英语词源词典V

-ville suffix sporadically in vogue since c.1840 (cf. dullsville, palookaville), abstracted from the -ville in place names (Louisville, Greenville, etc.), from O.Fr. ville "town," from L. villa (see villa). -vorous comb form meaning "eating," from L. -vorous, from stem of vorare "to devour" (see voracious). V In M.E., -u- and -v- were used interchangeably, though with a preference for v- as the initial letter (vnder, vain, etc.) and -u- elsewhere (full, euer, etc.). The distinction into consonant and vowel identities was established in Eng. by 1630, under influence of continental printers, but into 19c. some dictionaries and other catalogues continued to list -u- and -v- words as a single series. No native Anglo-Saxon words begin in v- except those (vane, vat, vixen) altered by the southwestern England habit of replacing initial f- with v- (and initial s- with z-). Confusion of -v- and -w- was also a characteristic of 16c. Cockney accents. In Ger. rocket weapons systems of WWII, it stood for Vergeltungswaffe "reprisal weapon." V-eight as a type of motor engine is recorded from 1930 (V-engine is attested from 1924), so called for the arrangement. The V for "victory" hand sign was conceived Jan. 1941 by Belgian politician and resistance leader Victor de Laveleye, to signify Fr. victorie and Flem. vrijheid ("freedom"). It was broadcast into Europe by Radio België/Radio Belgique and popularized by the BBC by June 1941, from which time it became a universal allied gesture. V.D. 1920, short for venereal disease (see venereal). V.I.P. 1933, acronym for very important person or personage. vacant c.1290, from O.Fr. vacant, from L. vacantem (nom. vacans), prp. of vacare "to be empty" (see vain). Vacancy "state of being vacant" first recorded 1607, from L.L. vacantia, from vacans. Meaning "available room at a hotel" is recorded from 1953. vacate 1643, "to make void, to annul," from L. vacatum, pp. of vacare "to be empty" (see vain). Meaning "to leave, give up, quit" (a place) is attested from 1791. vacation c.1386, "freedom or release" (from some activity or occupation), from O.Fr. vacation, from L. vacationem (nom. vacatio) "leisure, a being free from duty," from vacare "be empty, free, or at leisure" (see vain). Meaning "formal suspension of activity" (in ref. to schools, courts, etc.) is recorded from c.1456. As the U.S. equivalent of what in Britain is called a "holiday," it is attested from 1878. vaccination 1803, used by British physician Edward Jenner for the technique he devised of preventing smallpox by injecting people with the cowpox virus (variolæ vaccinæ), from vaccine (adj.) "pertaining to cows, from cows" (1798), from L. vaccinus "from cows," from vacca "cow" (bos being originally "ox," "a loan word from a rural dialect" according to Buck, who cites Umbrian bue). "The use of the term for diseases other than smallpox is due to Pasteur (Trans. 7th Session Internat. Med. Congr. (1881) I.90)" [OED]. The noun vaccine "matter used in vaccination" is recorded from 1846; vaccinate is an 1803 coinage. vacillation c.1400, from L. vacillationem (nom. vacillatio) "a reeling, wavering," from pp. stem of vacillare "sway to and fro." Originally in ref. to opinion or conduct; literal sense is recorded from 1633. Vacillate is attested from 1597 in the sense "to sway unsteadily;" meaning "to waver between two opinions or courses" is recorded from 1623. vacuity 1541, "hollow space," from L. vacuitas "empty space, vacancy, freedom," from vacuus "empty" (see vacuum). Meaning "vacancy of mind or thought" is attested from 1594. vacuous 1648, "empty," from L. vacuus "empty, void, free" (see vacuum). Figurative sense of "empty of ideas" is from 1848. vacuum 1550, "emptiness of space," from L. vacuum "an empty space, void," noun use of neuter of vacuus "empty," related to vacare "be empty" (see vain). Properly a loan-translation of Gk. xenon, lit. "that which is empty." Meaning "a place emptied of air" is attested from 1652. Vacuum tube is attested from 1859. Vacuum cleaner is from 1903; shortened form vacuum (n.) first recorded 1910. The verb meaning "to clean with a vacuum cleaner" is recorded from 1922. vade mecum "a manual," 1629, from L., lit. "go with me." vae victis L., lit. "woe to the vanquished," from Livy, "History" V.xlviii.9. vagabond (adj.) 1426 (earlier vacabond, 1404), from M.Fr. vagabonde, from L.L. vagabundus "wandering, strolling about," from L. vagari "wander" (from vagus "wandering, undecided;" see vague) + gerundive suffix -bundus. The noun is first recorded c.1485. vagary 1577, "a wandering, a roaming journey," probably from L. vagari "to wander, roam, be unsettled, spread abroad" from vagus "roving, wandering" (see vague). Current meaning of "eccentric notion or conduct" (1629) is from notion of mental wandering. vagina 1682, from L. vagina "sheath, scabbard" (pl. vaginæ), from PIE *wag-ina- (cf. Lith. voziu "ro cover with a hollow thing"), from base *wag- "to break, split, bite." Probably the ancient notion is of a sheath made from a split piece of wood (see sheath). A modern medical word; the L. word was not used in an anatomical sense in classical times. Anthropological vagina dentata is attested from 1908. vagrant (n.) 1444, perhaps an alteration (by influence of L. vagari "wander") of Anglo-Fr. wacrant, prp. of O.Fr. wacrer "to walk or wander," from a Gmc. source (e.g. O.N. valka "wander"). The adj. is recorded from 1461. Vagrancy "life of idle begging" is attested from 1706. vague 1548, from M.Fr. vague, from L. vagus "wandering, rambling, vacillating, vague," of unknown origin. vain c.1300, "devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable," from O.Fr. vein "worthless," from L. vanus "idle, empty," from PIE *wa-no-, from base *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (cf. O.E. wanian "to lessen," wan "deficient;" O.N. vanta "to lack;" L. vacare "to be empty," vastus "empty, waste;" Avestan va- "lack," Pers. vang "empty, poor;" Skt. una- "deficient"). Meaning "conceited" first recorded 1692, from earlier sense of "silly, idle, foolish" (1390). Phrase in vain "to no effect" (c.1300, after L. in vanum) preserves the original sense. vainglory c.1300, "worthless glory," waynglori, from O.Fr. vaine glorie, from M.L. vana gloria (see vain). valance piece of drapery, 1463, from Anglo-Fr. *valance, from valer "go down," variant of O.Fr. avaler; or possibly from the pl. of O.Fr. avalant, from prp. of avaler "go down." The notion is of something "hanging down." vale river-land between two ranges of hills, c.1300, from O.Fr. val "valley," from L. vallem (nom. vallis, valles) "valley." Vale of years "old age" is from "Othello." Vale of tears "this world as a place of trouble" is attested from 1554. valediction 1614, from pp. stem of L. valedicere "bid farewell," from vale, imperative of valere "be well" (see valiant) + dicere "to say" (see diction). Valedictorian formed 1759. valence c.1425, "extract, preparation," from L. valentia "strength, capacity," from valentem (nom. valens), prp. of valere "be strong" (see valiant). Meaning "combining power of an element" is recorded from 1884, from Ger. Valenz (1868), from the L. word. Valentine c.1450, "sweetheart chosen on St. Valentine's Day," from L.L. Valentinus, the name of two early It. saints (from L. valentia "strength, capacity;" see valence). Choosing a sweetheart on this day originated 14c. as a custom in Eng. and Fr. court circles. Meaning "letter or card sent to a sweetheart" first recorded 1824. The romantic association of the day is said to be from it being around the time when birds choose their mates. "For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd cometh there to chese his make." [Chaucer, "Parlement of Foules," c.1381] Probably the date was the informal first day of spring in whatever Fr. region invented the custom (many surviving medieval calendars reckon the start of spring on the 7th or 22nd of February). No evidence connects it with the Roman Lupercalia (an 18c. theory) or to any romantic or avian quality in either of the saints. The custom of sending special cards or letters on this date flourished in England c.1840-1870, declined around the turn of the 20th century, and revived 1920s. Valentino "gigolo, good-looking romantic man," 1927, from It.-born U.S. movie actor Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926), who was adored by female fans. His full name was Rodolfo Guglielmi di Valentino. valerian c.1386, from O.Fr. valeriane, apparently from fem. sing. of L. adj. Valerianus, from the personal name Valerius (see Valerie); but Weekley writes, "some of the Ger. and Scand. forms of the name point rather to connection with the saga-hero Wieland." Valerie fem. proper name, from Fr., from L., fem. of Valerius, name of a Roman gens, from valere "to be strong" (see valiant). valet "personal man-servant," 1567, from Fr. valet, from O.Fr. valet, variant of vaslet "man's servant," originally "squire, young man," from Gallo-Romance *vassellittus "young nobleman, squire, page," dim. of M.L. vassallus, from vassus "servant" (see vassal). Modern sense is usually short for valet de chambre; the general sense of "male household servant of the meaner sort" going with the variant form varlet. First recorded use of valet parking is from 1960. valetudinarian "one who is constantly concerned with his own ailments," 1703, from valetudinary (1581), from L. valetudinarius, from valetudo "state of health," from valere "be strong" (see valiant) + -tudo, abstract noun suffix. Valetudinary (adj.) "sickly" is recorded from 1581. Valhalla heavenly hall in which Odin receives the souls of heroes slain in battle, 1768, from O.N. Valhöll "hall of the battle-slain;" first element from valr "those slain in battle," from P.Gmc. *walaz (cf. O.E. wæl "slaughter, bodies of the slain," O.H.G. wal "battlefield, slaughter"), from PIE base *wele- "to strike, wound" (cf. Avestan vareta- "seized, prisoner," L. veles "ghosts of the dead," O.Ir. fuil "blood," Welsh gwel "wound"). Second element is from höll "hall," from PIE base *kel- "to conceal" (see cell). Reintroduced by 18c. antiquaries. Figurative sense is from 1845. valiant 1303, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. valliant "stalwart, brave," from prp. of valoir "be worthy," originally "be strong," from L. valere "be strong, be well, be worth, have power, be able," from PIE base *wal- "be strong" (cf. O.E. wealdan "to rule," O.H.G. -walt, -wald "power" (in personal names), O.N. valdr "ruler," O.C.S. vlasti "to rule over," Lith. valdyti "to have power," Celt. *walos- "ruler," O.Ir. flaith "dominion," Welsh gallu "to be able"). valid 1571, "having force in law, legally binding," from M.Fr. valide, from L. validus "strong, effective," from valere "be strong" (see valiant). The meaning "supported by facts or authority" is first recorded 1648. Validate (v.) is recorded from 1648. valise 1615, "suitcase, soldier's kit bag," from Fr. valise (1568), from It. valigia, of uncertain origin. Attested in M.L. forms valisia (1407), valixia (1298). Valium 1961, proprietary name (Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N.J.) of diazepam (reg. U.S.), of unknown origin. Valkyrie 1768, one of 12 war-maidens who escorted the brave dead to Valhalla, from O.N. valkyrja, lit. "chooser of the slain," from valr "those slain in battle" (see Valhalla) + kyrja "chooser," from ablaut root of kjosa "to choose," from P.Gmc. *keusan, from PIE *geus- "to taste, choose" (see gusto). O.E. form was Wælcyrie, but they seem not to have figured as largely in Anglo-Saxon tales as in Scandinavian. Ger. Walküre (Wagner) is from O.N. valley c.1290, from Anglo-Norman valey, O.Fr. valee "a valley," from V.L. *vallata, from L. vallis "valley," of unknown origin. Valley Girl (in ref. to San Fernando Valley of California) was poularized 1982 in song by Frank Zappa and his daughter. valor c.1300, "value, worth," from O.Fr. valour "strength, value, valor," from L.L. valorem (nom. valor) "value, worth," from stem of L. valere "be worth, be strong" (see valiant). The meaning "courage" is first recorded 1581, from It. valore, from the same L.L. word. (The M.E. word also had a sense of "worth or worthiness in respect of manly qualities"). value (n.) 1303, from O.Fr. value "worth, value" (13c.), noun use of fem. pp. of valoir "be worth," from L. valere "be strong, be well, be of value" (see valiant). The meaning "social principle" is attested from 1918, supposedly borrowed from the language of painting. The verb is recorded from 1482. Valuable is attested from 1589. Value judgment (1892) is a loan-translation of Ger. Werturteil. valve 1387, "one of the halves of a folding door," from L. valva "section of a folding or revolving door," lit. "that which turns," related to volvere "to roll" (see vulva). Sense extended 1615 to "membranous fold regulating flow of bodily fluids;" 1659 to "mechanical device that works like a valve;" and 1661 in zoology to "halves of a hinged shell." vamoose "to decamp," 1834, from Sp. vamos "let us go," from L. vadamus, from vadere "to go, to walk," from PIE base *wadh- "to go" (cf. O.E. wadan "to go," L. vadum "ford"). vamp (v.) "extemporize on a piano," 1789, originally a noun meaning "part of a stocking that covers the foot and ankle" (c.1225), from Anglo-Norm. *vaumpé, from O.Fr. avantpié, from avant "in front" + pié "foot." Sense evolved to "provide a stocking with a new vamp" (1599), to "patch up, repair" (cf. revamp) to "extemporize." vamp (n.) "seductive woman," 1911, short for vampire. First attested use is earlier than the release of the Fox film "A Fool There Was" (January 1915), with sultry Theda Bara in the role of The Vampire. But the movie was based on a play of that name that had been a Broadway hit (title and concept from a Kipling poem, "The Vampire"), and the word may ultimately trace to Bara's role. At any rate, Bara (real name Theodosia Goodman) remains the classic vamp. A fool there was