Glossary (words starting with V)
vacation
'A period during which there is a formal suspension of activity; one or other part of the year during which law-courts, universities, or schools are suspended or closed' (OED n. 2a).
vacations
periods between terms when the law courts are closed
vagaries
whims, eccentricities
vagaries
wanderings, departures, or strayings from the ordered, regular, or usual course of conduct, decorum, or propriety (OED 3a)
vagaries
excursions, particularly of a somewhat extravagant and whimsical kind
vagary
excursion, stroll (OED n. 1a); ‘a frolic or prank, esp. one of a freakish nature’ (OED n. 3a)
vagary
capricious conduct (often involving a journey or excursion)
vagrancies
actions of roaming abroad or wandering about from place to place
vail bonnet
doff their caps as a sign of respect for authority
vails
Christmas bonuses, gratuities given to the servants as their perquisites
vainglorious
excessively and ostentatiously vain
vainglory
inordinate or unwarranted pride in one's accomplishments or qualities; disposition or tendency to exalt oneself unduly (OED n. 1)
valiant
bold
valour
courage
valuable
a reasonable sum (OED adj. 1b); valid, sound (OED adj. 5: first citation 1647)
vamp
to mend, repair or restore (OED v1. I 1)
vanquish
overcome, defeat, win
vapoured
formed of vapour (OED 2)
variance
state or fact of disagreeing or falling out; discord, dissension, contention, debate (OED 6a, 7 and 8)
varlet
servant, menial (OED 1); knave, rascal (OED 2): often used as an abusive form of address
varlet
rogue, menial
varlets
knaves, rogues, menials
vassal
slavish, servile
vehement
'performed with unusual force or violence' (a usage which the OED dates as current from 1531)
veiled
concealed
vein
talent, genius; characteristic style of language or expression (OED n. 11b)
vein
seam, underground deposit
vein
‘a natural tendency towards, a special aptitude or capacity for, the production of literary or artistic work; a particular strain of talent or genius’ (OED n. 11)
venery
sexuality, lust (but the reference here hints at the astrological influence of the planet, Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love and sex)
venery
pursuit of sexual pleasure; indulgence of sexual desire
vent
discharge, expel (OED v2. 2a)
vent
give free expression to; utter
vented
discharged, evacuated (OED v2. 2b)
vents
vends or sells (something) (OED notes that this form was very common c. 1600 to c. 1670)
venture
risk, hazard
venture
take the risk
venture
risk oneself
venture
stake, hazard, gamble, lay
venture
enterprise, commercial speculation
venture
(v.) to risk the loss or hazard of something
ventured
dared, took this risk
venturer
'one who ventures, in various senses; an adventurer'; but also, continuing the reference to the illicit sex trade, 'a strumpet or prostitute' (OED 1 and 3)
venturous
daring, bold, adventurous
Venus
goddess of love and sexuality
verbatim
word for word; in the exact words of the original
verge
limit of an area of jurisdiction (OED n1. 12c)
verge
bounds, limits or precincts of a particular place (OED n1, 11a, where the earliest example given for this sense is 1641)
verge
edge, rim, circumference (the verge of the world is, therefore, the equator)
verier
truer
verily
In truth or verity; really, truly (OED adv A)
verity
truth
verjuice
sour: verjuice is an acidic juice pressed from unripe grapes, crab-apples, or other sour fruit, to be used in cooking, as a condiment, or for medicinal purposes (OED 1)
vermilion
bright red or scarlet
vermillion
cinnabar or red crystalline mercuric sulphide, much valued on account of its brilliant scarlet colour, used from Roman times onwards as a cosmetic or for painting the body
vermin
a term used to refer to various kinds of ‘noxious or objectionable’ (OED n. 1) animals, including parasitic insects (OED n. 2); used more generally to refer to vile or depraved human beings (OED n. 3)
very
truly entitled to the name or designation, as absolute a (knave) as
very
true (truly entitled to the name or designation)
very
of a friend, servant, or wife: true, faithful (OED adj. I 6); very own
vex
To afflict with mental agitation or trouble; to make anxious or depressed; to distress deeply or seriously; to worry with anxiety or thought (OED `vex' v, 3)
vex
torment; but also with the suggestion of urging (that which is painful to undertake) or teasing (OED v. II 6c and I 4c)
vex
trouble, irritate, torment
vexation
trouble, harassment, affliction
vexes
troubles, irritates, torments
vial
a small glass bottle, or phial
viands
food (but more specifically, meat)
viaticum
travelling allowance
victuals
food, meals
vie
a term deriving from card-games, where it refers to a challenge or a bid, or the sum put on one’s cards (OED n3. 1), used to refer to a challenge from a rival in a contest or competition (OED n3. 2)
vies
displays, especially in competition with something (OED vie v, 4)
vild
vile
vile
base, depraved
vilifies
dishonours, degrades, discredits
villain
scoundrel, rascal (with imputation of low social status)
vindicate
clears from criticism or doubt by means of demonstration; justifies or upholds by evidence or argument; endorses
vindicate
avenge (OED v. 1b)
vindicate
clear from suspicion or criticism (OED v. 3)
vintner
a person who deals in or sells wine
viols
early forms of stringed instruments played with a bow that came in different pitches akin to the modern violin, viola or cello
virago
'a man-like, vigorous, and heroic woman; a female warrior; an amazon' (OED n. 2)
virgin
appropriate to a virgin: chaste, pure; fresh or new (OED virgin a, 16)
virtue
quintessence, excellence
virtue
worth, efficacy (OED n. II 9d)
visage
face
vision
something seen in a dream or trance, often prophetic
visitants
visitors, suitors
visnomy
(physiognomy) face; appearance
visor
a mask to conceal the face (OED n. 2)
visors
masks (often elaborate and covering the whole head)
visors
front parts of helmets, covering the face; masks
vitals
those parts or organs of the body essential to life, or upon which life depends; the vital parts (OED n(pl), 1)
vitiated
corrupted, spoiled (OED)
vixen
‘an ill-tempered quarrelsome woman; a shrew, a termagant.’ (OED n. 2)
viz
videlicet: that is to say (Latin)
viz.
videlicet adv., meaning that is to say; namely: used to introduce an amplification, or more precise or explicit explanation
vizarded
masked
voice
(n) expression of choice or preference; right to vote (OED 3a, b)
voice
vote; support or approval (OED n. 3a and c)
voice
(v) speak
voiced
said, rumoured
votes
shouts of support
vouchsafe
consent, deign
vouchsafe
consents, deigns
vouchsafe
'to show a gracious readiness or willingness, to grant readily, to condescend or deign, to do something' (OED v. 6b)
Vulcan
the lame god of the forge, and husband of Venus
vulgar
common, general; uncultured (OED adj. 13: the earliest example cited for the latter is from 1643, but it may have been in use earlier)