VERECUND, ver'[=e]-kund, _adj._ (_obs._) modest.--_adj._ VERECUN'DIOUS.--_n._ VERECUN'DITY.
VERETILLIFORM, ver-e-til'i-form, _adj._ rod-like, virgate.--Also VERETILL'EOUS.
VERGE, verj, _n._ a slender green branch, a twig: a rod, staff, or mace, or anything like them, used as an emblem of authority: extent of jurisdiction (esp. of the lord-steward of the royal household): the brink, extreme edge: the horizon: a boundary, limit: scope, opportunity: in gardening, the grass edging of a bed or border.--_ns._ VER'GER, one who carries a verge or emblem of authority: the beadle of a cathedral church: a pew-opener or attendant in church; VER'GERSHIP; VERGETTE' (_her._), a pallet. [L.
_virga_, a slender branch.]
VERGE, verj, _v.i._ to bend or incline: to tend downward: to slope: to tend: to border upon.--_n._ VER'GENCY.--_adj._ VER'GENT. [L. _verg[)e]re_, to bend, incline; cf. _valgus_, wry.]
VERIDICAL, v[=e]-rid'i-kal, _adj._ truthful, truth-telling: true.--_adv._ VERID'ICALLY.--_adj._ VERID'ICOUS, truthful. [L. _verus_, true, _dic[)e]re_, to say.]
VERIEST. See VERY.
VERIFY, ver'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to make out or show to be true: to establish the truth of by evidence: to fulfil: to confirm the truth or authenticity of: (_Shak._) to affirm, support, strengthen:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ ver'if[=i]ed.--_n._ VERIF[=I]ABIL'ITY.--_adj._ VER'IF[=I]ABLE, that may be verified, proved, or confirmed.--_ns._ VERIFIC[=A]'TION, a verifying or proving to be true: the state of being verified; VER'IF[=I]ER. [L. _verus_, true, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
VERILY, ver'i-li, _adv._ truly: certainly: really.
VERISIMILAR, ver-i-sim'i-lar, _adj._ truth-like: likely: probable.--_adv._ VERISIM'ILARLY.--_ns._ VERISIMIL'ITUDE, similitude or likeness to truth: likelihood; VERISIMIL'ITY (_obs._).--_adj._ VERISIM'ILOUS. [L.
_verisimilis_--_verus_, true, _similis_, like.]
VERITY, ver'i-ti, _n._ the quality of being true or real: truth: a true assertion or tenet: (_Shak._) honesty:--_pl._ VER'ITIES.--_adj._ VER'ITABLE, true: according to fact: real: actual.--_adv._ VER'ITABLY.--OF A VERITY, certainly. [L. _veritas_--_verus_, true.]
VERJUICE, ver'j[=oo]s, _n._ the expressed juice of green or unripe fruit: sourness of temper.--_v.t._ to make sour or acid. [Fr. _verjus_--_vert_, green (cf. _Verdant_), and Fr. _jus_, juice.]
VERMEIL, VERMIL, ver'mil, _n._ (_Spens._) same as VERMILION: silver-gilt.--_adj._ VER'MEIL-TINC'TURED (_Milt._), tinged bright-red.
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VERMES, ver'm[=e]z, _n.pl._ worms: the name given by Linnaeus to one of the classes in his zoological system, in which he included all the invertebrate animals, other than Insecta, whether of worm-like form or not.--_ns._ VERMEOL'OGIST, one skilled in vermeology; VERMEOL'OGY, the knowledge of worms, helminthology.--_adjs._ VER'MIAN, VERMI'CEOUS, worm-like; VER'MICIDAL, destroying worms.--_n._ VER'MICIDE, a worm-killer.--_adjs._ VERMIC'[=U]LAR, VERMIC'[=U]LATE, -D, pertaining to or like a worm (esp. in its motion): inlaid or formed so as to imitate the track of worms: crawling like a worm.--_v.t._ VERMIC'[=U]LATE, to form inlaid work which resembles the motion or track of worms.--_ns._ VERMICUL[=A]'TION; VER'MICULE, a little worm.--_adjs._ VERMIC'ULOSE, VERMIC'ULOUS, wormy; VER'MIFORM, having the form of a worm; VERMIF'UGAL, expelling worms.--_n._ VER'MIFUGE (_med._), a substance that destroys intestinal worms or expels them from the digestive canal.--_adjs._ VER'MIGRADE, wriggling like a worm; VERMIV'OROUS, devouring worms, feeding on grubs. [L. _vermis_, a worm.]
VERMICELLI, ver-mi-chel'i, or -sel'i, _n._ the stiff paste or dough of fine wheat-flour made into small worm-like or thread-like rolls. [It., pl. of _vermicello_--L. _vermiculus_, dim. of _vermis_, worm.]
VERMILION, ver-mil'yun, _n._ a bright-red pigment obtained from cinnabar, but generally made artificially from mercury and sulphur: any beautiful red colour: (_obs._) the kermes or cochineal insect, also the product of cochineal.--_adj._ of the colour of vermilion.--_v.t._ to dye vermilion: to colour a delicate red.--_n._ VER'MILY (_Spens._), same as VERMILION. [O.
