_veneficium_, a poisoning--_venenum_, poison, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
VENERABLE, ven'e-ra-bl, _adj._ that may be venerated: worthy of veneration, reverence, or honour: rendered sacred by religious or other associations: aged.--_n._ VEN'ERABLENESS.--_adv._ VEN'ERABLY. [L.
_venerabilis_--_vener[=a]ri_, to venerate.]
VENERATE, ven'e-r[=a]t, _v.t._ to honour or reverence with religious awe: to reverence: to regard with the greatest respect.--_adjs._ VEN'ERANT (_rare_), VEN'ER[=A]TIVE, reverent.--_ns._ VENER[=A]'TION, the act of venerating: the state of being venerated: the highest degree of respect and reverence: respect mingled with reverence and awe: awe; VEN'ER[=A]TOR, one who venerates. [L. _vener[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_.]
VENEREAL, v[=e]-n[=e]'r[=e]-al, _adj._ pertaining to or arising from sexual intercourse: exciting desire for sexual intercourse: curing venereal diseases.--_adj._ VEN[=E]'REOUS, lascivious: stimulating sexual desire, aphrodisiac.--_n._ VEN'ERY, sexual intercourse. [L. _venereus_--_Venus_, _Ven[)e]ris_, the goddess of love; conn. with L. _vener[=a]ri_.]
VENERY, ven'[.e]r-i, _n._ the act or exercise of hunting: the sports of the chase.--_ns._ VEN'ERER, a gamekeeper, hunter; VENEUR (ve-n[.e]r'), a person having an oversight of the chase. [O. Fr. _venerie_--_vener_--L.
_ven[=a]ri_, to hunt.]
VENESECTION, v[=e]-n[=e]-sek'shun, _n._ the section or cutting open of a vein for letting blood: blood-letting. [L. _vena_, a vein, _sectio_, cutting.]
VENETIAN, v[=e]-n[=e]'shan, _adj._ of or belonging to _Venice_.--_n._ a native or inhabitant of Venice: a strong tape for Venetian-blinds: a domino.--_n._ VEN[=E]'TIAN-BLIND, a blind for windows formed of thin slips of wood, so hung as to admit of being set either edgewise or overlapping.--_adj._ VEN[=E]'TIANED, furnished with Venetian-blinds.--_ns._ VEN[=E]'TIAN-GLASS, a delicate and beautiful glass made by the craftsmen of Venice into mirrors, cups, goblets, &c., its forms reflecting its Oriental origin, famous since the middle ages; VEN[=E]'TIAN-STYLE, the type of the Renaissance architecture developed in VENICE, highly decorative and original.
VENEW, ven'[=u], VENEY, ven'i, _n._ (_Shak._) a bout at fencing, a thrust, a hit. [_Venue_.]
VENGE, venj, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to avenge, to punish.--_adj._ VENGE'ABLE (_Spens._), revengeful: deserving to be revenged.--_n._ VENGE'ANCE, the infliction of punishment upon another in return for an injury or offence: retribution: (_Shak._) harm, mischief.--_adv._ (_Shak._) extremely, exceedingly.--_adj._ VENGE'FUL, vindictive, retributive: revengeful.--_adv._ VENGE'FULLY.--_ns._ VENGE'FULNESS; VENGE'MENT (_Spens._), vengeance, penal retribution; VEN'GER (_Spens._), an avenger.--WITH A VENGEANCE (_coll._), violently: exceedingly. [O. Fr.
_venger_--L. _vindic[=a]re_.]
VENIAL, v[=e]'ni-al, _adj._ pardonable: excusable: allowed.--_adv._ V[=E]'NIALLY.--_ns._ V[=E]'NIALNESS, VENIAL'ITY.--VENIAL SIN (see MORTAL).
[Fr.,--L. _venialis_, pardonable--_venia_, pardon.]
VENI CREATOR, v[=e]'n[=i] kr[=e]-[=a]'tor, _n._--more fully, 'Veni Creator Spiritus'--a hymn of the Roman Breviary, used at Whitsuntide, ordinations, &c.--not to be confounded with the _Veni Sancte Spiritus, Et emitte coelitus_, the 'Golden Sequence.'
VENISON, ven'i-zn, or ven'zn, _n._ the flesh of animals taken in hunting, esp. the deer. [Fr. _venaison_--L. _venatio_, a hunting, game--_ven[=a]ri_, to hunt.]
VENITE, v[=e]-n[=i]'t[=e], _n._ in liturgics, the 95th Psalm. [From its opening words, 'Venite exultemus.']
