A personal lexicon of unusual, archaic, scientific, and otherwise interesting words encountered in reading. Browse other letters from the Dictionary catalog.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| vacuous | empty. Lacking intelligence; stupid. Devoid of substance or meaning; inane. Devoid of expression; vacant. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle |
| vagabond | n. a vagrant, a tramp. A wanderer, a rover. adj. nomadic. Aimless; drifting. unpredictable. intr.v. roam about |
| vamoose | to leave hurriedly |
| van | the vanguard; the forefront |
| variorum | n. an edition of the works of an author with notes by various scholars or editors; an edition containing various versions of a text. adj. |
| varlet | an attendant or servant; a knight’s page; a rascal; a knave |
| varmint | mischievous or discreditable person |
| vaudeville | variety show |
| vaunt | tr.v. brag about; intr.v.; n. a boastful remark; speech of extravagant self-praise |
| veal | meat of calf; calf raised to be slaughtered for food |
| veldt | open grazing area of southern Africa. |
| venal | open to bribery; mercenary; capable of betraying honor, duty or scruples for a price, corruptible; marked by corrupt dealings, esp. bribery; obtainable for a price |
| venery | indulgence in or pursuit of sexual activity; the act of sexual intercourse |
| verboten | forbidden; prohibited |
| Verdi, Giuseppe | 1813-1901. Italian composer of operas |
| verisimilitude | the quality of appearing to be true or real; something that has the appearance of being true or real |
| verity | a truth |
| vervet | small, long-tailed African monkey with yellowish-brown or green coat |
| vetch | herb with pinnate compound leaves terminating in tendrils and bearing variously colored flowers |
| vicegerent | an administrative deputy of a king or magistrate |
| vignette | n. a short usually descriptive literary sketch; a short scene or incident; tr.v. to describe in a brief way |
| vindicate | avenge; exonerate, absolve, confirm, substantiate; justify; assert |
| vintner | a wine merchant; one who makes wine |
| virago | a woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering; a large, strong, courageous woman |
| vis-a-vis | opposite; in relation to; as compared with; escort; counterpart; “face to face” |
| vitiate | contaminate, pollute, debase, pervert; to make legally without force, invalidate |
| vitriol | bitterly abusive feeling or expression |
| vitriolic | bitterly scathing; caustic |
| viva voce | by word of mouth |
| vivace | in a lively or vivacious manner |
| vixen | a female fox; a woman regarded as quarrelsome, shrewish, or malicious |
| vizier | a high officer in Moslem government |
| vole | rodent having shorter tail and limbs but heavier body than mouse. |
| voluptuary | a person whose life is given over to luxury and sensual pleasures; a sensualist |
| voluptuous | giving, characterized by, or suggesting ample, unrestrained pleasure to the senses |
| vorlex | whirlpool |
| votary | a person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service. A devout adherent of a cult or religion; a committed worshiper. A person who is fervently devoted, as to a leader or an ideal; a faithful follower. A person who is filled with enthusiasm, as for a pursuit or hobby; an enthusiast |
| vouchsafe | tr.v. to condescend to grant or bestow (a privilege, e.g.); deign |
| vulpine | of, resembling, or characteristic of a fox; cunning |
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