Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VEIN, n. [Fr. veine; L. vena, from the root of venio, to come, to pass. The sense is a passage, a conduit.]

1. A vessel in animal bodies, which receives the blood from the extreme arteries, and returns it to the heart. The veins may be arranged in three divisions. 1) Those that commence from the capillaries all over the body, and return the blood to the heart. 2) The pulmonary veins. 3) The veins of the vena portae, in which the blood that has circulated through the organs of digestion is conveyed to the liver. Cyc.
2. In plants, a tube or an assemblage of tubes, through which the sap is transmitted along the leaves. The term is more properly applied to the finer and more complex ramifications, which interbranch with each other like net-work; the larger and more direct assemblages of vessels being called ribs and nerves. Veins are also found in the calyx and corol of flowers. Cyc. The vessels which branch or variously divide over the surface of leaves are called veins. Martyn. In geology, a fissure in rocks or strata, filled with a particular substance. Thus metallic veins intersect rocks or strata of other substances. Metalliferous veins have been traced in the earth for miles; some in South America are said to have been traced eighty miles. Many species of stones, as granite, porphyry, &c. are often found in veins. Cyc.
3. A streak or wave of different color, appearing in wood, marble, and other stones - variegation.
4. A cavity or fissure in the earth or in other substance.
5. Tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; as, a rich vein of wit or humor; a satirical vein. Invoke the mules, and Improve my vein. Waller.
6. Current. He can open a vein of true and noble thinking. Swift.
7. Humor; particular temper. Shak.
8. Strain; quality; as, my usual vein. Oldham.

VEIN-ED, a. [from vein.]

1. Full of veins; streaked; variegated; as, veined marble.
2. In botany, having vessels branching over the surface, as a leaf.

VEIN-ING, a.

Forming veins.

VEIN-LESS, a.

In botany, having no veins; as, a veinless leaf. Barton.

VEIN-Y, a.

Full of veins; as, veiny marble. Thomson.

VE-LIFER-OUS, a. [L. velum, a sail, and fero, to bear.]

Bearing or carrying sails. Evelyn.

VEL-IT-ATION, n. [L. velitatio.]

A dispute or contest; a slight skirmish. [Not in use.] Burton.

VE-LIV'O-LANT, a. [L. velum and volo.]

Passing under full sail.

VELL, n. [Qu. fell, a skin.]

A rennet bag. [Local.]

VELL, v.t. [Qu. fell, a skin.]

To cut off the turf or sward of land. [Local.] Cyc.

VEL-LEI-TY, n. [Fr. velleite; from L. velle, to will.]

A term by which the schools express the lowest degree of desire. Locke.

VEL'LI-CATE, t. [L. vellico, from vello, to pull. It may be from the root of pull.]

To twitch; to stimulate; applied to the muscles and fibers of animals; to cause to twitch convulsively. Cyc.

VEL'LI-CA-TED, pp.

Twitched or caused to twitch.

VEL'LI-CA-TING, ppr.

Twitching; convulsing.

VEL-LI-CATION, n.

1. The act of twitching, or of causing to twitch.
2. A twitching or convulsive motion of a muscular fiber.

VEL'LI-CA-TIVE, a.

Having the power of vellicating, plucking or twitching.

VEL'LUM, n. [Fr. relin. It coincides with fell, D. eel, skin; probably from the root of L. cello.]

A finer kind of parchment or skin, rendered clear and white for writing.

VELLUM-POST, n.

A particular sort of superior writing paper.

VELOCE, n.

In music, quick.

VE-LOC'I-PED, n. [L. velox, swift, and pes, foot.]

1. A carriage for one person, having two wheels placed one before the other, in the same line, and connected by a beam, on which the person sits astride, and propels the vehicle, by striking the tips of his toes against the earth.
2. A name given to a boat, car, or other vehicle, which moves with rapidity.
3. Any thing which moves with velocity.

VE-LOCI-TY, n. [Fr. velocite; L. velocitas, from velor, swift, allied to volo, to fly.]

1. Swiftness; celerity; rapidity; as, the velocity of wind; the velocity of a planet or comet in its orbit or course; the velocity of a cannon ball; the velocity of light. In these phrases, velocity is more generally used than celerity. We apply celerity to animals; as, a horse or an ostrich runs with celerity, and a stream rune with rapidity or velocity; but bodies moving in the air or in ethereal space, move with greater or less velocity, not celerity. This usage is arbitrary, and perhaps not universal.
2. In philosophy, velocity is that affection of motion by which a body moves over a certain space in a certain time. Velocity is in direct proportion to the space over which a body moves. Velocity is absolute or relative; absolute, when a body moves over a certain space in a certain time; relative, when it has respect to another moving body. Velocity is also uniform or equal; or it is unequal, that is, retarded or accelerated.

VELURE, n. [Fr. velours.]

Velvet. [Obs.] Shalt.

VEL'VET, or VEL'VET-ED, a.

Made of velvet; or soft and delicate, like velvet.

VEL'VET, n. [It. renalo; Sp. wax&; Fr. velours; L. tvilus, hair, nap.]

A rich silk stuff, covered on the outside with a close, short, fine, soft shag or nap. The name is given also to cotton stuffs.

VELVET, v.t.

To paint velvet. Peachans.