VENNEL, ven'el, _n._ (_Scot._) an alley, a narrow street. [Fr. _venelle_, a small street.]
VENOM, ven'um, _n._ any drink, juice, or liquid injurious or fatal to life: poison: spite: malice.--_adj._ (_Shak._) venomous, poisonous.--_v.t._ to infect with poison.--_n._ VEN'OM-DUCT, in a poisonous animal, the duct conveying venom from the sac or gland where it is secreted to the tooth or _venom-fang_ whence it is discharged.--_adjs._ VEN'OM-MOUTHED, having a venomous mouth: (_Shak._) slanderous; VEN'OMOUS, poisonous: spiteful: mischievous.--_adv._ VEN'OMOUSLY.--_n._ VEN'OMOUSNESS. [Fr. _venin_ (It.
_veneno_)--L. _venenum_.]
VENOSE, v[=e]'n[=o]s, _adj._ (_bot._) having well-marked veins, veined.--_n._ V[=E]NOS'ITY, the state or quality of being venous: (_med._) a condition of the blood in which the venous blood is unnaturally abundant.--_adj._ V[=E]'NOUS, pertaining to or contained in veins: veined.--_adv._ V[=E]'NOUSLY. [_Vein._]
VENT, vent, _n._ a small opening to let air, &c., escape: the flue of a chimney: the opening in the top of a barrel allowing air to pass in as the liquid is drawn out: a gimlet used to extract a little liquid from a barrel for sampling purposes: discharge: escape: passage into notice: publication, utterance, voice: the anus of birds and fishes: (_mil._) the opening at the breech of a firearm through which fire is conveyed to the charge, the touch-hole.--_v.t._ to give a vent or opening to: to let out, as at a vent: to allow to escape: to publish: to pour forth.--_ns._ VENT'[=A]GE (_Shak._), a vent, a small hole; VEN'TAIL (_Spens._), same as AVENTAIL; VENT'-BUSH'ING, -PIECE, a copper cylinder inserted through the walls of a cannon over the seat of the charge and preventing the escaping gases from injuring the metal near the vent; VENT'ER, one who vents or publishes.--_adj._ VENTIC'[=U]LAR.--_ns._ VENT'-PEG, -PLUG, a plug for stopping the vent of a barrel; VENT'-PIPE, an escape-pipe.--GIVE VENT TO, to allow to escape or break out. [Altered form of _fent_, M. E. _fente_--O.
Fr. _fente_, a slit.]
VENT, vent, _n._ scent: (_hunting_) the act of taking breath.--_v.i._ to sniff, snort: to take breath: (_Scot._) of a chimney, to draw.--VENT UP (_Spens._), to lift so as to give air. [O. Fr.,--L. _ventus_, wind.]
VENT, vent, _n._ the act of selling, sale: market. [O. Fr. _vente_--Low L.
_vendita_, a sale--L. _vend[)e]re_, _-d[)i]tum_, to sell.]
VENTANNA, ven-tan'a, _n._ a window. [Sp.]
VENTER, ven't[.e]r, _n._ the belly, abdomen. [L.]
VENTILATE, ven'ti-l[=a]t, _v.t._ to fan with wind: to open to the free passage of air: to cause fresh air to pass through: to expose to examination and discussion: to make public.--_adj._ VEN'TILABLE.--_ns._ VENTIL[=A]'BRUM, flabellum; VENTIL[=A]'TION, act or art of ventilating: state of being ventilated: free exposure to air: supply of air: act of examining and making public: public exposure.--_adj._ VEN'TIL[=A]TIVE.--_n._ VEN'TIL[=A]TOR, that which ventilates: a contrivance for introducing fresh air. [L. _ventil[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ventulus_, dim.
of _ventus_, the wind.]
VENTOSE, ven't[=o]s, _adj._ windy.--_n._ the sixth month of the French Revolutionary Calendar, 19th February to 20th March.--_n._ VENTOS'ITY, windiness: empty pride. [L. _ventosus_--_ventus_, wind.]
VENTRAL, ven'tral, _adj._ belonging to the belly: (_bot._) denoting the anterior or inferior surface: in the body, situated opposite the dorsal or back aspect.--_n._ in fishes, one of the posterior fins.--_advs._ VEN'TRAD (_zool._, _anat._), to or toward the belly, or ventral surface or aspect of the body; VEN'TRALLY.--_adj._ VEN'TRIC.--_n._ VEN'TRICLE, a small cavity within an animal body, as in the heart or brain: (_Shak._) the womb.--_adjs._ VEN'TRIC[=O]SE, VEN'TRICOUS, swelling out in the middle: bellied; VENTRIC'[=U]LAR. [L. _ventralis_--_venter_, the belly.]