Fr. _vermillon_--_vermeil_--L. _vermiculus_, a little worm, hence (in the Vulgate) the 'scarlet' worm, dim. of _vermis_, a worm.]
VERMIN, ver'min, _n.sing._ and _pl._ a worm: a name for all obnoxious insects, as bugs, fleas, and lice; troublesome animals, such as mice, rats; animals destructive to game, such as weasels, polecats, also hawks and owls: any contemptible person, or such collectively.--_v.i._ VER'MIN[=A]TE, to breed vermin.--_ns._ VERMIN[=A]'TION; VER'MIN-KILL'ER.--_adj._ VER'MINOUS, infested with worms: like vermin.--_adv._ VER'MINOUSLY. [Fr.
_vermine_--L. _vermis_, a worm.]
VERMUTH, VERMOUTH, ver'mooth, _n._ a mild cordial consisting of white wine flavoured with wormwood, used as a stimulant for the appetite. [Ger.
_wermuth_, wormwood; cf. A.S. _werm[=o]d_.]
VERNACULAR, ver-nak'[=u]-lar, _adj._ native: belonging to the country of one's birth.--_n._ one's mother-tongue.--_n._ VERNACULARIS[=A]'TION, the act of making vernacular.--_v.t._ VERNAC'ULARISE, to make vernacular.--_ns._ VERNAC'ULARISM, a vernacular word or idiom, the use of such; VERNACULAR'ITY, an idiom.--_adv._ VERNAC'ULARLY.--_v.t._ VERNAC'ULATE, to express in a vernacular idiom.--_adj._ VERNAC'ULOUS, scurrilous. [L. _vernaculus_--_verna_, a home-born slave.]
VERNAL, ver'nal, _adj._ belonging to the spring: appearing in spring: belonging to youth.--_adv._ VER'NALLY.--_adj._ VER'NANT (_Milt._), flourishing as in spring.--_v.i._ VER'N[=A]TE, to flourish.--_n._ VERN[=A]'TION, the particular manner of arrangement of leaves in the bud.--VERNAL EQUINOX, the equinox on or about 21st March (see EQUINOX); VERNAL GRASS, a common British meadow grass about a foot high, and sown among hay for its flavour and agreeable odour. [L. _vernalis_--_ver_, spring.]
VERNER'S LAW. See LAW.
VERNIER, ver'ni-[.e]r, _n._ a contrivance for measuring very small intervals, consisting of a short scale made to slide along a graduated instrument. [So called from Pierre _Vernier_ (1580-1637) of Brussels, its inventor.]
VERONESE, ver-[=o]-n[=e]s', or -n[=e]z', _n._ of or pertaining to _Verona_ in Italy.--_n._ an inhabitant of VERONA.
VERONICA, v[=e]-ron'i-ka, _n._ a portrait of our Saviour's face on a handkerchief--from the legend that St Veronica wiped the sweat from the face of Jesus, on His way to Calvary, with her handkerchief, whereupon His features were impressed on the cloth: a genus of plants, popularly known as Speedwell. [_Veronica_, not L. _vera_, true, Gr. _eik[=o]n_, image, but identical with _Beren[=i]c[=e]_, the traditional name of the woman cured of the issue of blood--a corr. of Gr. _pherenik[=e]_, victorious--_pherein_, to bear, _nik[=e]_, victory.]
VERRe, VERREY, ve-r[=a]', _adj._ Same as VAIRe.
VERREL, ver'el, _n._ a corruption of _ferrule_.
VERRICULE, ver'i-k[=u]l, _n._ a tuft of upright hairs. [L. _verriculum_, a net.]
VERRUCA, ve-r[=u]'ka, _n._ a wart, a glandular elevation: one of the wart-like sessile apothecia of some lichens.--_adjs._ VERR[=U]'CIFORM, warty; VER'R[=U]COSE, VER'R[=U]COUS, covered with little knobs or wart-like prominences: warty; VERR[=U]'CULOSE, minutely verrucose. [L. _verruca_, a wart.]
VERRUGAS, ve-r[=oo]'gas, _n._ an endemic disease of Peru, characterised by warty tumours on the skin. [Sp.,--L. _verruca_, a wart.]
VERSABILITY, ver-sa-bil'i-ti, _n._ aptness to be turned round.--_adj._ VER'SABLE.--_n._ VER'SABLENESS. [L. _vers[=a]re_, to whirl about.]
VERSAL, ver'sal, _adj._ (_Shak._) abbrev. of _universal_.
VERSANT, ver'sant, _adj._ familiar, conversant: (_her._) with wings erect and open.--_n._ the general slope of surface of a country. [Fr.,--L.
_vers[=a]re_, to whirl about.]