and he made his prayer (Even as you and I!) To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair (We called her the woman who did not care) But the fool, he called her his lady fair (Even as you and I.) [Kipling, "The Vampire"] vampire 1734, from Fr. vampire or Ger. Vampir (1732, in an account of Hungarian vampires), from Hung. vampir, from O.C.S. opiri (cf. Serb. vampir, Bulg. vapir, Ukrainian uper), said by Slavic linguist Franc Miklošič to be ult. from Kazan Tatar ubyr "witch." An Eastern European creature popularized in Eng. by late 19c. gothic novels, however there are scattered Eng. accounts of night-walking, blood-gorged, plague-spreading undead corpses from as far back as 1196. Applied 1774 by Fr. biologist Buffon to a species of South American blood-sucking bat. van (1) "front part of an army or other advancing group," 1610, shortening of vanguard. van (2) "covered truck or wagon," 1829, shortening of caravan. Van Allen name of radiation belts around the Earth (and certain other planets), 1939, from U.S. physicist James A. Van Allen(b.1914), who reported them in 1958. van de Graaff in ref. to an electrostatic charge generator, 1934, named for U.S. physicist R.J. van de Graaff (1901-67). vanadium rare metallic element, 1833, named 1830 by Swed. chemist Nils Gabriel Sefström (1787-1845), from O.N. Vanadis, one of the names of the Norse goddess Freyja (see Freya). vandal 1663, "willful destroyer of what is beautiful or venerable," from Vandals, name of Gmc. tribe that sacked Rome, 455, under Genseric, from L. Vandalus (pl. Vandali), from the tribe's name for itself (O.E. Wendlas), from P.Gmc. *Wandal- "Wanderer." "There does not seem to be in the story of the capture of Rome by the Vandals any justification for the charge of willful and objectless destruction of public buildings which is implied in the word 'vandalism.' It is probable that this charge grew out of the fierce persecution which was carried on by [the Vandal king] Gaiseric and his son against the Catholic Christians, and which is the darkest stain on their characters." ["Encyclopedia Britannica," 13th ed., 1926] Vandalism is attested from 1798, from Fr. vandalisme, first used by Henri Grégoire, Bishop of Blois, c.1793. The verb vandalize is first recorded 1845. vandyke "short, pointed beard," 1894, from the style shown on portraits by Flem. painter Anton Van Dyck (1599-1641); earlier "a type of collar with a deep cut edge" (1755) also from a style depicted in his paintings. vane "wind indicator," 1425, southern England alteration (see V) of fane. from O.E. fana "flag, weather-cock," from P.Gmc. *fanon (cf. Goth. fana "piece of cloth," O.H.G. fano, Ger. Fahne "flag, standard"); possibly cognate with L. pannus "piece of cloth." vanguard c.1450, vaunt garde, from M.Fr. avant-garde, from avant "in front" + garde "guard." Communist revolutionary sense is recorded from 1928. vanilla 1662, from Sp. vainilla "vanilla plant," lit. "little pod," dim. of vaina "sheath," from L. vagina "sheath" (see vagina). So called from the shape of the pods. European discovery 1521 by Hernando Cortes' soldiers on reconnaissance in southeastern Mexico. Meaning "conventional, of ordinary sexual preferences" is 1970s, from notion of whiteness and the common choice of vanilla ice cream. Vanillin is from 1868. vanish 1303, from aphetic form of stem of O.Fr. esvanir "disappear," from V.L. *exvanire, from L. evanescere "disappear, die out," from ex- "out" + vanescere "vanish," from vanus "empty" (see vain). Vanishing point in perspective drawing is recorded from 1797. vanity c.1230, "that which is vain, futile, or worthless," from O.Fr. vanite, from L. vanitatem (nom. vanitas) "emptiness, foolish pride," from vanus "empty, vain, idle" (see vain). Meaning "self-conceited" is attested from c.1340. Vanity table is attested from 1936. Vanity Fair is from "Pilgrim's Progress" (1678). vanquish c.1330, from O.Fr. venquis (past tense), and vencus (p.p.), from veintre "defeat," from L. vincere "defeat" (see victor). Influenced in M.E. by M.Fr. vainquiss-, present stem of vainquir "conquer," from O.Fr. vainkir, alteration of veintre. vantage c.1300, "advantage, profit," from Anglo-Fr. vantage, from O.Fr. avantage (see advantage). vapid 1656, "flat, insipid" (of drinks), from L. vapidus "flat, insipid," lit. "that has exhaled its vapor," related to vappa "stale wine," and probably to vapor "vapor." Applied from 1758 to talk and writing deemed dull and lifeless. vapor c.1374, from Anglo-Fr. vapour, from L. vaporem (nom. vapor) "exhalation, steam, heat," of unknown origin. Vapors "fit of fainting, hysteria, etc." is 1662, from medieval notion of "exhalations" from the stomach or other organs affecting the brain. Vaporize (v.) is attested from 1634, originally "to smoke tobacco," later "to convert into vapor" (1803), and "to spray with fine mist" (1900). vaquero 1826, from Sp., lit. "cowboy," from vaca "cow," from L. vacca (see vaccination). Varangian "one of the Northmen who founded a dynasty in Russia," 1788, from M.L. Varangus, from Byzantine Gk. Barangos, a name ult. (via Slavic) from O.N. væringi "a Scandinavian," prop. "a confederate," from var- "pledge, faith," related to O.E. wær "agreement, treaty, promise," O.H.G. wara "faithfulness" (see very). Attested in O.Rus. as variagi; surviving in Rus. varyag "a pedlar," Ukrainian varjah "a big strong man." variable (adj.) 1387, of persons, from O.Fr. variable, from L. variabilis "changeable," from variare "to change" (see vary). Of weather, seasons, etc., attested from c.1480; of stars, from 1788. The noun meaning "quantity that can vary in value" first recorded 1816, from the adj. variance c.1340, "fact of undergoing change," from O.Fr. variance, from L. variantia, from variare "to change" (see vary). Meaning "state of disagreement" is recorded from c.1425. The U.S. zoning sense of "official dispensation from a building regulation" is recorded from 1925. variant (adj.) c.1380, from O.Fr. variant, from L. variantem (nom. varians), prp. of variare "to change" (see vary). The noun is first attested 1848. variation c.1386, from O.Fr. variation, from L. variationem (nom. variatio) "a difference, variation, change," from variatus, pp. of variare "to change" (see vary). The musical sense is attested from 1801. varicolored 1665, from L. varius (see vary) + Eng. colored (see color). varicose 1730, from L. varicosus "full of dilated veins," from varix (gen. varicis) "dilated vein," probably related to varus "blotch, pimple" (see vary). varied "differing from one another," 1588, from pp. of vary (q.v.). variegate "to mark with different colors," 1646 (implied in variegation), from L.L. variegatus "made of various sorts or colors," pp. of variegare "diversify with different colors," from varius "spotted, changing, varying" (see vary) + root of agere "to drive" (see act). varietal (adj.) 1866, a biologists' word (first attested in Darwin), from variety. In ref. to wines, meaning "made from a single variety of grape" is first attested 1941, Amer.Eng. As a noun, in this sense, attested from 1955. variety 1533, from M.Fr. variété, from L. varietatem (nom. varietas) "difference, diversity," from varius "various" (see vary). First recorded 1868, Amer.Eng., in ref. to "music hall or theatrical performances of a mixed nature." variola "smallpox," 1771, from Medical L. dim. of L. varius "changing, various," in this case "speckled" (see vary). variorum 1728, from L., gen. pl. masc. of varius (see vary), in phrase editio cum notis variorum "an edition (especially of the complete works of a classical author) with notes of various commentators or editors." Use with ref. to an edition of an author's works containing variant readings (1955) is "deplored by some scholars" [OED]. various 1552, "subject to change," from M.Fr. varieux, from L. varius "changing, different, diverse" (see vary). Meaning "different from one another" is recorded from 1634. varlet 1456, "servant, attendant of a knight," from M.Fr. varlet (14c.), variant of vaslet, originally "squire, young man," from O.Fr. vassal (see vassal). The meaning "rascal, rogue" is 1550. varmint 1539, chiefly Amer.Eng. dialectal variant of vermin. Meaning "objectionable or troublesome person" is recorded from 1773. varnish (n.) 1341, from O.Fr. vernis "varnish" (12c.), from M.L. vernix "odorous resin," perhaps from Late Gk. verenike, from Gk. Berenike, name of an ancient city in Libya (modern Bengasi) credited with the first use of varnishes. The town is named for Berenike II, queen of Egypt (see Berenice). Fig. sense of "specious gloss, pretense," is recorded from 1565. The verb is attested from c.1386. varsity 1846, "university," variant of earlier versity (1680), shortened form of university. varve "annual deposit of silt in a lake bed," 1912, from Swed. varv "turn, layer," related to O.N. hverfa, O.E. hwerfan "to turn round" (see wharf). varvel "metal ring attached to the end of a hawk's jess and connecting it to the leash," 1537, from O.Fr. vervelle (1350), from V.L. derivation of L. vertibulum "joint." vary c.1340 (trans.), c.1369 (intrans.), from O.Fr. varier, from L. variare "change, alter, make different," from varius "varied, different, spotted;" perhaps related to varus "bent, crooked, knock-kneed," and varix "varicose vein," from a PIE base *wer- "high raised spot or other bodily infirmity" (cf. O.E. wearte "wart," Swed. varbulde "pus swelling," L. verruca "wart"). vascular 1672, from Mod.L. vascularis "of or pertaining to vessels or tubes," from L. vasculum, dim. of vas "vessel." vase 1563, from M.Fr. vase, from L. vas "container, vessel." Amer.Eng. preserves the original Eng. pronunciation (Swift rhymes it with face, Byron with place and grace), while British Eng. shifted mid-19c. to preference for a pronunciation that rhymes with bras. vasectomy 1897, from Mod.L. vas (deferens) + Eng. -ectomy "a cutting." Vaseline 1872, trademark for an ointment made from petroleum and marketed by Chesebrough Manufacturing Co., coined from Ger. Wasser "water" + Gk. elaion "oil" + scientific-sounded ending -ine. Robert A. Chesebrough was of the opinion that petroleum was a product of the underground decomposition of water. vassal (n.) 1303 (implied in vassalage) "tenant who pledges fealty to a lord," from O.Fr. vassal, from M.L. vassallus "manservant, domestic, retainer," from vassus "servant," from O.Celt. *wasso- "young man, squire" (cf. Welsh gwas "youth, servant," Bret. goaz "servant, vassal, man," Ir. foss "servant"). The adj. is recorded from 1593. vast 1575, from M.Fr. vaste, from L. vastus "immense, extensive, huge," also "desolate, unoccupied, empty." The two meanings probably originally attached to two separate words, one with a long -a- one with a short -a-, that merged in early Latin (see waste). Very popular early 18c. as an intensifier. vat c.1225, southern variant (see V) of O.E. fæt "container, vat," from P.Gmc. *fatan (cf. O.S., O.N. fat, O.Fris. fet, M.Du., Du. vat, O.H.G. faz, Ger. faß). vates 1625, "poet or bard," specifically "Celtic divinely inspired poet" (1728), from L. vates "sooth-sayer, prophet, seer," cognate with O.Ir. faith "poet," Welsh gwawd "poem," O.E. wod "mad, frenzied" (see wood (adj.)). Hence vaticination "oracular prediction" (1603). Vatican 1555, from L. mons Vaticanus, Roman hill on which Papal palace stands. An Etruscan loan-word, not related to vates "sooth-sayer." vaudeville 1739, "light, popular song," especially one sung on the stage, from Fr. vaudeville, alteration (by influence of ville "town") of M.Fr. vaudevire, said to be from (chanson du) Vau de Vire "(song of the) valley of Vire," in the Calvados region of Normandy, first applied to the popular satirical songs of Olivier Basselin, a 15c. poet who lived in Vire. The other alternative is that vaudevire derives from M.Fr. dialectal vauder "to go" + virer "to turn." The meaning "theatrical entertainment interspersed with songs" first recorded 1827. Vaudevillian (n.) is attested from 1913. Vaughan from Welsh fychan, mutation of bychan "small." vault (n.) "arched roof or ceiling," c.1300, vaute, from O.Fr. voute "arch, vaulted roof," from V.L. *volta, contraction of *volvita, noun use of fem. of *volvitus, alteration of L. volutus "bowed, arched," pp. of volvere "to turn, turn around, roll" (see vulva). The -l- appeared in Eng. c.1400. vault (v.) "jump or leap over," 1531 (implied in vaulting), from M.Fr. volter "to gambol, leap," from It. voltare "to turn," from V.L. *volvitare "to turn, leap," frequentative of L. volvere "to turn, turn around, roll" (see vulva). vaunt 1340 (implied in vaunting), from M.Fr. vanter "to praise, speak highly of," from L.L. vanitare "to boast," frequentative of L. vanare "to utter empty words," from vanus "idle, empty" (see vain). Vauxhall popular pleasure garden on south bank of Thames in London, c.1661-1859; the name is M.E. Faukeshale (1279), "Hall or manor of a man called Falkes," an O.Fr. personal name. VCR 1971, acronym from videocassette recorder. veal c.1386, from Anglo-Fr. vel, from O.Fr. veel "a calf" (Fr. veau), earlier vedel, from L. vitellus, dim. of vitulus "calf," perhaps originally "yearling," if related, as some think, to Skt. vatsah "calf," lit. "yearling;" Goth. wiþrus, O.E. weðer (see wether; cf. also veteran). vector "quantity having magnitude and direction," 1704, from L. vector "one who carries or conveys, carrier," from pp. stem of vehere "carry, convey" (see vehicle). Veda ancient sacred Hindu book, 1734, from Skt. veda "knowledge, sacred book," from root vid- "to know," from PIE base *weid- "to see" (related to wit, and to Avestan vaeda "I know," L. videre "to see;" see vision). The books are the Rig-, Yajur-, Sama-, and Atharva-veda. vedette "mounted sentinel placed in advance of an outpost," 1690, from Fr., from It. vedetta, probably from vedere "to see" (see vista). veejay 1982, from video, on model of deejay (see disk). veep 1949, Amer.Eng. headline word, coined from V.P., abbreviation