Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VI'AL-ED, pp.

Put in a vial.

VI'AL-ING, ppr.

Inclosing in a vial.

VI'AND, n. [Fr. viande; from It. vivanda; L. vivendus, vivo, to live.]

Meat dressed; food. Viands of various kinds allure the taste. – Pope. [It is used chiefly in the plural.]

VI'A-RY, a.

Happening in roads.

VI-AT'IC, a. [L. viaticum, from via, way.]

Pertaining to a journey or to traveling.

VI-AT'I-CUM, n. [L. supra.]

1. Provisions for a journey.
2. Among the ancient Romans, an allowance to officers who were sent into the provinces to exercise any office or perform any service, also to the officers and soldiers of the army. – Cyc.
3. In the Romish church, the communion or eucharist given to persons in their last moments.

VI'BRANT, or VIB'RI-ON, n. [L. vibrans.]

A name given to the ichneumon fly, from the continual vibration of its antennae. – Cyc.

VI'BRATE, v.i. [L. vibro; It. vibrare. This word belongs to the root of Eng. wabble; W. gwibiaw, to wander, to move in a circular or serpentine direction.]

1. To swing; to oscillate; to move one way and the other; to play to and fro; as, the pendulum of a clock vibrate more or less rapidly, as it is shorter or longer. The chords of an instrument vibrate when touched.
2. To quiver; as, a whisper vibrates on the ear. – Pope.
3. To pass from one state to another; as, a man vibrates from one opinion to another.

VI'BRA-TE, v.t.

1. To brandish; to move to and fro; to swing; as, to vibrate a sword or staff. The pendulum of a clock vibrates seconds.
2. To cause to quiver. Breath vocalized, that is, vibrated or undulated, may differently affect the lips, and impress a swift tremulous motion. – Holder.

VI'BRA-TED, pp.

Brandished; moved one way and the other.

VI-BRA-TIL'I-TY, n.

Disposition to preternatural vibration or motion. [Not much used.] – Rush.

VI'BRA-TING, ppr.

Brandishing; moving to and fro, as a pendulum or musical chord.

VI-BRA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. vibro.]

1. The act of brandishing; the act of moving or state of being moved one way and the other in quick succession.
2. In mechanics, a regular reciprocal motion of a body suspended; a motion consisting of continual reciprocations or returns; as of the pendulum of a time-keeper. This is frequently called oscillation. The number of vibrations in a given time depends on the length of the vibrating body; a pendulum three feet long, makes only ten vibrations, while one of nine inches makes twenty. The vibrations of a pendulum are somewhat slower at or near the equator, than in remote latitudes. The vibrations of a pendulum are isochronal in the same climate. – Cyc.
3. In physics, alternate or reciprocal motion; as, the vibrations of the nervous fluid, by which sensation has been supposed to be produced, by impressions of external objects propagated thus to the brain. – Cyc.
4. In music, the motion of a chord, or the undulation of any body, by which sound is produced. The acuteness, elevation, and gravity of sound, depend on the length of the chord and its tension.

VI-BRAT'I-UN-CLE, n.

A small vibration. – Chambers. Cyc.

VI'BRA-TIVE, a.

That vibrates. – Newton.

VI'BRA-TO-RY, a.

1. Vibrating; consisting in vibration or oscillation; as, a vibratory motion.
2. Causing to vibrate.

VIC'AR, n. [Fr. vicaire; It. vicario; L. vicarius, from vicis, a turn, or its root.]

1. In a general sense, a person deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office. The pope pretends to be vicar of Jesus Christ on earth. He has under him a grand vicar, who is a cardinal, and whose jurisdiction extends over all priests, regular and secular.
2. In the canon law, the priest of a parish, the predial tithes of which are impropriated or appropriated, that is, belong to a chapter or religious house, or to a layman, who receives them, and only allows the vicar the smaller tithes or a salary. – Cyc. Apostolical vicars, are those who perform the functions of the pope in churches or provinces committed to their direction. – Cyc.

VIC'AR-AGE, n.

The benefice of a vicar. A vicarage by endowment, becomes a benefice distinct from the parsonage. – Cyc.

VIC-AR-GEN'ER-AL, n.

A title given by Henry VIII. to the earl of Essex, with power to oversee all the clergy, and regulate all church affairs. It is now the title of an office, which, as well as that of official principal, is united in the chancellor of the diocese. The business of the vicar-general is to exercise jurisdiction over matters purely spiritual. – Cyc.

VI-CA'RI-AL, a. [from vicar.]

Pertaining to a vicar; small; as, vicarial tithes.

VI-CA'RI-ATE, a.

Having delegated power, as vicar . – Barrow.

VI-CA'RI-ATE, n.

A delegated office or power. – Lord North.

VI-CA'RI-OUS, a. [L. vicarius.]

1. Deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.
2. Acting for another; filling the place of another; as, a vicarious agent or officer.
3. Substituted in the place of another; as, a vicarious sacrifice. The doctrine of vicarious punishment has occasioned much controversy.

VI-CA'RI-OUS-LY, adv.

In the place of another; by substitution . – Burke.

VIC'AR-SHIP, n.

The office of a vicar; the ministry of a vicar.