VERSATILE, ver'sa-til, _adj._ capable of being moved or turned round: changeable: unsteady: turning easily from one thing to another: (_bot._) swinging freely on a support: (_ornith._) reversible, of toes.--_adv._ VER'SATILELY.--_ns._ VER'SATILENESS, VERSATIL'ITY, the quality of being versatile: changeableness: the faculty of turning easily to new tasks or subjects. [Fr.,--L. _versatilis_--_vers[=a]re_, freq. of _vert[)e]re_, to turn.]
VERSE, vers, _n._ a line of poetry: metrical arrangement and language: poetry: a stanza: a short division of any composition, esp. of the chapters of the Bible, originally confined to the metrical books, applied first to whole Bible in 1528: (_mus._) a portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.--_v.t._ to relate in verse.--_ns._ VERS-DE-SOCIeTe (same as SOCIETY-VERSE; see under SOCIABLE); VERSE'LET; VERSE-M[=A]'KER; VERSE-M[=A]'KING; VERSE'-MAN, a writer of verses; VERSE'-MONG'ER, a scribbler of verses; VERSE'-MONG'ERING, verse-writing, esp. of poor verses; VER'SER, a versifier; VER'SET (_mus._), a very short organ interlude or prelude; VER'SICLE, a little verse: in liturgy, the verse said by the officiant.--_adj._ VERSIC'[=U]LAR, pertaining to verses.--_ns._ VERSIFIC[=A]'TION, the act, art, or practice of composing metrical verses; VER'SIFIC[=A]TOR, VER'SIFIC[=A]TRIX, a male, female, maker of verses; VER'SIF[=I]ER.--_v.i._ VER'SIFY, to make verses.--_v.t._ to relate in verse: to turn into verse:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ ver'sif[=i]ed.--_n._ VER'SION, the act of translating or turning from one language into another: that which is translated from one language into another: account: statement: a school exercise, generally of composition in a foreign language.--_adj._ VER'SIONAL, pertaining to a version or translation.--_n._ VER'SIONIST, a translator.--_adj._ VER'S[=U]AL, of the character of a verse, pertaining to verses or short paragraphs. [A.S.
_fers_--L. _versus_, _vorsus_, a line, furrow, turning--_vert[)e]re_, to turn; influenced by O. Fr. _vers_.]
VERSED, verst, _adj._ thoroughly acquainted, skilled (fol. by _in_): (_math._) reversed.--_adj._ VERSe (_her._), reversed or turned in an unusual direction.--Also RENVERSE. [Fr. _verse_--L. _versatus_, pa.p. of _vers[=a]ri_, to turn round.]
VERSICOLOUR, ver'si-kul-ur, _adj._ having diverse or having changeable colours.--Also VERSICOL'OURED. [L. _vers[=a]re_, to change, and colour.]
VERSIFORM, ver'si-form, _adj._ varying in form.
VERSO, ver's[=o], _n._ a left-hand page: the reverse of a coin or medal.
VERST, verst, _n._ a Russian mile, 3500 feet in length, or almost two-thirds of an English mile. [Russ. _versta_, a verst; perh.
_vertiet[)i]_, to turn, cog. with L. _vert[)e]re_, to turn.]
VERSUS, ver'sus, _prep._ against, in legal phraseology--abbreviated _v._ and _vs._ [L.]
VERSUTE, ver-s[=u]t, _adj._ crafty, wily.
VERT, vert, _n._ in forest law, every green leaf or plant having green leaves which may serve as a covert for deer: a power to cut green trees or wood: (_her._) a green colour represented by parallel lines sloping diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base. [Fr. _vert_--L.
_viridis_, green.]
VERT, vert, _n._ a familiar word for _convert_ or _pervert_.--_v.i._ to become such.
VERTEBRA, ver't[=e]-bra, _n._ one of the segmented portions of the spinal column:--_pl._ VERTEBRae (ver'te-br[=e]).--_adj._ VER'TEBRAL.--_adv._ VER'TEBRALLY.--_n.pl._ VERTEBR[=A]'TA, a division of the animal kingdom containing all animals having a backbone or its equivalent.--_n._ VER'TEBR[=A]TE, an animal having an internal skeleton with a backbone.--_adjs._ VER'TEBR[=A]TE, -D, furnished with joints: having a backbone.--_n._ VERTEBR[=A]'TION, the formation of vertebrae;.
[L.,--_vert[)e]re_, to turn.]
VERTEX, v[.e]r'teks, _n._ the top or summit: the point of a cone, pyramid, or angle; (_astron._) the zenith: (_anat._) the crown of the head:--_pl._ VER'TICES.--_adj._ VER'TICAL, pertaining to the vertex: placed in the zenith: perpendicular to the plane of the horizon.--_n._ a vertical line.--_adv._ VER'TICALLY.--_n._ VER'TICALNESS.--VERTICAL ANGLES, opposite angles formed by intersecting lines; VERTICAL CIRCLE, a great circle of the heavens passing through the zenith and the nadir. [L., eddy, summit--_vert[)e]re_, to turn.]