of vice president. veer 1582, "to change direction" (originally with ref. to the wind), from M.Fr. virer "to turn," of uncertain origin, perhaps from the L. stem vir- in viriæ (pl.) "bracelets;" or perhaps from a V.L. contraction of L. vibrare "to shake." Vega 1638, bright northern star, from Arabic (Al Nasr) al Waqi translated variously as "the eagle of the desert" or "the falling vulture." vegan 1944, from vegetable (n.) + -an; coined by Donald Watson to distinguish those who abstain from all animal products (eggs, cheese, etc.) from those who merely refuse to eat the animals. vegetable (adj.) c.1400, "living and growing as a plant," from O.Fr. vegetable "living, fit to live," from M.L. vegetabilis "growing, flourishing," from L.L. vegetabilis "animating, enlivening," from L. vegetare "to enliven," from vegetus "vigorous, active," from vegere "to be alive, active, to quicken," from PIE *weg- "be strong, lively," related to watch (v.), vigor, velocity, and possibly witch (see vigil). The meaning "resembling that of a vegetable, dull, uneventful" is attested from 1854 (see vegetable (n.)). vegetable (n.) 1582, originally any plant, from vegetable (adj.); specific sense of "plant cultivated for food, edible herb or root" is first recorded 1767. Slang shortening veggie first recorded 1955. The O.E. word was wyrte. Meaning "person who leads a monotonous life" is recorded from 1921. The commonest source of words for vegetables in IE languages are derivatives of words for "green" or "growing" (cf. It., Sp. verdura, Ir. glasraidh, Dan. grøntsager). For a different association, cf. Gk. lakhana, related to lakhaino "to dig." vegetarian 1839, irregular formation from vegetable (n.) + -arian, as in agrarian, etc. "The general use of the word appears to have been largely due to the formation of the Vegetarian Society in Ramsgate in 1847." vegetate (v.) 1605, "to grow as plants do," perhaps a back-formation from vegetation, or from L. vegetatus, pp. of vegetare "to enliven, to animate" (see vegetable). Sense of "to lead a dull, empty, or stagnant life" is from 1740. vegetation 1564, "act of vegetating," from M.Fr. végétation, from M.L. vegetationem (nom. vegetatio) "a quickening, action of growing," from vegetare "grow, quicken" (see vegetable). Meaning "plant life" first recorded 1727. vehement 1485, from M.Fr. vehement "impetuous, ardent," from L. vehementem (nom. vehemens) "impetuous, carried away," perhaps from a lost present middle participle of vehere "to carry" (see vehicle). The other theory is that it represents vehe- "lacking, wanting" + mens "mind." vehicle 1612, "a medium through which a drug or medicine is administered," 1615 in the sense of "any means of conveying or transmitting," from Fr. véhicule, from L. vehiculum "means of transport, a vehicle," from vehere "to carry," from PIE *wegh- "to go, transport in a vehicle" (cf. O.E. wegan "to carry;" O.N. vegr, O.H.G. weg "way;" M.Du. wagen "wagon;" see wagon). Sense of "cart or other conveyance" first recorded 1656. veil c.1225, from Anglo-Fr. and O.N.Fr. veil (O.Fr. voile) "a head-covering," also "a sail," from L. vela, pl. of velum "sail, curtain, covering," from PIE base *weg- "to weave." Vela was mistaken in V.L. for a fem. sing. noun. The verb (1382) is from O.Fr. veler, voiller,, from L. velare "to cover, veil," from velum. Fig. sense of "to conceal" (something immaterial) is recorded from 1538. To take the veil "become a nun" is attested from c.1325. vein c.1300, from O.Fr. veine, from L. vena "a blood vessel," also "a water course, a vein of metal, a person's natural ability or interest," of unknown origin. The mining sense is attested in Eng. from 1387. Fig. sense of "strain or intermixture" (of some quality) is recorded from 1567; that of "a humor or mood, natural tendency" is first recorded 1577. velar (adj.) 1726, from L. velaris, from velum "sail, curtain" (see veil). Originally an architect's term for a type of cupola; phonetics sense is from 1876, on notion of "pertaining to the velum," the anatomist's name for the soft palate (velum in this sense is attested from 1771, in full velum palati). The noun meaning "a velar guttural" is recorded from 1886. Velcro 1960, proprietary name (Britain), from Fr. vel(ours) cro(ché) "hooked velvet." veldt South African grassland, 1785, from Afrikaans, from older Du. veld "field;" related to Eng. field (n.). vellum c.1430, from O.Fr. velin "parchment made from calfskin," from vel, veel "calf" (see veal). velocipede 1819, "wheeled vehicle propelled by the feet on the ground," from Fr. vélocipède, from L. velox (gen. velocis) "swift" + pedem, acc. of pes "foot." Applied to an early kind of bicycle or tricycle in 1849. velocity c.1550, from L. velocitatem (nom. velocitas) "swiftness, speed," from velox (gen. velocis) "swift," of uncertain origin, perhaps related to vehere "carry" (see vehicle), or from the same root as vegetable (see vigil). velodrome "building for bicycle races," 1902, from Fr. vélodrome, from vélo, colloq. abbreviation of vélocipède (see velocipede) + -drome, as in hippodrome. velour 1706, from Fr. velours "velvet," from O.Fr. velour, alteration of velous, from O.Prov. velos, from L. villosus (adj.) "shaggy" (in M.L. "velvet"), from villus "shaggy hair, tuft of hair" (see velvet). Velox type of paper made by a process patented 1893 by Leo Baekeland, who sold it to George Eastman in 1899 for $1 million and used the money to build the laboratory where he made great discoveries in plastics (see Bakelite). velvet 1320, probably from O.Prov. veluet, from V.L. *villutittus, dim. of V.L. villutus "velvet," lit. "shaggy cloth," from L. villus "shaggy hair, nap of cloth, tuft of hair," probably a dialectal variant of vellus "fleece." velveteen imitation velvet (made with cotton in place of silk), 1776, from velvet + commercial suffix -een (variant of -ine). venal 1652, "offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price," from Fr. vénal, from L. venalis "that is for sale," from venum (nom. *venus) "for sale," from PIE base *wes- "to buy, sell" (cf. Skt. vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Gk. onos "price paid, purchase," oneisthai "to buy"). Venality is attested from 1611, from L.L. venalitatem (nom. venalitas) "capable of being bought," from venalis. vend 1382 (implied in vendible), from L. vendere "to sell, praise," contraction of vendumare "offer for sale," from venum "for sale" (see venal) + dare "to give" (see date (1)). Vendor is from 1594, from late Anglo-Fr. vendor, from vendre "to vend," from L. vendere "to sell." Vending machine is recorded from 1895. vendetta 1855, from It. vendetta "a feud, blood feud," from L. vindicta "revenge" (see vindictive). Especially associated with Corsica. vendue "public sale, auction," 1686, from Du. vendu, from Fr. vendue "sale," from vendre "to sell," from L. vendere (see vend). veneer 1702, from Ger. Furnier, from furnieren "to cover with a veneer, inlay," from Fr. fournir "to furnish, accomplish," from M.Fr. fornir "to furnish," from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. frumjan "to provide;" see furnish). A word batted back and forth from German to French to German. Fig. sense of "mere outward show of some good quality" is attested from 1868. The verb is recorded from 1728. venerable 1432, from L. venerabilis, from venerari "to worship, revere" (see veneration). As a title, used in ref. to ecclesiastics or those who had obtained the first degree of canonization. veneration c.1410, from M.Fr. veneration, from L. venerationem (nom. veneratio) "reverence," from venerari "to worship, revere," from venus (gen. veneris) "beauty, love, desire" (see Venus). Venerate (v.) is first recorded 1623, from L. veneratus, pp. of venerari. venereal 1432, "of or pertaining to sexual desire or intercourse," from L. venereus, from venus (gen. veneris) "sexual love, sexual desire" (see Venus). Used of sexually transmitted diseases from 1658. venery "pursuit of sexual pleasure," 1497, from M.L. veneria "sexual intercourse," from L. venus (gen. veneris) "sexual love, sexual desire" (see Venus). In earlier use it may have been felt as a play on now obsolete homonym venery "practice or sport of hunting, the chase" (c.1320), from O.Fr. venerie, from L. venari "to hunt" (see venison). vengeance 1297, from Anglo-Fr. vengeaunce, O.Fr. vengeance "revenge," from vengier "take revenge," from L. vindicare "to set free, claim, avenge" (see vindicate). Vengeful (1586) is from obsolete M.E. venge "take revenge" (c.1300). "Vengeance is mine, ... saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." [Paul to the Romans, xii:19-20] venial c.1300, from O.Fr. venial, from L. venialis "pardonable," from venia "forgiveness, indulgence, pardon," related to venus "sexual love, desire" (see Venus). Venice from M.L. Venetia, from Veneti (Gk. Ouenetoi), name of an ancient people of Illyrian origin. Venetian blinds attested from 1791. venison c.1290, from O.Fr. venesoun "meat of large game," especially deer or boar, also "a hunt," from L. venationem (nom. venatio) "a hunt," also "game as the product of the hunt," from venatus, p.p. of venari "to hunt, pursue," probably from PIE base *wen- "to strive after" (cf. Skt. veti "follows after," Avestan vayeiti "hunts," Lith. veju "to hunt, pursue," O.C.S. voji "warrior," O.E. waþ "hunting," O.N. veiðr "chase, hunting, fishing;" see Venus). Venn diagram 1884, named for Eng. logician John Venn (1834-1923). venom c.1220, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. venim, from V.L. *venimen, from L. venenum "poison, drug, potion," perhaps ultimately connected to venus "erotic love" (see Venus), in which case the original meaning might have been "love potion." The meaning "bitter, virulent feeling or language" is first recorded c.1300. venous 1626, from L. venosus "full of veins," from vena (see vein). vent (v.) 1398, "emit from a confined space," probably aphetic of O.Fr. eventer "let out, expose to air," from V.L. *exventare, from L. ex- "out" + ventus "wind" (see wind (n.)). Sense of "express freely" first recorded 1596. The noun meaning "hole, opening, outlet" is first recorded 1570. Meaning "action of venting" is recorded from 1558. Sense of "divulge, publish" (1596) is behind phrase vent one's spleen (see spleen). ventilate c.1440, "to blow away something" (of wind), from L. ventilatus, pp. of ventilare "to brandish, toss in the air, winnow, fan, agitate, set in motion," from ventulus "a breeze," dim. of ventus "wind" (see wind (n.)). Original notion is of cleaning grain by tossing it in the air and letting the wind blow away the chaff. Meaning "supply a room with fresh air" first recorded 1664 (implied in ventilation). Slang sense of "to shoot" (someone) is recorded from 1875. ventral 1739, from Fr. ventral, from L.L. ventralis "of or pertaining to the belly or stomach," from L. venter (gen. ventris) "belly, paunch," from PIE *wend-tri- (cf. L. vesica "bladder," Skt. vastih "bladder," O.H.G. wanast, Ger. wanst "paunch, belly"). ventricle 1392, from L. ventriculus "stomach," dim. of venter (gen. ventris) "belly" (see ventral). ventriloquy 1584, from L.L. ventriloquus, from L. venter (gen. ventris) "belly" + loqui "speak." Patterned on Gk. engastrimythos, lit. "speaking in the belly," which was not originally an entertainer's trick but rather a rumbling sort of internal speech, regarded as a sign of spiritual inspiration or (more usually) demonic possession. Reference to the modern meaning seems to have begun early 18c., and by 1797 it was being noted that this was a curiously inappropriate word to describe throwing the voice. Ventriloquist is from 1656; ventriloquism is from 1797. venture (v.) c.1436, "to risk the loss" (of something), shortened form of aventure, itself a form of adventure. General sense of "to dare, to presume" is recorded from 1559. Noun sense of "risky undertaking" first recorded 1566; meaning "enterprise of a business nature" is recorded from 1584. Venture capital is attested from 1943. venue c.1330, "a coming for the purpose of attack," from O.Fr. venue "coming," from fem. pp. of venir "to come," from L. venire "to come," from PIE base *gwa- "to go, come" (cf. O.E. cuman "to come;" see come). The sense of "place where a case in law is tried" is first recorded 1531. Extended to locality in general, especially "site of a concert or sporting event" (1857). Change of venue is from Blackstone (1768). Venus O.E., from L. Venus (pl. veneres), in ancient Roman mythology, the goddess of beauty and love, especially sensual love, from venus "love, sexual desire, loveliness, beauty, charm," from PIE base *wen- "to strive after, wish, desire, be satisfied" (cf. Skt. vanas- "desire," vanati "desires, loves, wins;" Avestan vanaiti "he wishes, is victorious;" O.E. wynn "joy," wunian "to dwell," wenian "to accustom, train, wean," wyscan "to wish"). Applied by the Romans to Gk. Aphrodite, Egyptian Hathor, etc. Meaning "second planet from the sun" is attested from c.1290 (O.E. had morgensteorra and æfensteorra). The venus fly-trap (Dionæa muscipula) was discovered 1760 by Gov. Arthur Dobbs in North Carolina and description sent to Collinson in England. veracity 1623, from Fr. véracité, from M.L. veracitatem (nom. veracitas) "truthfulness," from L. verax (gen. veracis) "truthful," from verus "true" (see very). veranda 1711, from Hindi varanda, which probably is from Port. varanda, originally "long balcony or terrace," of uncertain origin, possibly related to Sp. baranda "railing," and ultimately from V.L. *barra "barrier, bar." Fr. véranda is borrowed from Eng. verb 1388, from O.Fr. verbe "part of speech that expresses action or being," from L. verbum "verb," originally "a word," from PIE base *were- (cf. Avestan urvata- "command;" Skt. vrata- "command, vow;" Gk. rhetor "public speaker," rhetra "agreement, covenant," eirein "to speak, say;" Hittite weriga- "call, summon;" Lith. vardas "name;" Goth. waurd, O.E. word "word"). verbal (adj.) 1484, "dealing with words" (especially in contrast to things or realities), from L. verbalis "consisting of words, relating to verbs," from verbum "word" (see verb). Verbal conditioning is recorded from 1954. Colloquial verbal diarrhea is recorded from 1823. verbalize 1609, "use too many words," from Fr. verbaliser (16c.); see verbal. Meaning "express in words" is attested from 1875. verbatim 1481, from M.L. verbatim "word for word," from L. verbum "word" (see verb). verbena genus of plants, the vervain, 1562, from L. verbena "leaves or twigs of olive, myrtle, laurel, or other sacred plants employed in religious ceremonies," from PIE *werbh- (cf. Lith. virbas "twig, branch, scion, rod"), from base *werb- "to turn, bend" (see warp). verbiage 1721, from Fr. verbiage "wordiness" (17c.), from M.Fr. verbier "to chatter," from O.Fr. verbe "word," from L. verbum "word" (see verb). verbose 1542 (implied in verbosity), from L. verbosus "full of words, wordy," from verbum "word" (see verb). verdant 1581, "green," from M.Fr. virdeant "becoming green," prp. of O.Fr. verdeiier "become green," from V.L. *viridiare "grow green, make green," from L. viridis "green" (see verdure). verdict 1533, from M.E. verdit (1297), "a jury's decision in a case," from Anglo-Fr. verdit (O.Fr. voirdit), from ver, veir "true" (see very) + dit, pp. of dire "to say" (see diction). Spelling infl. by M.L. verdictum. verdigris 1300, from O.Fr. verte grez (13c.), verte de Grece (c.1170), lit. "green of Greece," from obs. Fr. verd, from L. viridis (see verdure). The reason for it being called that is not known. verdure c.1300, "fresh green color," from O.Fr. verdure "greenness," from verd, variant of vert "green," from L. viridis (cf. Sp., It. verde), related to virere "be green," of unknown origin. Perhaps ult. from a root meaning "growing plant" and cognate with Lith. veisti "propagate," O.N. visir "bud, sprout," O.E. wise "sprout, stalk, etc." Meaning "green plants, vegetation" is attested from c.1400. verge (n.) "edge, rim," 1459, from M.Fr. verge "rod or wand of office," hence "scope, territory dominated," from L. virga "shoot, rod stick," of unknown origin. Earliest attested sense in Eng. is now-obsolete meaning "male member, penis" (c.1400). Modern sense is from the notion of within the verge (1509, also as Anglo-Fr. dedeinz la verge), i.e. "subject to the Lord High Steward's authority" (as symbolized by the rod of office), originally a 12-mile radius round the king's court. Sense shifted to "the outermost edge of an expanse or area." Meaning "point at which something happens" (as in on the verge of) is first attested 1602. "A very curious sense development." [Weekley] verge (v.) "tend, incline," 1610, from L. vergere "to bend, turn, tend toward, incline," from PIE *werg- "to turn," from base *wer- "to turn, bend" (see versus). Much influenced by verge (n.) in its verbal form meaning "to be adjacent to" (1787). verify c.1325, from O.Fr. verifier, from M.L. verificare "make true," from L. verus "true" (see very) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). verily c.1300, from M.E. verray "true, real" (see very) + -ly. verisimilitude 1603, from Fr. verisimilitude (1549), from L. verisimilitudo "likeness to truth," from veri, genitive of verum, neut. of verus "true" (see very) + similis "like, similar" (see similar). veritable 1474, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. veritable "true," from verité (see verity) + -able. Probably lost mid-17c. and reborrowed or revived after 1830. verity c.1375, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. verite "truth," from L. veritatem (nom. veritas) "truth, truthfulness," from verus "true" (see very). Mod.Fr. vérité, lit. "truth," borrowed 1966 as a term for naturalism or realism in film, etc. vermicelli kind of pasta, 1669, lit. "little worms," from It., pl. of vermicello, dim. of verme, acc. sing. of L. vermis "worm" (see worm). So called for resemblance. vermiform "worm-shaped," 1730, from Mod.L. vermiformis, from L. vermis "worm" (see worm) + forma "form" (see form). vermilion 1296, "cinnabar, red dye," from O.Fr. vermeillon, from vermeil "bright-red," from L.L. vermiculus "a little worm," specifically, the cochineal insect from which crimson dyes were obtained (see cochineal), in classical L., "larva of an insect, grub, maggot," dim. of vermis "worm" (see worm). vermin c.1300, "noxious animals," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vermin, from V.L. *verminum "vermin," possibly including bothersome insects, collective noun formed from L. vermis "worm" (see worm). Extended to "low, obnoxious people" by 1562. vermouth 1806, from Fr. vermouth, from Ger. Wermuth "wormwood," from M.H.G. wermuot, from O.H.G. wermuota (see wormwood), name of the aromatic herb formerly used in the flavoring of the liqueur. vernacular 1601, "native to a country," from L. vernaculus "domestic, native," from verna "home-born slave, native," a word of Etruscan origin. Used in Eng. in the sense of L. vernacula vocabula, in reference to language. vernal "pertaining to spring," 1534, from L. vernalis "of the spring," from vernus "of spring," from ver "spring," from PIE *wesr- "spring" (cf. O.N. var "spring," Gk. ear, Skt. vasantah, Pers. bahar, O.C.S. vesna "spring," Lith. vasara "summer"). vernier 1766, device for making precise measurements, from name of inventor, Fr. mathematician Paul Vernier (1580-1637), who described it in a tract published 1631. Veronica fem. proper name, a variant of Gk. Berenike (see Berenice). The popular "Saint Veronica" (not in the Roman Martyrology) traditionally was a pious woman who wiped the face of Christ when he fell carrying the cross to Calvary. The image of his face remained on the cloth, and the "veil of Veronica" has been preserved in Rome from the 8c. Her popularity rose with the propagation of the Stations of the Cross. Some also identified her with the woman with the issue of blood, cured by Christ, as in the East this woman was identified from an early date by the name Berenike. "In sum, it seems likely that the story of Veronica is a delightful legend without any solid historical basis; that Veronica is a purely fictitious, not a historical character, and that the story was invented to explain the relic. It aroused great interest in the later Middle Ages in the general devotional context of increased concern with the humanity of Christ, especially the Holy Face, and the physical elements of his Passion." [David Hugh Farmer, "The Oxford Dictionary of Saints," 1978] Hence vernicle (1362) "picture of the face of Christ," from O.Fr. veronicle, var. of veronique. vers libre 1902, from Fr., lit. "free verse," lines of varying length. "I remarked some years ago, in speaking of vers libre, that 'no vers is libre for the man who wants to do a good job.' The term, which fifty years ago had an exact meaning in relation to the French alexandrine, now means too much to mean anything at all." [T.S. Eliot, introduction to "Selected Poems of Ezra Pound," 1928] versatile 1605, from L. versatilis "turning, revolving, moving, capable of turning to varied subjects or tasks," from pp. stem of versare "keep turning, be engaged in something, turn over in the mind," frequentative of vertere "to turn" (see versus). verse c.1050, "line or section of a psalm or canticle," later "line of poetry" (c.1369), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vers, from L. versus "verse, line of writing," from PIE base *wer- "to turn, bend" (see versus). The metaphor is of plowing, of "turning" from one line to another (vertere = "to turn") as a plowman does. O.E. had fers, an early W.Gmc. borrowing directly from L. Meaning "metrical composition" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "part of a modern pop song" (as distinguished from the chorus) is attested from 1927. The English N.T. first divided fully into verses in the Geneva version (1551). versed "practiced," 1610, from pp. of obsolete verse "to turn over" (a book, subject, etc.) in study or investigation, from M.Fr. verser "to turn, revolve" as in meditation, from L. versare "to busy oneself," lit. "to turn to" (see versus). versify c.1340 (implied in versifier), from O.Fr. versifier "turn into verse" (13c.), from L. versificare "compare verse," from versus "verse" (see verse) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). version 1582, "a translation," from M.Fr. version, from M.L. versionem (nom. versio) "a turning," from pp. stem of L. vertere "to turn" (see versus). Also with a M.E. sense of "destruction;" the meaning "particular form of a description" is first attested 1788. verst 1555, Rus. unit of distance measure equal to about two-thirds of a mile, from Fus. versta, related to O.C.S. vrusta "stadium," vruteti (Rus. vertet) "to turn" (see versus). versus 1447, in legal case names, denoting action of one party against another, from L. versus "turned toward or against," from pp. of vertere "to turn," from PIE *wert- "to turn, wind," from base *wer- "to turn, bend" (cf. O.E. -weard "toward," originally "turned toward," weorthan "to befall," wyrd "fate, destiny," lit. "what befalls one;" Skt. vartate "turns round, rolls;" Avestan varet- "to turn;" L. vertere (freq. versare) "to turn;" O.C.S. vruteti "to turn, roll," Rus. vreteno "spindle, distaff;" Lith. verciu "to turn;" Gk. rhatane "stirrer, ladle;" Ger. werden, O.E. weorðan "to become," for sense, cf. "to turn into;" Welsh gwerthyd "spindle, distaff;" O.Ir. frith "against"). vertebra 1615, from L. vertebra "joint or articulation of the body, joint of the spine" (pl. vertebræ), perhaps from vertere "to turn" (see versus) + instrum. suffix -bra. The notion is of the spine as the "hinge" of the body. Vertebrate (n.) is from 1826, from L. vertebratus (Pliny). vertex 1570, "the point opposite the base in geometry," from L. vertex "highest point," lit. "the turning point," originally "whirling column, whirlpool," from vertere "to turn" (see versus). Meaning "highest point of anything" is first attested 1641. vertical 1559, "of or at the vertex, directly overhead," from M.Fr. vertical (1545), from L.L. verticalis "overhead," from L. vertex (gen. verticis) "highest point" (see vertex). Meaning "straight up and down" is first recorded 1704. vertiginous 1608, "of the nature of vertigo," from Fr. vertigineux, from L. vertiginosus "suffering from dizziness," from vertigo (see vertigo). vertigo 1528, from L. vertigo "dizziness," originally "a whirling or spinning movement," from vertere "to turn" (see versus). vervain herbaceous plant, much valued medicinally in Middle Ages, 1390, from O.Fr. verveine (13c.), from L. verbena (see verbena). verve 1697, "special talent in writing," from Fr. verve "enthusiasm" (especially pertaining to the arts), in O.Fr. "caprice, odd humor, proverb" (12c.), probably from Gallo-Romance *verva, from L. verba "(whimsical) words," plural of verbum "word" (see verb). Meaning "mental vigor" is first recorded 1803. vervet African monkey, 1884, from Fr., of unknown origin, perhaps short for vert grivet, lit. "a green grivet," indicating it was greener than the kind of monkey known as a grivet (itself a name of unknown origin). very c.1250, verray "true, real, genuine," later "actual, sheer" (c.1390), from Anglo-Fr. verrai, O.Fr. verai "true," from V.L. *veracus, from L. verax (gen. veracis) "truthful," from verus "true," from PIE *weros- (cf. O.E. wær "a compact," O.Du., O.H.G. war, Du. waar, Ger. wahr "true;" Welsh gwyr, O.Ir. fir "true;" O.C.S. vera "faith"). Meaning "greatly, extremely" is first recorded 1448. Used as a pure intensive since M.E. vesicle 1578, from M.Fr. vesicule, from L. vesicula, dim. of vesica "bladder, blister." Vespa 1950, proprietary name of It. make of motor scooter, first produced 1946, from It., lit. "wasp," from L. vespa (see wasp). Rival brand was Lambretta. vesper 1390, "the evening star," from O.Fr. vespre, from L. vesper (masc.), vespera (fem.) "evening star, evening, west," related to Gk. hesperos, and ultimately from PIE *wespero- (cf. O.C.S. večeru, Lith. vakaras, Welsh ucher, O.Ir. fescor "evening"), from base *we- "down" (cf. Skt. avah "down, downward"). Meaning "evening" is attested from 1606. Vespers "sixth canonical hour" is attested from 1611, from pl. of L. vespera "evening;" the native name was evensong (O.E. æfen-sang). Hence also vespertine "of or pertaining to evening" (1502). vessel c.1303, "container," from O.Fr. vessel (Fr. vaisseau) from L. vascellum "small vase or urn," also "a ship," dim. of vasculum, itself a dim. of vas "vessel." Sense of "ship, boat" is found in Eng. c.1300. "The association between hollow utensils and boats appears in all languages" [Weekley]. Meaning "canal or duct of the body" (esp. for carrying blood) is attested from 1398. vest (v.) c.1425, "to put in possession of a person," from M.Fr. vestir, from M.L. vestire "to put into possession, to invest," from L. vestire "to clothe," related to vestis "garment, clothing," from PIE *wes- "to clothe" (see wear). Vested "established, secured, settled" is attested from 1766. vest (n.) 1613, "loose outer garment" (worn by men in Eastern countries or in ancient times), from Fr. veste, from It. vesta, veste "robe, gown," from L. vestis, from vestire "to clothe" (see vest (v.)). The sleeveless garment worn by men beneath the coat was introduced by Charles II. "The King hath yesterday, in Council, declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes .... It will be a vest, I know not well how; but it is to teach the nobility thrift." [Pepys, "Diary," Oct. 8, 1666] vestal (adj.) "chaste, pure, virgin," 1595, originally (1432) "belonging to or dedicated to Vesta," Roman goddess of hearth and home. The noun is recorded from 1579, short for Vestal virgin, one of four (later six) priestesses (L. virgines Vestales) in charge of the sacred fire in the temple of Vesta in Rome. The goddess name, attested in Eng. from 1387, corresponds to, and