, capable of voting; VOTE'LESS.--_ns._ V[=O]'TER;
V[=O]'TING-P[=A]'PER, a balloting-paper, used in the election of members to
Parliament.--VOTE DOWN, to put an end to by a vote, or otherwise; VOTE
STRAIGHT, to give one's vote honestly.--CUMULATIVE VOTING, that system of
voting in which the voter has a right to as many votes as there are members
to be elected, and may give all his votes or as many as he pleases to one
candidate.--SPLIT ONE'S VOTES, to divide one's votes judiciously among
several candidates so as to strengthen those one favours. [L. _votum_, a
wish--_vov[=e]re_, _votum_, to vow.]
VOTIVE, v[=o]'tiv, _adj._ given by vow: vowed.--_adv._
V[=O]'TIVELY.--VOTIVE OFFERING, a tablet, picture, &c. dedicated in
fulfilment of a vow. [L. _votivus_--_votum_, a vow.]
VOUCH, vowch, _v.t._ to call upon to witness: to maintain by repeated
affirmations: to warrant: to attest: to produce vouchers for: (_Milt._) to
second, support.--_v.i._ to bear witness: to give testimony.--_n._
confirmation, attestation.--_ns._ VOUCHEE', the person vouched or summoned
in a writ of right; VOUCH'ER, one who vouches or gives witness: a paper
which vouches or confirms the truth of anything, as accounts: a mechanical
contrivance used in shops for automatically registering the amount of money
drawn; VOUCH'MENT, a solemn declaration. [O. Fr. _voucher_, _vocher_, to
call to defend--L. _voc[=a]re_, to call.]
VOUCHSAFE, vowch-s[=a]f, _v.t._ to vouch or warrant safe: to sanction or
allow without danger: to condescend to grant.--_v.i._ to condescend.--_n._
VOUCHSAFE'MENT.
VOULGE, v[=oo]zh, _n._ a weapon carried by foot-soldiers in the 14th
century, having a blade fixed on a long staff. [Fr.]
VOUSSOIR, v[=oo]-swär', _n._ one of the wedge-like stones which form part
of an arch.--_v.t._ to form with such. [Fr., through Low L., from L.
_volutus_--_volv[)e]re_, to roll.]
VOW, vow, _n._ a voluntary promise made to God, and, as such, carrying with
it the most stringent obligation to its fulfilment: a solemn or formal
promise of fidelity or affection: (_Shak._) a positive assertion.--_v.t._
to give by solemn promise: to devote: to threaten, to maintain
solemnly.--_v.i._ to make vows.--_n._ VOW'-FELL'OW (_Shak._), one bound by
the same vow.--BAPTISMAL VOWS, the promises made at baptism by the person
baptised, or by the sponsors or parents in his name; MONASTIC VOWS (see
MONASTERY); SOLEMN, as opposed to SIMPLE VOWS, such vows as the Church
takes under her special charge, or is said in a solemn manner to accept, as
those of poverty, obedience, and chastity, involving complete and
irrevocable surrender. [O. Fr. _vou_ (Fr. _voeu_)--L. _votum_--_vov[=e]re_,
to vow.]
VOWEL, vow'el, _n._ a sound or tone produced by the unimpeded passage of
the breath, when modified by the glottis into _voice_, through the tube of
the mouth, which is made to assume different shapes by altering the form
and position of the tongue and the lips--the letters _a_, _e_, _i_, _o_,
_u_ are called vowels, as being able to be sounded by themselves, with a
continuous passage of the breath; but there are thirteen simple vowel
sounds in English.--_adj._ vocal: pertaining to a vowel.--_vs.t._ VOW'EL,
VOW'ELISE, to insert vowel signs in words written primarily with consonants
only.--_ns._ VOW'ELISM, the use of vowels; VOW'ELIST, one given to
vowelism.--_adjs._ VOW'ELLED, furnished with vowels; VOW'ELLESS, without
vowels; VOW'ELLY, full of vowels.--VOWEL POINTS, marks inserted in
consonantal word to indicate vowels. [Fr. _voyelle_--L. _vocalis_--_vox_,
_vocis_, the voice.]
VOX, voks, _n._ voice: a voice or song part.--VOX ANGELICA, or CÆLESTIS, in
organ-building, a stop producing a wavy effect; VOX HUMANA, in
organ-building, a reed-stop producing tones resembling those of the human
voice. [L.]