VENTRICULITE, ven-trik'[=u]-l[=i]t, _n._ one of a genus of fossil sponges found in the cretaceous system, and often giving their shape to flint nodules.
VENTRILOQUISM, ven-tril'[=o]-kwizm, _n._ the act or art of producing tones and words without any motion of the mouth, so that the hearer is induced to refer the sound to some other place--also VENTRILOC[=U]'TION, VENTRIL'OQUY.--_adv._ VENTRIL[=O]'QUIALLY.--_v.i._ VENTRIL'OQUISE, to practise ventriloquism.--_n._ VENTRIL'OQUIST, one who practises ventriloquism.--_adjs._ VENTRILOQUIS'TIC, VENTRIL[=O]'QUIAL, VENTRIL'OQUOUS. [L. _ventriloquus_, speaking from the belly--_venter_, the belly, _loqui_, to speak.]
VENTRIPOTENT, ven-trip'[=o]-tent, _adj._ (_rare_) of great gastronomic capacity. [L. _venter_, belly, _potens_--_posse_, to have power.]
VENTROSITY, ven-tros'i-ti, _n._ the state of having a pot-belly.
VENTURE, ven't[=u]r, _n._ chance, luck, hazard: that which is put to hazard (esp. goods sent by sea at the sender's risk): an undertaking whose issue is uncertain or dangerous.--_v.t._ to send on a venture: to expose to hazard: to risk.--_v.i._ to make a venture: to run a risk: to dare.--_n._ VEN'T[=U]RER.--_adjs._ VEN'T[=U]ROUS, VEN'T[=U]RESOME.--_advs._ VEN'T[=U]ROUSLY, VEN'T[=U]RESOMELY.--_ns._ VEN'T[=U]ROUSNESS, VEN'T[=U]RESOMENESS.--VENTURE ON, UPON, to dare to engage in.--AT A VENTURE, at hazard, random. [Short for _adventure_.]
VENUE, ven'[=u], _n._ (_Shak._) a hit in fencing: a bout or match: a lunge, thrust. [O. Fr.,--L. _ven[=i]re_, to come.]
VENUE, ven'[=u], _n._ (_law_) the place where an action is laid: the district from which a jury comes to try a question of fact: in England, usually the county where a crime is alleged to have been committed.--CHANGE OF VENUE, change of place of trial; LAY THE VENUE, to specify the place where the trial is to be held. [A particular use of preceding word, but confused with O. Fr. _visne_, neighbourhood--L. _vicinia_, neighbourhood.]
VENUS, v[=e]'nus, _n._ (_Roman myth._) the goddess of love, originally of spring, patron of flower-gardens, but identified with the Greek Aphrodite: beauty and love deified: sexual commerce, venery: the most brilliant of the planets, second in order from the sun.--VENUS'S FLOWER-BASKET, a beautiful glass sponge; VENUS'S FLY-TRAP (see DIONaeA); VENUS'S GIRDLE, a taeniate ctenophoran.--MOUNT OF VENUS (_palm._), the elevation at the base of the thumb. [L., orig. personified from _venus_, desire; akin to _vener[=a]ri_, to worship.]
VERACIOUS, ve-r[=a]'shus, _adj._ truthful: true.--_adv._ VER[=A]'CIOUSLY.--_n._ VERAC'ITY, the quality of being veracious: habitual truthfulness: truth. [L. _verax_, _veracis_--_verus_, true.]
VERANDA, VERANDAH, ve-ran'da, _n._ a kind of covered balcony or open portico, with a roof sloping beyond the main building, supported by light pillars. [Hind. _varand[=a]_, perh. from Pers. _bar[=a]madah_, a porch--_bar_, up, _[=a]madan_, to come; by others derived from Old Port, _varanda_, a balcony--_vara_, a rod--L. _vara_, a rod.]
VERATRUM, v[=e]-r[=a]'trum, _n._ hellebore.--_adj._ VER[=A]'TRIC.--_ns._ VER[=A]'TRIN, -E, a poisonous ointment used to relieve neuralgia.--_v.t._ VER[=A]'TRISE, to poison with veratrin. [L.]