may be cognate with, Gk. Hestia, from hestia "hearth," from PIE base *wes- "to dwell, stay" (cf. Skt. vasati "stays, dwells," Goth. wisan, O.E., O.H.G. wesan "to be"). vestibule 1623, "a porch," later "antechamber, lobby" (1730), from Fr. vestible, from L. vestibulum "forecourt, entrance," of unknown origin. vestige 1602, from Fr. vestige "a mark, trace, sign," from L. vestigium "footprint, trace," of unknown origin. Vestigial first recorded 1877. vestment c.1300, from O.Fr. vestment (Fr. vêtement), from L. vestimentum "clothing, clothes," from vestire "to clothe" (see wear). vestry 1388, probably from Anglo-Fr. *vesterie, from O.Fr. vestiaire "room for vestments," from L. vestarium "wardrobe," noun use of neuter of vestiarius (adj.) "of clothes," from vestis "garment" (see vest (v.)). vesture c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vesture, from V.L. *vestitura "vestments, clothing," from L. vestivus, pp. of vestire "to clothe" (see wear). vet (1) 1862, shortened form of veterinarian. The verb "to submit (an animal) to veterinary care" is attested from 1891; the colloquial sense of "subject to careful examination" (as of an animal by a veterinarian, especially of a horse before a race) is first attested 1904, in Kipling. vet (2) 1848, shortened form of veteran. vetch c.1374, from O.N.Fr. veche, variant of O.Fr. vece, from L. vicia, which perhaps is related to vincire "to bind" (cf. second element of periwinkle (1)). Du. wikke, Ger. Wicke are loan-words from L. vicia. veteran (n.) 1509, "old experienced soldier," from Fr. vétéran, from L. veteranus "old," from vetus (gen. veteris) "old," from PIE *wetus- "year" (cf. Skt. vatsa- "year," Gk. etos "year," Hittite witish "year," O.C.S. vetuchu "old," O.Lith. vetušas "old, aged"). L. vetus is the ult. source of It. vecchio, Fr. vieux, Sp. viejo. General sense of "one who has seen long service in any office or position" is attested from 1597. The adjective first recorded 1611. veterinarian animal doctor, 1646, from L. veterinarius "of or having to do with beasts of burden," also "cattle doctor," from veterinum "beast of burden," perhaps from vetus (gen. veteris) "old" (see veteran), possibly from the notion of "experienced," or of "one year old" (hence strong enough to draw burdens). Another theory connects it to L. vehere "to draw," on notion of "used as a draft animal." Replaced native dog-leech (1529). veto (n.) 1629, from L. veto, lit. "I forbid," first person singular present indicative of vetare "forbid," of unknown origin. Used by Roman tribunes who opposed measures of the Senate or magistrates. The verb is recorded from 1706. vex c.1415, from M.Fr. vexer, from L. vexare "to attack, harass, trouble," from vexus, collateral form of vectus, pp. of vehere "to draw, carry" (see vehicle). Vexation is attested from c.1400, from L. vexationem (nom. vexatio) "agitation," from vexus. VHF 1932, acronym of very high frequency. VHS 1982, acronym of Video Home System. via (adv.) 1779, from L. via "by way of," ablative form of via "way, road, channel, course," of uncertain origin; not definitely connected with vehere "to carry convey." viable 1828, from Fr. viable "capable of life" (1539), from vie "life" (from L. vita "life;" see vital) + -able. Originally of newborn infants; generalized sense is first recorded 1848. viaduct 1816, from L. via "road" + -duct as in aqueduct. Fr. viaduc is an Eng. loan-word. Viagra 1998, proprietary name of drug manufactured by Pfizer company. vial c.1300, variant of fyole (see phial). viand "article of food," c.1330 (implied in viander), from Anglo-Fr. viaunde, O.Fr. viande "food," dissimilated from V.L. *vivanda, from L.L. vivenda "things for living," in classical L. "be live," neut. pl. gerundive of vivere "to live" (see vital). vibe 1940, short for vibraphone; attested from 1967 as an abbreviated form of vibration in the 1960s slang sense of "instinctive feelings." vibrant c.1550, "agitated," from L. vibrantem (nom. vibrans) "swaying," prp. of vibrare "move to and fro" (see vibrate). Meaning "vigorous, full of life" is first recorded 1860. vibraphone 1926, from vibrato + -phone, from Gk. -phone. vibrate 1616, from L. vibratus, pp. of vibrare "move quickly to and fro, shake," from PIE *w(e)ib- "move quickly to and fro" (cf. Lith. wyburiu "to wag" (the tail), Dan. vippe, Du. wippen "to swing," O.E. wipan "to wipe"). Musical vibrato (1861) reproduces the It. form. vibration 1656, from L. vibrationem (nom. vibratio), from vibratus (see vibrate). Meaning "intuitive signal about a person or thing" was popular late 1960s, but has been recorded as far back as 1899. vibrator 1862, "that which vibrates," agent noun of vibrate (q.v.). Attested from 1888 in ref. to various appliances; specific sense of "small electrical device for sexual stimulation" is recorded from 1953. viburnum genus of shrubs, the arrowwood, 1731, from L. viburnum, which is probably an Etruscan loan-word. Vic 1858, colloquial abbreviation of Royal Victoria Theater in London. vicar c.1300, from O.Fr. vicaire, from L. vicarius "substitute, deputy," noun use of adj. vicarius "substituting," from vicis "change, turn, office" (see vicarious). The original notion is of "earthly representative of God or Christ;" but also used in sense of "person acting as parish priest in place of a real parson" (c.1325). The original Vicar of Bray (in fig. use from 1661) seems to have been Simon Allen, who held the benefice from c.1540 to 1588, thus serving from the time of Henry VIII to Elizabeth, and was twice a Catholic and twice a Protestant, but always vicar of Bray. The village is near Maidenhead in Berkshire. vicarious 1637, from L. vicarius "substitute, deputy" (adj. and n.), from vicis "turn, change, exchange, substitution," from PIE base *weik-, *weig- "to bend, wind" (cf. Skt. visti "changing, changeable;" O.E. wician "to give way, yield," wice "wych elm;" O.N. vikja "to bend, turn;" Swed. viker "willow twig, wand;" Ger. wechsel "change"). vice (1) "moral fault, wickedness," 1297, from O.Fr. vice, from L. vitium "defect, offense, blemish, imperfection," in both physical and moral senses (cf. It. vezzo "usage, entertainment"). "Horace and Aristotle have already spoken to us about the virtues of their forefathers and the vices of their own times, and through the centuries, authors have talked the same way. If all this were true, we would be bears today." [Montesquieu] Vice squad is attested from 1905. vice (2) "tool for holding," see vise. vice versa 1601, from L., from vice, ablative of vicis "a turn, change" (see vicarious) + versa, fem. abl. sing. of versus, pp. of vertere "to turn, turn about" (see versus). vice- prefix meaning "instead of, in place of," 15c., from L. vice "in place of," ablative of vicis "change, turn, office" (see vicarious). Sometimes borrowed in O.Fr. form vis-, vi-. vice-president 1574, "one who acts as a deputy for a president," from vice- + president. Made into an official rank and given a different meaning in the U.S. Constitution (1787). "There seems to be no doubt of my election as V[ice] Pres[iden]t. It will have at least one advantage, that of permitting me to devote more of my time to my private affairs." [John C. Calhoun, letter to wife, Nov. 12, 1824] viceroy person ruling as representative of a sovereign, 1524, from M.Fr. vice-roy, from O.Fr. vice- "deputy" (see vice-) + roi "king," from L. regem (nom. rex); see rex. The species of American butterfly so called from 1881. Vichy (adj.) in ref. to collaborationist government of France, 1940, from the name of the city in department of Allier in central France, famous for mineral springs, seat 1940-44 of the Fr. government formed under Nazi occupation headed by Pétain. vichyssoise 1939, from Fr., in full crême vichyssoise glacée, lit. "iced cream (soup) of Vichy (see Vichy). vicinity 1560, "nearness in place," from L. vicinitas "of or pertaining to neighbors or a neighborhood," from vicinus "neighbor, neighboring," from vicus "group of houses, village," related to the -wick, -wich in Eng. place names, from PIE *weik- (see villa). Meaning "surrounding district" is first attested 1796. vicious c.1325 (implied in viciously), "of the nature of vice, wicked," from Anglo-Fr. vicious, O.Fr. vicieus, from L. vitiosus "faulty, defective, corrupt," from vitium "fault" (see vice (1)). Meaning "inclined to be savage or dangerous" is first recorded 1711 (originally of animals, especially horses); that of "full of spite, bitter, severe" is from 1825. In law, "marred by some inherent fault" (1393), hence also this sense in logic (1605); cf. vicious circle in reasoning (c.1792), which was given a general sense of "a situation in which action and reaction intensify one another" by 1839. vicissitude 1570, from M.Fr. vicissitude (14c.), from L. vicissitudinem (nom. vicissitudo) "change," from vicissim "changeably, in turn," from vicis "a turn, change" (see vicarious). victim 1497, "living creature killed and offered as a sacrifice to a deity or supernatural power," from L. victima "person or animal killed as a sacrifice." Perhaps distantly connected to O.E. wig "idol," Goth. weihs "holy," Ger. weihen "consecrate" (cf. Weihnachten "Christmas") on notion of "a consecrated animal." Sense of "person who is hurt, tortured, or killed by another" is first recorded 1660; meaning "person oppressed by some power or situation" is from 1718. Weaker sense of "person taken advantage of" is recorded from 1781. Victimize is from 1830. victor c.1340, from L. victorem (nom. victor) "a conqueror," agent noun from pp. stem of vincere "to conquer," from PIE base *weik- "to fight, conquer" (cf. Lith. apveikiu "to subdue, overcome," O.C.S. veku "strength, power, age," O.N. vigr "able in battle," O.E. wigan "fight," Welsh gwych "brave, energetic," O.Ir. fichim "I fight," second element in Celt. Ordovices "those who fight with hammers"). Victorian (adj.) 1839, "belonging to or typical of the reign of Queen Victoria of Great Britain" (1837-1901). Fig. sense of "typified by prudish or outdated attitudes" is attested by 1934. The noun meaning "a person from or typical of Victorian times" is from 1876. The fem. proper name is from L., lit. "victory." The Victoria cross is a decoration founded 1856 by Queen Victoria. victory c.1315, from O.Fr. victorie, from L. victoria, from pp. stem of vincere (see victor). V.E. ("victory in Europe") and V.J. ("victory in Japan") days in WWII were first used Sept. 2, 1944, by James F. Byrne, U.S. director of War Mobilization. Victorious is attested from c.1386, from L.L. victoriosus "having many victories," from victoria. Victrola 1905, trademark of a phonograph, from Victor Talking Machine Co. Coined because it had "a sound suggestive of music," with ending from pianola. victuals c.1303, vitaylle (singular), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vitaille, from L.L. victualia "provisions," noun use of plural of victualis "of nourishment," from victus "livelihood, food, sustenance," from base of vivere "to live" (see vital). Spelling altered 1523 to conform with L., but pronunciation remains "vittles." vicuna Peruvian ruminant, 1604, from Sp. vicuña, from Quechua (Peru) wikuna, the native name of the animal. vide "see," 1565, from L. vide, imperative sing. of videre "to see" (see vision). videlicet "namely, to wit," 1464, see viz. video (adj., n., pref.) 1935, as visual equivalent of audio, from L. video "I see," first person singular present indicative of videre "to see" (see vision). Videotape (n.) is from 1953; the verb is 1959, from the noun; videocassette is from 1971; video game is from 1973. Videocassette recorder is from 1971, now usually VCR (also 1971). vidette 1690, from Fr., from It. (Florentine) vedetta "watch tower, peep hole," from vedere "to see" (see vista). vie (v.) 1565, aphetic form of M.E. envie "make a challenge," from O.Fr. envier, from L. invitare (see invite). Vietnam from Vietnamese Viet, the people's name + nam "south." Viet Cong, 1957, "the communist guerilla force in Vietnam 1954-1976," is from Vietnamese, in full Viet Nam Cong San, lit. "Vietnamese communist." Viet Minh (1945), the name of the independence movement in Fr. Indo-China 1941-50 is in full Viet Nam Doc-Lap Dong-Minh "Vietnamese Independence League." view (n.) 1415, "formal inspection or survey" (of land), from Anglo-Fr. vewe "view," from O.Fr. veue, noun use of fem. pp. of veoir "to see," from L. videre "to see" (see vision). Sense of "act of seeing, manner of regarding something" first recorded 1573. Meaning "sight or prospect of a landscape, etc." is recorded from 1606. The verb is 1523, from the noun. Viewer "watcher of television," first recorded 1935, in place of earlier suggestion looker-in (1927). Viewing "last presentation of a dead body before the funeral" is recorded from 1944. vigil c.1225, "eve of a religious festival" (an occasion for devotional watching or observance), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vigile, from L. vigilia "watch, watchfulness," from vigil "watchful, awake," from PIE *wog-/*weg- "be lively or active, be strong" (cf. L. vigere "be lively, thrive," velox "fast, lively," vegere "to enliven;" Skt. vaja- "strength, speed;" O.E. wacan "to wake up, arise," wacian "to be awake;" O.H.G. wahta "watch, vigil"). Meaning "watch kept on a festival eve" is from c.1395; that of "occasion of keeping awake for some purpose" is recorded from 1711. vigilant c.1480, from L. vigilantia "wakefulness," from vigilia (see vigil). Vigilance is attested from 1570. vigilante "member of a vigilance committee," 1856, Amer.Eng., from Sp. vigilante, lit. "watchman," from L. vigilantem (see vigilance). Vigilant man in same sense is attested from 1824 in a Missouri context. Vigilance committees kept informal rough order on the frontier or in other places where official authority was imperfect. vignette 1751, "decorative design," originally a design in the form of vine tendrils around the borders of a book page, especially a picture page, from Fr. vignette, from O.Fr., dim. of vigne "vineyard" (see vine). Sense transferred from the border to the picture itself, then (1853) to a type of small photographic portrait with blurred edges very popular mid-19c. Meaning "literary sketch" is first recorded 1880, probably from the photographic sense. vigor c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. vigour, O.Fr. vigor, from L. vigorem (nom. vigor) "liveliness, activity, force," from vigere "be lively, flourish, thrive," from PIE *wog-/*weg- "be lively or active" (see vigil). Viking Scandinavian pirate, 1807, vikingr; modern spelling attested from 1840. The word is a historical revival; it was not used in M.E., but it was revived from O.N. vikingr, which usually is explained as prop. "one who came from the fjords," from vik "creek, inlet" (cf. O.E. wic, M.H.G. wich "bay," and second element in Reykjavik). But O.E. wicing and O.Fris. wizing are almost 300 years older, and probably derive from wic "village, camp" (temporary camps were a feature of the Viking raids), related to L. vicus "village, habitation" (see villa). The connection between the O.N. and O.E. words is still much debated. The period of Viking activity was roughly 8c. to 11c. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the raiding armies generally were referred to as þa Deniscan "the Danes," while those who settled in England were identified by their place of settlement. vile c.1225 (implied in vilety), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vile, from L. vilis "cheap, worthless, base, common," of unknown origin. vilify 1450, "to lower in worth or value," from L.L. vilificare "to make cheap or base," from L. vilis "cheap, base" (see vile) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "to slander, speak evil of" is first recorded 1598. villa 1611, from It. villa "country house, villa, farm," from L. villa "country house, farm," related to vicus "village, group of houses," from PIE *weik- "clan" (cf. Skt. vesah "house," vit "dwelling, house, settlement;" Avestan vis "house, village, clan;" O.Pers. vitham "house, royal house;" Gk. oikos "house;" O.C.S. visi "village;" Goth. weihs "village;" Lith. viešpats "master of the house"). village c.1386, "inhabited place larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town," from O.Fr. village "houses and other buildings in a group" (usually smaller than a town), from L. villaticum "farmstead" (with outbuildings), noun use of neut. sing. of villaticus "having to do with a farmstead or villa," from villa "country house" (see villa). Village idiot is recorded from 1907. villain 1303, "base or low-born rustic," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. villain, from M.L. villanus "farmhand," from L. villa "country house" (see villa). "The most important phases of the sense development of this word may be summed up as follows: 'inhabitant of a farm; peasant; churl, boor; clown; miser; knave, scoundrel.' Today both Fr. vilain and Eng. villain are used only in a pejorative sense." [Klein] Meaning "character in a novel, play, etc. whose evil motives or actions help drive the plot" is from 1822. Villainous is recorded from c.1300, from O.Fr. vileneus; villainy (c.1225) is from O.Fr. vilanie. villanelle 1586, from Fr., from It. villanella "ballad, rural song," from fem. of villanello "rustic," from M.L. villanus (see villain). As a poetic form, five 3-lined stanzas and a final quatrain, with only two rhymes throughout, usually of pastoral or lyric nature. Villanova It. culture of the early Iron Age, 1901, named for a hamlet near Bologna where archaeological remains of it were found. villein c.1325, spelling variant of villain, refering to a feudal class of half-free peasants. vim 1843, usually said to be from L. vim, accusative of vis "strength, force, power, energy." But perhaps the modern word is purely imitative. vinaigrette 1698, a type of condiment, from Fr., dim. of vinaigre "(aromatic) vinegar" (see vinegar). Modern sense of a type of dressing for salads or cold vegetables is attested from 1877. Vincent masc. proper name, from Fr., shortened from L. Vincentius, from vincens "conquering," from vincere "to overcome" (see victor). The name of a 3c. martyr, it was introduced in England c.1200. vindicate (v.) 1623, "to avenge or revenge," from L. vindicatus, pp. of vindicare (see vindication). Meaning "to clear from censure or doubt, by means of demonstration" is recorded from 1635. vindication 1484, "act of avenging, revenge," from L. vindicationem (nom. vindicatio) "act of claiming or avenging," from vindicare "to set free, lay claim to, assert, avenge" (related to vindicta "revenge"), probably from vim dicare "to show authority," from vim, accusative of vis "force" + root of dicere "to say" (see diction). Meaning "justification by proof, defense against censure" is attested from 1647. vindictive 1616, from L. vindicta "revenge" (see vindication). vine c.1300, from O.Fr. vigne, from L. vinea "vine, vineyard," from vinum "wine," from PIE *win-o-, from an Italic noun related to words for "wine" in Gk., Armenian, Hittite, and non-I.E. Georgian and West Semitic (cf. Heb. yayin, Ethiopian wayn); probably ult. from a lost Mediterranean language word *w(o)in- "wine." The European grape vine was imported to California via Mexico by priests in 1564. vinegar c.1300, from O.Fr. vinaigre, from vin "wine" (from L. vinum, see wine) + aigre "sour" (see eager). In L., it was vinum acetum "wine turned sour;" cf. also Gk. oxos "wine vinegar," which is related to oxys "sharp" (see acrid). vineyard c.1300, replacing O.E. wingeard, from vine + yard. Cf. Ger. weingarten. vino "inferior wine," 1919, colloquial, from It. and Sp. word for "wine," from L. vinum (see vine). vintage c.1450, "harvest of grapes, yield of wine from a vineyard," from Anglo-Fr. vintage (1353), from O.Fr. vendage "yield from a vineyard," from L. vindemia "a gathering of grapes, yield of grapes," from comb. form of vinum "wine" + stem of demere "take off" (from de- "from, away from" + emere "to take;" see exempt). Sense shifted to "age or year of a particular wine" (1746), then to a general sense of "being of an earlier time" (1883). Used of cars since 1928. vintner "wine merchant," c.1430, alteration of vinter (c.1297), from Anglo-Fr. vineter, O.Fr. vinetier, from M.L. vinetarius "a wine dealer," from L. vinetum "vineyard," from vinum "wine" (see vine). vinyl "plastic or synthetic resin," 1939, short for polyvinyl, not in widespread use until late 1950s. In chemistry, vinyl was used from 1863 as the name of a univalent radical derived from ethylene, from L. vinum "wine," because ethyl alcohol is the ordinary alcohol present in wine. Slang meaning "phonograph record" (1976) replaced wax in that sense. viol musical instrument, 1483, viel, from M.Fr. viole, from O.Fr., from O.Prov. viola (see viola). viola tenor violin, 1797, from It. viola, from O.Prov. viola, from M.L. vitula "stringed instrument," perhaps from Vitula, Roman goddess of joy (see fiddle), or from related L. verb vitulari "to exult, be joyful." Viola da gamba "bass viol" (1724) is from It., lit. "a viola for the leg" (i.e. to hold between the legs). Viola fem. proper name, from L. viola "the violet" (see violet). violate (v.) 1432, "to break" (an oath, etc.), from L. violatus (see violation). Sense of "ravish" is first recorded c.1440. violation 1432, from L. violationem (nom. violatio) "an injury, irreverence," from violatus, pp. of violare "to violate, treat with violence, outrage, dishonor," perhaps related to vis "violence, strength." violence c.1290, "physical force used to inflict injury or damage," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. violence, from L. violentia "vehemence, impetuosity," from violentus "vehement, forcible," probably related to violare (see violate). Weakened sense of "improper treatment" is attested from 1596. Violent is attested from c.1340. In M.E. the word also was applied in ref. to heat, sunlight, smoke, etc., with the sense "having some quality so strongly as to produce a powerful effect." violet c.1330, small plant with purplish-blue flowers, from O.Fr. violette, dim. of viole "violet," from L. viola, cognate with Gk. ion (see iodine), probably from a pre-I.E. Mediterranean language. The color sense (1370) developed from the flower. violin 1579, from It. violino, dim. of viola (see viola). violon d'Ingres "an occasional pastime, an activity other than that for which one is well-known, or at which one excells," 1963, from Fr., lit. "Ingres' violin," from the story that the great painter prefered to play his violin -- badly -- for visitors instead of showing them his pictures. "Une légende, assez suspecte, prétend que le peintre Ingres état plus fier de son jeu sur le violon, jeu qui était fort ordinaire, que de sa peinture, qui l'avait rendu illustre." [Larousse du XXe Siecle, 1931] violoncello 1724, from It. violoncello, dim. of violone "bass viol," augmentative of viola (see viola). viper c.1520, from M.Fr. vipere, from L. vipera "viper, snake, serpent," from vivus "alive, living" (see vital) + parere "bring forth, bear" (see pare). It formerly was believed (mistakenly) that the viper does not lay eggs. Applied to persons of spiteful character since at least 1591. The only venomous snake found in Great Britain. Replaced native adder. "The flesh of the viper was formerly regarded as possessing great nutritive or restorative properties, and was frequently used medicinally" [OED]; hence viper wine, wine medicated with some kind of extract from vipers, used 17c. by "gray-bearded gallants" in a bid "to feele new lust, and youthfull flames agin." virago 1387, "man-like or heroic woman," from L., from vir "man" (see virile). Ælfric (c.1000), following Vulgate, used it in Gen. ii.23 (KJV = woman): Beo hire nama Uirago, þæt is, fæmne, forðan ðe heo is of hire were genumen. viral "of the nature of, or caused by, a virus," 1948, see virus. vireo 1834, from L. vireo, a word Pliny uses for some kind of bird, perhaps the greenfinch, from virere "be green" (see verdure). Applied in modern times to an Amer. bird. virgilian 1513, from L. Virgilianus "of or characteristic of the Roman poet Virgil" (Publius Vergilius Maro, 70-19 B.C.E.). Also in Virgilian lots (L. sortes Virgilianæ), opening Virgil at random as an oracle. virgin (n.) c.1200, "unmarried or chaste woman noted for religious piety and having a position of reverence in the Church," from O.Fr. virgine, from L. virginem (nom. virgo) "maiden, unwedded girl or woman," also an adj., "fresh, unused," probably related to virga "young shoot." For sense evolution, cf. Gk. talis "a marriageable girl," cognate with L. talea "rod, stick, bar." Meaning "young woman in a state of inviolate chastity" is recorded from c.1310. Also applied since c.1330 to a chaste man. Meaning "naive or inexperienced person" is attested from 1953. The adj. is recorded from 1560 in the lit. sense; fig. sense of "pure, untainted" is attested from c.1300. Virginity is attested from c.1303, from O.Fr. virginite, from L. virginitatem (nom. virginitas), from virgo. Distraught pretty girl: "I've lost my virginity!" Benny Hill: "Do you still have the box it came in?" virginals "small harpsichord," 1530, evidently from virgin, but the connection is unclear, unless it means "an instrument played by girls." Virginia British colony in N.America, name appears on a map in 1587, named for Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. The fem. proper name is from L. Virginia, fem. of Virginius, earlier Verginius, probably related to Vergilius (cf. virgilian). Virgo zodiacal constellation, c.1000, from L. Virgo "the virgin" (see virgin). Meaning "person born under the sign of Virgo" is attested from 1917. virgule thin sloping line, used as a comma in medieval MSS, 1837, from Fr. virgule, from L. virgula "punctuation mark," lit. "little twig," dim. of virga "shoot, rod, stick." The word had been borrowed in its L. form in 1728. virile 1490, from O.Fr. viril, from L. virilis "of a man, manly," from vir "a man, a hero," from PIE *uiHro "freeman" (cf. Skt. virah, Avestan vira-, Lith. vyras, O.Ir. fer, Welsh gwr, Goth. wair, O.E. wer "man"). Virile member for "penis" is recorded from 1541. Virility "period of manhood" is attested from 1586; meaning "manly strength" is recorded from 1603. virtu "excellence in an object of art, passion for works of art," 1722, from It. virtu "excellence," from L. virtutem (nom. virtus) "virtue" (see virtue). The same word as virtue, borrowed during a period when everything Italian was in vogue. Sometimes spelled vertu, after Fr., but this is unjustified, as this sense of the word is not in Fr. virtual 1398, "influencing by physical virtues or capabilities," from M.L. virtualis, from L. virtus "excellence, potency, efficacy," lit. "manliness, manhood" (see virtue). The meaning of "being something in essence or fact, though not in name" is first recorded 1654, probably via sense of "capable of producing a certain effect" (1432). Computer sense of "not physically existing but made to appear by software" is attested from 1959. Virtually (c.1430) originally meant "as far as essential qualities or facts are concerned;" sense of "in effect, as good as" is recorded from c.1600. virtue c.1225, "moral life and conduct, moral excellence," vertu, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vertu, from L. virtutem (nom. virtus) "moral strength, manliness, valor, excellence, worth," from vir "man" (see virile). Phrase by virtue of (c.1230) preserves alternate M.E. sense of "efficacy." Wyclif Bible has virtue where K.J.V. uses power. The seven cardinal virtues (c.1320) were divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). To make a virtue of a necessity (c.1374) translates L. facere de necessitate virtutem. [Jerome] virtuoso 1620, "scholar, connoisseur," from It. virtuoso (pl. virtuosi), noun use of adj. meaning "skilled, learned, of exceptional worth," from L.L. virtuosus (see virtuous). Meaning "person with great skill" (as in music) is first attested 1743. virtuous c.1386, "chaste" (of women), from virtue (q.v.). Earlier it was used in a sense of "valiant, valorous, manly" (c.1300). virulent 1400, in ref. to wounds, ulcers, etc., "full of corrupt or poisonous matter," from L. virulentus "poisonous," from virus "poison" (see virus). Fig. sense of "violent, spiteful" is attested from 1607. virus 1392, "venomous substance," from L. virus "poison, sap of plants, slimy liquid," probably from PIE base *weis- "to melt away, to flow," used of foul or malodorous fluids (cf. Skt. visam "poison," visah "poisonous;" Avestan vish- "poison;" L. viscum "sticky substance, birdlime;" Gk. ios "poison," ixos "mistletoe, birdlime; O.C.S. višnja "cherry;" O.Ir. fi "poison;" Welsh gwy "fluid, water," gwyar "blood"). Main modern meaning "agent that causes infectious disease" first recorded 1728. The computer sense is from 1972. Adjective form viral was coined 1948. vis-à-vis 1753, from Fr. prepositional use of the adj. vis-à-vis "face to face," from O.Fr. vis "face" (see visage). visa 1831, "official signature or endorsement on a passport," from Fr. visa, from Mod.L. charta visa "verified paper," lit. "paper that has been seen," from fem. pp. of L. videre "to see" (see vision). Earlier visé (1810), from Fr. pp. of viser "to examine, view." visage 1303, from O.Fr. visage, from vis "face, appearance," from L. visus "a look, vision," from pp. stem of videre "to see" (see vision). Visagiste "make-up artist" is recorded from 1958, from Fr. viscera (n., pl.) "inner organs of the body," 1651, from L. viscera, pl. of viscus "internal organ," of unknown origin. visceral 1575, "affecting inward feelings," from M.Fr. viscéral, from M.L. visceralis "internal," from L. viscera, pl. of viscus "internal organ," of unknown origin. The bowels were regarded as the seat of emotion. The figurative sense vanished after 1640 and the literal sense is first recorded in 1794. The figurative sense was revived 1940s in arts criticism. viscid "sticky," 1611 (implied in viscidity), from L.L. viscidus, from L. viscum "mistletoe, birdlime" (see viscous). viscount 1387, "deputy of a count or earl," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. visconte, from M.L. vicecomes (gen. vicecomitis), from L.L. vice- "deputy" (see vice-) + L. comes "member of an imperial court, nobleman" (see count (n.)). As a rank in British peerage, first recorded 1440, when John, Baron Beaumont, was made one by Henry VI. viscous 1392, from Anglo-Fr. viscous, from L.L. viscosus "sticky," from L. viscum "anything sticky, birdlime made from mistletoe, mistletoe," probably from PIE base *weis- "to melt away, flow" (used of foul or malodorous fluids); see virus. vise c.1300, "device like a screw or winch for bending a crossbow or catapult," from O.Fr. vis, viz "screw," from L. vitis "vine, tendril of a vine," lit. "that which winds," from base of viere "to bind, twist" (see withy). The meaning "clamping tool with two jaws closed by a screw" is first recorded 1500. Vishnu name of a principal Hindu deity, 1638, from Skt. Vishnu, probably from root vish- and meaning "all-pervader" or "worker." visibility 1581, "condition of being seen," from L.L. visibilitas (see visible). Meaning "range of vision under given conditions" is from 1914. Sense of "prominence, fame, public attention" is recorded from 1958. visible c.1340, from O.Fr. visible (12c.), from L. visibilis "that may be seen," from visus, pp. of videre "to see" (see vision). Visigoth 1647, from L.L. Visigothus (pl. Visigothi), perhaps "West Goths" (cf. O.H.G. westan "from the west"), as opposed to Ostrogothi, but according to some authorities, Visi/Vesi appears to be a Latinized form of a tribal name. vision c.1290, "something seen in the imagination or in the supernatural," from Anglo-Fr. visioun, O.Fr. vision, from L. visionem (nom. visio) "act of seeing, sight, thing seen," from pp. stem of videre "to see," from PIE base *weid- "to know, to see" (cf. Skt. veda "I know;" Avestan vaeda "I know;" Gk. oida, Doric woida "I know," idein "to see;" O.Ir. fis "vision," find "white," i.e. "clearly seen," fiuss "knowledge;" Welsh gwyn, Gaulish vindos, Breton gwenn "white;" Goth., O.Swed., O.E. witan "to know;" Goth. weitan "to see;" Eng. wise, Ger. wissen "to know;" Lith. vysti "to see;" Bulg. vidya "I see;" Pol. widziec' "to see," weidziec' "to know;" Rus. videt' "to see," vest' "news," O.Russ. vedat' "to know"). The meaning "sense of sight" is first recorded c.1491. Meaning "statesman-like foresight, political sagacity" is attested from 1926. visionary (adj.) "able to see visions," 1651, from vision (q.v.). Meaning "impractical" is attested from 1727. The noun is attested from 1702, from the adj., originally "one who indulges in impractical fantasies." visit (v.) c.1225, "come to (a person) to comfort or benefit," from O.Fr. visiter, from L. visitare "to go to see, come to inspect," frequentative of visere "behold, visit" (a person or place), from pp. stem of videre "to see, notice, observe" (see vision). Originally of the deity, later of pastors and doctors (c.1300), general sense of "pay a call" is from 1626. Meaning "come upon, afflict" (in ref. to sickness, punishment, etc.) is recorded from c.1340. The noun is 1621, from the verb. Visitor is attested from 1426; sports sense is from 1900. visitation 1303, "a visit by an ecclesiastical representative to examine the condition of a parish, abbey, etc.," from L. visitationem (see visit). The supernatural sense of "a sight, appearance" is attested from c.1340. visor c.1300, "front part of a helmet," from Anglo-Fr. viser, from O.Fr. visiere, from vis "face" (see visage). Meaning "eyeshade" is recorded from 1925. vista 1644, "a view or prospect," from It. vista "sight, view," noun use of fem. p.p. of vedere "see," from L. videre "to see" (see vision). Vistavision form of wide-screen cinematography, 1954. visual (adj.) 1412, "coming from the eye or sight" (as a beam of light), from L.L. visualis "of sight," from L. visus "sight," from visus, pp. of videre "to see" (see vision). Meaning "relating to vision" is first attested 1603. The noun meaning "photographic film or other visual display" is first recorded 1951. Visualize (1817) is first attested in, and perhaps was coined by, Coleridge. vital c.1386, "of or manifesting life," from L. vitalis "of or belonging to life," from vita "life," related to vivere "to live," from PIE base *gwei- (cf. O.Pers. *jivaka- "alive;" Gk. bios "life," zoon "animal;" Lith. gyvata "(eternal) life;" O.E. cwic, cwicu "living, alive;" O.Ir. bethu "life;" cf. also bio-). The sense of "necessary or important" is from 1619, via the notion of "essential to life" (1482). Vital statistics is attested from 1837, with ref. to birth, marriage, death, etc.; meaning "a woman's bust, waist, and hip measurements" is from 1952. Vitality is from 1592; vitals "organs of the body essential to life" first recorded 1610, from the adj., taken as a noun. vitamin 1920, originally vitamine (1912) coined by Pol. biochemist Casimir Funk (1884-1967), from L. vita "life" (see vital) + amine, because they were thought to contain amino acids. The terminal -e formally was stripped off when scientists learned the true nature of the substance; -in was acceptable because it was used for neutral substances of undefined composition. The lettering system of nomenclature (Vitamin A, B, C, etc.) was introduced at the same time. vitiate (v.) 1534, from L. vitiatus, pp. of vitiare "to make faulty, injure, spoil, corrupt," from vitium "fault, defect, blemish, crime, vice" (see vice (1)). viticulture 1865 (implied in viticultural), "the cultivation of grapes," from L. vitis "vine" (see vise) + culture. vitreous 1646, from L. vitreus "of glass, glassy," from vitreum "glass," which perhaps was so called for its color (cf. vitrium "woad"). vitrify 1594, from M.Fr. vitrifier (16c.), from L. vitrium "glass" (see vitreous) + -ficare, from facere "to make, do" (see factitious). vitriol c.1386, "sulphate of iron," from O.Fr. vitriol (13c.), from M.L. vitriolum "vitriol," from neut. of vitriolus, from L.L. vitreolus "of glass," from L. vitreus "of glass, glassy," from vitrium "glass" (see vitreous). So called from its glassy appearance in certain states. Meaning "bitter or caustic feelings" first attested 1769, in allusion to the corrosive properties of vitriol. vituperation c.1449 (implied in vituperable), but rare before early 19c., from L. vituperationem (nom. vituperatio) "blame, censuring," from vituperatus, pp. of vituperare "disparage," from vitiperos "having faults," from vitium "fault, defect" (see vice (1)) + parare "prepare, provide, procure" (see pare). Vituperatio was stronger than either L. reprehensio or Mod.Eng. vituperation. Vitus from Svanto-vit, name of a Slavic god worshipped with ecstatic dances on the Baltic island of Rügen, transferred by Christian missionaries to Saint Vitus. The It. form of the name is Guido. viva 1644, from It. viva "(long) live, may he (or she) live," third person singular present subjunctive of vivere "to live," from L. vivere "to live." Probably reborrowed (1836) from Sp. viva, from vivir "to live," from L. vivere (see vital). Sometimes also in L. form vivat (1663). viva-voce "by word of mouth," 1581, from L., lit. "living-voice," abl. of viva vox. vivacity 1432, from L. vivacitatem (nom. vivacitas) "vital force, liveliness," from vivax (gen. vivacis) "lively," also "long-lived," from vivere "to live" (see vital). Vivacious is first recorded c.1645. vive (interj.) 1594 (in vive le roi), from Fr., lit. "long live ______;" Fr. equivalent of viva (q.v.). Jocular phrase vive la différence in ref. to the difference between men and women is recorded from 1963. Also in vive la bagatelle, lit. "long live nonsense," denoting a carefree attitude to life. Vivian masc. proper name, from L. Vivianus (cf. Fr. Vivien), lit. "living, alive," (see vivid). But Klein says it is "prob. a misreading of the Celtic name Ninian." vivid 1638, from L. vividus "spirited, animated, lively," from vivus "alive," from PIE *gwei- (see vital). Extension to colors is first recorded 1665. Sense of "strong, distinct" (as of memories, etc.) is from 1690; that of "very active or intense" (as of imagination, interest, etc.) is from 1853. vivify 1595, from O.Fr. vivifier (12c.), from L.L. vivificare "make alive, restore to life," from vivificus "enlivening," from L. vivus "alive" (see vivid) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Vivificate in same sense is recorded from 1432. viviparous 1646, from L.L. viviparus "bringing forth alive," from L. vivus "alive, living" + parere "bring forth, bear" (see pare). vivisection "dissection of a living animal," 1707, from L. vivus "alive" (see vivid) + (dis)section (see section). Verb vivisect is an 1859 back-formation. vixen O.E. *fyxen (implied in adj. fyxan), fem. of fox (see fox, and cf. M.H.G. vühsinne, Ger. füchsin). Solitary English survival of the Germanic feminine suffix -en, -in (cf. O.E. gyden "goddess;" mynecen "nun," from munuc "monk;" wlyfen "she-wolf"). The fig. sense "ill-tempered woman" is attested from 1575. The spelling shift from -f- to -v- began late 1500s (see V). viz. 1540, abbreviation of videlicet "that is to say, to wit, namely" (1464), from L. videlicet, contraction of videre licet "it is permissible to see," from videre "to see" (see vision) + licet "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of licere "be allowed." The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual M.L. shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED] vizier 1562, from Turk. vezir "counsellor," from Arabic wazir "viceroy," lit. "one who bears (the burden of office)," lit. "porter, carrier," from wazara "he carried." But Klein says Arabic wazir is from Avestan vicira "arbitrator, judge," and replaced Arabic katib, lit. "writer," in the sense "secretary of state." Vlach "member of a Latin-speaking race of the Balkans, a Walachian or Romanian," 1841, from Bulg. vlakh or Serbian vlah, from O.C.S. vlakhu, a Slavic adoptation of Gmc. *walh (cf. O.E. wealh) "foreigner," especially applied to Celts and Latins (see Welsh). Vladimir masc. proper name, from O.C.S. Vladimiru "Ruling Peace," from vlasti "to rule over" (from PIE *wal- "to be strong") + miru "peace" (see Mir). vocabulary 1532, "list of words with explanations," from M.L. vocabularium "a list of words," from L. vocabulum "word, name, noun," from vocare "to name, call" (see voice). Meaning "range of language of a person or group" is first attested 1753. vocal (adj.) c.1395, "spoken, oral," from O.Fr. vocal, from L. vocalis "sounding, sonorous, speaking," as a noun, "a vowel," from vox (gen. vocis) "voice" (see voice). In ref. to music (as opposed to instrumental), first recorded 1586; meaning "outspoken" first attested 1871. The verb vocalize is attested from 1669. vocation 1426, "spiritual calling," from L. vocationem (nom. vocatio), lit. "a calling," from vocatus "called," pp. of vocare "to call" (see voice). Sense of "one's occupation or profession" is first attested 1553. vocative c.1440, "showing the person or thing spoken to," from M.Fr. vocatif (fem. vocative), from L. vocativus (casus) "(case of) calling," from vocatus, pp. of vocare "to call" (see voice). The L. is a translation of Gk. kletike ptosis, from kletikos "related to calling," from kletos "called." vociferous 1611, from L. vociferari "to shout, yell," from vox (gen. vocis) "voice" + root of ferre "to carry" (see infer). A noun form, vociferation, is recorded from c.1400. vodka 1802, from Rus. vodka, lit. "little water," from voda "water" (from PIE *wedor, *wodor; see water) + dim. suffix -ka. vogue 1571, the vogue, "leading place in popularity, greatest success or acceptance," from M.Fr. vogue "fashion, success, drift, swaying motion (of a boat)" lit. "a