VOYAGE, voi'[=a]j, _n._ passage by water: (_Shak._) an enterprise.--_v.i._
to make a voyage, or to pass by water.--_v.t._ to traverse, pass
over.--_adj._ VOY'AGE-ABLE, navigable.--_n._ VOY'AGER, one who
voyages.--_n.pl._ VOYAGEURS (vwo-ya-zher'), name given in Canada to the men
who in their bark canoes kept up communication between the stations, and
effected transportation of men and supplies, in the North-west and Hudson's
Bay territory. [Fr.,--L. _viaticum_, travelling-money--L. _via_, a way.]
VRAISEMBLANCE, vr[=a]-song-blongs', _n._ verisimilitude. [Fr., _vrai_,
true, _semblance_, appearance.]
VUG, vug, _n._ a Cornish miner's name for a cavity in a rock.--_adj._
VUG'GY.
VULCAN, vul'kan, _n._ (_Roman myth._) the god of fire.--_n._
VULCAN[=A]'LIA, an ancient Roman, festival in honour of VULCAN, held on 23d
August.--_adjs._ VULC[=A]'NIAN, pertaining to VULCAN, or to one who works
in iron; VULCAN'IC (same as VOLCANIC).--_n._ VULCANIC'ITY,
volcanicity.--_adj._ VULCAN[=I]'SABLE.--_n._ VULCANIS[=A]'-TION.--_v.t._
VUL'CANISE, to combine with sulphur by heat, as caoutchouc--_v.i._ to admit
of such treatment.--_ns._ VUL'CANISM, volcanism; VUL'CANIST, a supporter of
the Huttonian theory in geology which asserted the igneous origin of such
rocks as basalt; VUL'CANITE, the harder of the two kinds of vulcanised
india-rubber or caoutchouc, the softer kind being called _soft-rubber_. [L.
_Vulcanus_.]
VULGAR, vul'gar, _adj._ pertaining to or used by the common people, native:
public: common; national, vernacular: mean or low: rude.--_n._ the common
people: the common language of a country.--_ns._ VULG[=A]'RIAN, a vulgar
person: a rich unrefined person; VULGARIS[=A]'TION, a making widely known:
a making coarse or common.--_v.t._ VUL'GARISE, to make vulgar or
rude.--_ns._ VUL'GARISM, a vulgar phrase: coarseness; VULGAR'ITY,
VUL'GARNESS, quality of being vulgar: mean condition of life: rudeness of
manners.--_adv._ VUL'GARLY.--_n._ VUL'GATE, an ancient Latin version of the
Scriptures, so called from its common use in the R.C. Church, prepared by
Jerome in the fourth century, and pronounced 'authentic' by the Council of
Trent.--VULGAR FRACTION, a fraction written in the common way.--THE VULGAR,
the common people. [L. _vulgaris_--_vulgus_, the people.]
VULNERABLE, vul'ne-ra-bl, _adj._ capable of being wounded: liable to
injury.--_v.t._ VULN (_her._), to wound.--_adj._ VULNED (_her._).--_ns._
VULNERABIL'ITY, VUL'NERABLENESS.--_adj._ VUL'NERARY, pertaining to wounds:
useful in healing wounds.--_n._ anything useful in curing wounds.--_adj._
VUL'NEROSE, with many wounds. [L. _vulnerabilis_--_vulner[=a]re_, to
wound--_vulnus_, _vulneris_, a wound.]
VULPINE, vul'pin, _adj._ relating to or like the fox: cunning.--_adj._
VULPEC'[=U]LAR, vulpine.--_ns._ VUL'PICIDE, the killing of a fox: a
fox-killer; VUL'PINISM, craftiness. [L.,--_vulpes_, a fox.]
VULSELLA, vul-sel'a, _n._ a forceps with toothed or clawed blades:--_pl._
VULSELL'Æ (-[=e]). [L.]
VULTURE, vul't[=u]r, _n._ a large rapacious bird of prey, feeding largely
on carrion: one who or that which resembles a vulture.--_adjs._
VUL'T[=U]RINE, VUL'T[=U]RISH, VUL'T[=U]ROUS, like the vulture:
rapacious.--_ns._ VUL'TURISM, rapacity; VUL'TURN, the Australian
brush-turkey. [O. Fr. _voutour_ (Fr. _vautour_)--L. _vultur_; perh. from
_vell[)e]re_, to pluck, to tear.]
VULVA, vul'va, _n._ the orifice of the external organs of generation of the
female.--_adjs._ VUL'VAR, VUL'VATE; VUL'VIFORM, oval.--_ns._ VULVIS'MUS,
vaginismus; VULV[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the vulva.--_adjs._
VULVO-[=U]'TERINE, pertaining to the vulva and the uterus; VULVOVAG'INAL,
pertaining to the vulva and the vagina.--_n._ VULVOVAGIN[=I]'TIS,
inflammation of both the vulva and the vagina.