VERB, verb, _n._ (_gram._) the part of speech which asserts or predicates something.--_adj._ VER'BAL, relating to or consisting in words: spoken (as opposed to _written_): exact in words: attending to words only: literal, word for word: derived directly from a verb.--_n._ a part of speech, a noun derived from a verb.--_n._ VERBALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ VER'BALISE, to turn into a verb.--_ns._ VER'BALISM, something expressed in words or orally; VER'BALIST, one skilled in words: a literalist; VERBAL'ITY.--_adv._ VER'BALLY.--_ns._ VERB[=A]'RIAN, a coiner of words; VERB[=A]'RIUM, a game played with the letters of the alphabet.--_adv._ VERB[=A]'TIM, word for word: (_Shak._) orally, verbally.--_ns._ VER'BI[=A]GE, abundance of words: wordiness: verbosity; VER'BICIDE, the perversion of a word, as if the killing of its natural meaning: one who so mangles words, a punster; VER'BICULTURE, the deliberate cultivation or production of words; VERBIFIC[=A]'TION, the act of verbifying.--_v.t._ VER'BIFY, to verbalise.--_ns._ VERBIGER[=A]'TION, the morbid and purposeless repetition of certain words and phrases at short intervals; VER'BO-M[=A]'NIAC, one crazy about words and their study, a dictionary-maker.--_adj._ VERB[=O]SE', containing more words than are necessary: wordy: diffuse.--_adv._ VERB[=O]SE'LY.--_ns._ VERB[=O]SE'NESS, VERBOS'ITY.--VERBAL DEFINITION, a definition intended to state the meaning of a word, apart from the essence of the thing signified; VERBAL INSPIRATION, that view which regards Holy Scripture as _literally_ inspired; VERBAL NOTE, in diplomacy, an unsigned memorandum calling attention to a neglected, though perhaps not urgent, matter. [Fr. _verbe_--L. _verbum_.]
VERBENA, ver-b[=e]'na, _n._ a genus of plants of natural order _Verbenaceae_, cultivated for their fragrance or beauty: vervain.--_adj._ VERBEN[=A]'CEOUS. [L. _verbenae_, leaves, twigs, &c.]
VERBERATE, ver'b[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to strike.--_n._ VERBER[=A]'TION. [L.
_verber[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to scourge.]
VERDANT, v[.e]r'dant, _adj._ green: fresh (as grass or foliage): flourishing: inexperienced: ignorant.--_n._ VER'DANCY.--_adv._ VER'DANTLY.--_ns._ VER'DERER, -OR, an officer in the old English royal forests who had charge of the vert (q.v.); VER'D[=U]RE, greenness: freshness of growth.--_v.t._ to cover with verdure.--_adjs._ VER'D[=U]RED; VER'D[=U]RELESS; VER'D[=U]ROUS. [Fr. _verdoyant_--L. _viridans_, _-antis_, pr.p. of _virid[=a]re_, to grow green--_viridis_, green--_vir[=e]re_, to be green.]
VERDE-ANTIQUE, verd-an-t[=e]k', _n._ a beautiful stone of a dark-green colour with patches of white, and sometimes black and red--a mixture of serpentine with limestone dolomite or magnesite, much prized by the ancient Romans. [O. Fr.]
VERDICT, ver'dikt, _n._ the finding of a jury on a trial: decision: opinion pronounced.--OPEN VERDICT, a verdict upon an inquest which finds that a crime has been committed without specifying the criminal; SPECIAL VERDICT, a verdict in which specific facts are found and put on the record. [O. Fr.
_verdit_--Low L. _veredictum_--L. _vere_, truly, _dictum_, a saying.]
VERDIGRIS, ver'di-gris, _n._ a basic acetate of copper, the greenish rust of copper, brass, or bronze: a bluish-green paint got artificially from copper-plates.--_v.t._ to coat with verdigris.--Also VER'DEGRIS. [M. E.
_verdegrese_, _verte grece_--O. Fr. _verd (vert) de gris_--_verd_, green, _de_, of, _Gris_, Greeks--L. _Graecus_, Greek. _Vert de gris_ has been wrongly explained as 'green of gray'--_gris_, gray, or as 'green of copper'--L. _aes_, _aeris_, copper.]
VERDITER, ver'di-t[.e]r, _n._ a light-blue pigment, essentially a hydrated cupric carbonate--_Green verditer_ is the blue pigment changed to green by boiling. [A corr. of Fr. _verd-de-terre_=earth green.]
VERDOY, ver'doi, _adj._ (_her._) charged with flowers, leaves, or vegetable charges, as a bordure. [Fr. _verd_, green.]
VERDUN, ver-dun', _n._ a 16th-cent. form of rapier. [From the French town _Verdun_.]