rowing," from O.Fr. voguer "to row, sway, set sail," probably from O.Low Ger. *wogon, variant of wagon "float, fluctuate," lit. "to balance oneself" (see weigh). Apparently the notion is of being "borne along on the waves of fashion." It. vogare also probably is borrowed from Gmc. Phrase in vogue "having a prominent place in popular fashion" first recorded 1643. The fashion magazine began publication in 1892. voice (n.) c.1290, "sound made by the human mouth," from O.Fr. voiz, from L. vocem (nom. vox) "voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word," related to vocare "to call," from PIE base *wek- "give vocal utterance, speak" (cf. Skt. vakti "speaks, says," vacas- "word;" Avestan vac- "speak, say;" Gk. aor. eipon "spoke, said," epos "word;" O.Prus. wackis "cry;" Ger. er-wähnen "to mention"). Replaced O.E. stefn. Meaning "ability in a singer" is first attested 1607. Verb meaning "to express" (a feeling, opinion, etc.) first attested 1607. The noun in this sense (in ref. to groups of people, etc., e.g. Voice of America) is recorded from 1390. void (adj.) c.1290, "unoccupied, vacant," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. voide "empty, vast, wide, hollow, waste," from L. vocivus "unoccupied, vacant," related to vacuus "empty" (see vacuum). Meaning "lacking or wanting" (something) is recorded from c.1420. Meaning "legally invalid" is attested from 1433. Noun sense of "empty space, vacuum" is from 1727. The verb meaning "to clear" (some place, of something) is first recorded c.1300; meaning "to deprive (something) of legal validity" is attested from c.1325. voila 1739, from Fr., imperative of voir "to see" + la "there." voivode "local or provincial ruler in Transylvania, Moldavia, etc.," 1570, from Rus. voevoda, originally "leader of the army," from O.C.S. voji "warriors" + -voda "leader." Cf. Hung. vajvoda, Serb vojvoda, Pol. wojewoda. volant "flying," 1509, from M.Fr., from L. volantem (nom. volans), prp. of volare "to fly," of unknown origin. Fr. voler, lit. "to fly," in 16c. acquired a sense of "to steal," via the trans. meaning "to make fly." volatile 1597 "fine or light," also "evaporating rapidly" (1605), from M.Fr. volatile, from L. volatilis "fleeting, transitory, flying," from pp. stem of volare "to fly," of unknown origin. Sense of "readily changing, fickle" is first recorded 1647. Volatiles in M.E. meant "birds, butterflies, and other winged creatures" (c.1300). volcano 1613, from It. vulcano "burning mountain," from L. Vulcanus "Vulcan," Roman god of fire, also "fire, flames, volcano" (see Vulcan). The name was first applied to Mt. Etna by the Romans, who believed it was the forge of Vulcan. Volcanic first recorded 1774, from Fr. volcanique. Fig. sense of "prone to explosive activity" is attested from 1854. vole 1805, volemouse, lit. "field-mouse," with first element probably from O.N. völlr "field," from P.Gmc. *walthuz (cf. Icelandic völlr, Swed. vall "field," O.E. weald; see wold). volition 1615, from Fr. volition (16c.), from M.L. volitionem (nom. volitio) "will, volition," from L. stem (as in volo "I wish") of velle "to wish," from PIE *wel-/*wol- "be pleasing" (see will (v.)). volley 1573, "discharge of a number of guns at once," from M.Fr. volee "flight" (12c.), from V.L. *volta, fem. noun from L. volatum, pp. of volare "to fly." Sporting sense (originally in tennis) is from 1819 (v.), 1862 (n.), from notion of hitting the ball in flight. Volleyball is attested from 1896. Volstead in ref. to Prohibition legislation in U.S., 1920, from U.S. Rep. Andrew J. Volstead (1860-1947), Republican of Minnesota, who introduced the bill in 1919 that prohibited the manufacture, transportation, and sale of beverages containing more than 0.5 per cent alcohol. volt unit of electromotive force, 1873, back-formation from adj. voltaic (1813), designating electricity produced by chemical action, formed in allusion to It. physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), who perfected a chemical process used in electrical batteries. Voltage is first attested 1890. volte-face a reversal of opinion, 1819, from Fr., from It. volta faccia, lit. "turn face," from volta, imper. of voltare "to turn" (from V.L. *volvita, from L. volvere "to roll;" see vulva) + faccia (see face). voluble 1575, "liable to constant change," from Fr. voluble, from L. volubilis "that turns around, rolling, flowing, fluent" (of speech), from volvere "to turn around, roll" (see vulva). Meaning "fluent, talkative" first recorded 1588. volume c.1380, "roll of parchment containing writing, large book," from O.Fr. volume, from L. volumen (gen. voluminis) "roll (as of a manuscript), coil, wreath," from volvere "to turn around, roll" (see vulva). Meaning "book forming part of a set" (1523) is from M.Fr. Generalized sense of "bulk, mass, quantity" (1621) developed from that of "bulk or size of a book" (1530), again following the sense evolution in the Fr. version of the word. Voluminous "forming a large mass" is from 1647. voluntary c.1374 (implied in voluntarily), from L. voluntarius "of one's free will," from voluntas "will," from the ancient accusative singular prp. of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)). Originally of feelings, later also of actions (c.1449). volunteer (n.) c.1600, "one who offers himself for military service," from M.Fr. voluntaire, noun use of adj. meaning "voluntary," from L. voluntarius "voluntary, of one's free will" (see voluntary). Non-military sense is first recorded 1638. The verb is first recorded 1755, from the noun. Tennessee has been the Volunteer State since the Mexican War, when a call for 2,800 volunteers brought out 30,000 men. voluptuous c.1374, "of desires or appetites," from O.Fr. voluptueux, from L. voluptuosus "full of pleasure, delightful," from voluptas "pleasure, delight," from volup "pleasurably," perhaps ultimately related to velle "to wish," from PIE *wol-/*wel- "be pleasing" (see will (v.)). Meaning "addicted to sensual pleasure" is recorded from c.1440. Sense of "suggestive of sensual pleasure" is attested from 1816 (Byron); especially in ref. to feminine beauty from 1839. Voluptuary "one addicted to sensuous pleasures" is attested from 1610. volute 1696, "spiral ornament on an Ionic capital," from Fr. volute, from It. voluta, from L. voluta "a spiral scroll," originally fem. pp. of volvere "to turn around, roll" (see vulva). Extended 1756 to any spiral thing or part. As a type of spiral seashell, it is attested from 1753. vomit (n.) c.1386, "act of expelling contents of the stomach through the mouth," from L. vomitare "to vomit often," frequentative of vomere "spew forth, discharge," from PIE base *wem- "to spit, vomit" (cf. Gk. emein "to vomit," emetikos "provoking sickness;" Skt. vamati "he vomits;" Avestan vam- "to spit;" Lith. vemiu "to vomit," O.N. væma "seasickness"). In ref. to the matter so ejected, it is attested from c.1390. The verb is recorded from 1422. vomitorium 1754, "passage or opening in an ancient amphitheater, leading to or from the seats," from L. (Macrobius, Sat., VI.iv); see vomit. Erroneous meaning "place where ancient Romans (allegedly) deliberately vomited during feasts" is attested from 1923. voodoo religious witchcraft of Haiti and Southern U.S., ult. of African origin, 1850, from Louisiana Fr. voudou, from a W.African language (e.g. Ewe and Fon vodu "spirit, demon, deity," also Vandoo, supposedly the name of an African deity, from a language of Dahomey). Cf. vodun "fetish connected with snake worship in Dahomey," said to be from vo "to be afraid," or vo "harmful." The verb is attested from 1880. voracious 1635, formed as an adj. form of voracity (1526), from M.Fr. voracité, from L. voracitatem (nom. voracitas) "greediness, ravenousness," from vorax (gen. voracis) "greedy," from vorare "to devour," from PIE base *gwer- "to swallow, devour" (cf. Skt. girati "he swallows," garah "drink;" Gk. bora "food;" Lith. geriu "to drink;" O.C.S. ziro "to swallow," grulo "gullet"). vortex 1652, "whirlpool, eddying mass," from L. vortex, variant of vertex "an eddy of water, wind, or flame; whirlpool; whirlwind," from stem of vertere "to turn" (see versus). Plural form is vortices. Became prominent in 17c. theories of astrophysics (by Descartes, etc.). In ref. to human affairs, it is attested from 1761. Vorticism as a movement in British arts and literature is attested from 1914, coined by Ezra Pound. votary (n.) 1546, "one consecrated by a vow," from L. votum (see vow). Originally "a monk or nun," general sense of "ardent devotee of some aim or pursuit" is from 1591 (in Shakespeare, originally in ref. to love). vote (n.) c.1460, from L. votum "a vow, wish, promise, dedication," noun use of neut. of votus, pp. of vovere "to promise, dedicate" (see vow). The verb in the modern sense is attested from 1552; earlier it meant "to vow" to do something (1533). votive 1593, "dedicated or given in fulfillment of a vow," from M.Fr. votif, from L. votivus "of or pertaining to a vow, conforming to one's wishes," from votum (see vow). vouch c.1325, "summon into court to prove a title," from Anglo-Fr. voucher, O.Fr. vocher "to call, summon, invoke, claim," probably from Gallo-Romance *voticare, metathesis of L. vocitare "to call to, summon insistently," frequentative of L. vocare "to call, call upon, summon" (see voice). Meaning "guarantee to be true or accurate" is first attested 1591. voucher originally "summoning of a person into court to warrant the title to a property;" see vouch. Meaning "receipt from a business transaction" is first attested 1696; sense of "document which can be exchanged for goods or services" is attested from 1947. vouchsafe c.1303, vouchen safe "to vouch as safe" (see vouch and safe). vow (n.) 1297, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vou, from L. votum "a vow, wish, promise, dedication," noun use of neut. of votus, pp. of vovere "to promise solemnly, pledge, dedicate, vow," from PIE base *ewegwh- "to speak solemnly, vow" (cf. Skt. vaghat- "one who offers a sacrifice;" Gk. eukhe "vow, wish," eukhomai "I pray"). The verb is attested from c.1300, from O.Fr. vouer. vowel c.1308, from O.Fr. vouel, from L. vocalis, in littera vocalis, lit. "vocal letter," from vox (gen. vocis) "voice" (see voice). Vowel shift in ref. to the pronunciation change between M.E. and Mod.Eng. is attested from 1909. The Hawaiian word hooiaioia, meaning "certified," has the most consecutive vowels of any word in current human speech; the English record-holder is queueing. vox 1550, from L., lit. "voice" (see voice). Especially in vox populi (1550) "the voice of the people" (the full maxim is Vox populi vox Dei "the voice of the people is the voice of God"). voyage (n.) 1297, from O.Fr. veiage "travel, journey," from L.L. viaticum "a journey" (in classical L. "provisions for a journey"), noun use of neut. of viaticus "of or for a journey," from via "road, journey, travel." The verb is first attested 1477. voyeur a scopophiliac, 1900, from Fr. voyeur (1898), lit. "one who views or inspects," from voir "to view," from L. videre "to see" (see vision). Voyeurism first recorded 1924. vroom 1967, echoic of the sound of a motor engine revving. Vulcan god of fire and metal-work in Roman mythology, 1513, from L. Vulcanus, a word of Etruscan origin. Often with allusions to his lameness and the unfaithfulness of his wife, Venus. As the name of a hypothetical planet between Mercury and the Sun, it is attested from 1870. The Roman feast of Vulcanalia was on Aug. 23. vulcanize 1827, "to put into flames," from Vulcan (q.v.), name of the Roman god of fire, + -ize. As a treatment for rubber, first recorded 1846. vulgar 1391, "common, ordinary," from L. vulgaris "of or pertaining to the common people, common, vulgar," from vulgus "the common people, multitude, crowd, throng," from PIE base *wel- "to crowd, throng" (cf. Skt. vargah "division, group," Gk. eilein "to press, throng," M.Bret. gwal'ch "abundance," Welsh gwala "sufficiency, enough"). Meaning "coarse, low, ill-bred" is first recorded 1643, probably from earlier use (with reference to people) with meaning "belonging to the ordinary class" (1530). Vulgarian "rich person of vulgar manners" is recorded from 1804. vulgarity 1579, "the common people," from L.L. vulgaritas "the multitude," from vulgaris (see vulgar). Meaning "coarseness, crudeness" is recorded from 1774. Vulgate 1609, Latin translation of the Bible, especially that completed in 405 by St. Jerome (c.340-420), from M.L. Vulgata, from L.L. vulgata "common, general, ordinary, popular" (in vulgata editio "popular edition"), from L. vulgata, fem. pp. of vulgare "make common or public," from vulgus "the common people" (see vulgar). So called because the translations made the book accessible to the common people of ancient Rome. vulnerable 1605, from L.L. vulnerabilis "wounding," from L. vulnerare "to wound," from vulnus (gen. vulneris) "wound," perhaps related to vellere "pluck, to tear." vulpine "pertaining to a fox, fox-like," 1628, from L. vulpinus "of or pertaining to a fox," from vulpes, earlier volpes (gen. vulpis, volpis) "fox," of unknown origin. vulture c.1374, from Anglo-Fr. vultur, O.Fr. voultour, from L. vultur, earlier voltur, perhaps related to vellere "to pluck, to tear." Fig. sense is recorded from 1582. vulva 1548, from L. vulva, earlier volva "womb, female sexual organ," lit. "wrapper," from volvere "to turn, twist, roll, revolve," also "turn over in the mind," from PIE base *wel- "to turn, revolve" (cf. Skt. valate "turns round," ulvam "womb, vulva;" Lith. valtis "twine, net," apvalus "round;" O.C.S. valiti "roll, welter," vluna "wave;" Gk. eluo "wind, wrap," helix "spiral object," eilein "to turn, squeeze;" Goth. walwjan "to roll;" O.E. wealwian "roll," weoloc "whelk, spiral-shelled mollusk;" O.H.G. walzan "to roll, waltz;" O.Ir. fulumain "rolling;" Welsh olwyn "wheel"). VW 1958, short for Volkswagen, which is Ger. for "people's car" (see folk + see wagon).