Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VAL-E-TU-DI-NA'RI-AN, or VAL-E-TU'DI-NA-RY, n.

A person of a weak, infirm or sickly constitution; one who is seeking to recover health. Valetudinarians must live where they can command and scold . – Swift.

VAL-E-TU-DI-NA'RI-AN-ISM, n.

A state of feeble health; infirmity. – Ch. Spectator.

VAL'I-ANCE, n. [val'yance.]

Bravery; valor. [Not in use.] – Spenser.

VAL'IANT, a. [val'yant; Fr. vaillant, from valoir, L. valeo, to be strong.]

1. Primarily, strong; vigorous in body; as, a valiant fencer. – Walton.
2. Brave; courageous; intrepid in danger; heroic; as, a valiant soldier. Be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. – 1 Sam. xviii.
3. Performed with valor; bravely conducted; heroic; as, a valiant action or achievement; a valiant combat. – Nelson.

VAL'IANT-LY, adv.

1. Stoutly; vigorously; with personal strength.
2. Courageously; bravely; heroically.

VAL'IANT-NESS, n.

1. Stoutness; strength.
2. Most generally, valor; bravery; intrepidity in danger. Achimetes, having won the top of the walls, by the valiantness of the defendants was forced to retire. – Knolles.

VAL'ID, a. [Fr. valide; L. validus, from valeo, to be strong. The primary sense of the root is to strain or stretch.]

1. Having sufficient strength or force; founded in truth; sound; just; good that can be supported; not weak or defective; as, a valid reason; a valid argument; a valid objection.
2. Having legal strength or force; efficacious; executed with the proper formalities; that can not be rightfully overthrown or set aside; supportable by law or right; as, a valid deed; a valid covenant; a valid instrument of any kind; a valid claim or title; a valid marriage.
3. Strong; powerful; in a literal sense; as, valid arms. [Not in use.]

VAL-ID-A'TION, n.

The act of giving validity to . – Knowles.

VA-LID'I-TY, n. [Fr. validité; from valid.]

1. Strength or force to convince; justness; soundness; as, the validity of an argument or proof; the validity of an objection.
2. Legal strength or force; that quality of a thing which renders it supportable in law or equity; as, the validity of a will; the validity of a grant; the validity of a claim or of a title. Certain forms and solemnities are usually requisite to give validity to contracts and conveyances of rights.
3. Value. [Not in use.] – Shak.

VAL'ID-LY, adv.

In a valid manner; in such a manner or degree as to make firm or to convince.

VAL'ID-NESS, n.

Validity – which see.

VAL'INCH, n.

A tube for drawing liquors from a cask by the bung hole.

VA-LISE, n. [Fr.]

A horseman's case or portmanteau.

VAL-LAN'CY, n. [from valance.]

A large wig that shades the face. – Dryden.

VAL-LA'TION, n. [L. vallatus, from vallum, a wall.]

A rampart or entrenchment. – Warton.

VAL'LEY, n. [plur. Valleys. Fr. vallée; L. vallis. See Vale.]

1. A hollow or low tract of land between hills or mountains.
2. A low extended plain, usually alluvial, penetrated or washed by a river. The valley of the Connecticut is remarkable for its fertility and beauty. Ye mountains, sink: ye valleys rise; / Prepare the Lord his way. – Watts.
3. In building, a gutter over the sleepers in the roof of a building. – Cyc.

VAL'LUM, n. [L.]

A trench or wall. – Warton.

VAL'OR, n. [L. valor; Fr. valeur; from L. valeo, to be strong, to be worth.]

Strength of mind in regard to danger; that quality which enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery; courage; intrepidity; prowess. When valor preys on reason, / It eats the sword it fights with. – Shak. For contemplation he and valor form'd. – Milton. Ad valorem, in commerce, according to the value; as, an ad valorem duty.

VAL'OR-OUS, a.

Brave; courageous; stout; intrepid; as, a valorous knight.

VAL'OR-OUS-LY, adv.

In a brave manner; heroically.

VAL'U-A-BLE, a. [Fr. valable; from value.]

1. Having value or worth; having some good qualities which are useful and esteemed; precious; as, a valuable horse; valuable land; a valuable house.
2. Worthy; estimable; deserving esteem; as, a valuable friend; a valuable companion.

VAL-U-A'TION, n. [from value.]

1. The act of estimating the value or worth; the act of setting a price; as, the just valuation of civil and religious privileges.
2. Apprizement; as, a valuation of lands for the purpose of taxation.
3. Value set upon a thing; estimated worth. So slight a valuation. – Shak.

VAL'U-A-TOR, n.

One who sets a value; an apprizer.

VAL'UE, n. [val'u; Fr. valoir, valu; from L. valor, from valeo, to be worth; It. valore; Sp. valor.]

1. Worth; that property or those properties of a thing which render it useful or estimable; or the degree of that property or of such properties. The real value of a thing is its utility, its power or capacity of procuring or producing good. Hence the real or intrinsic value of iron, is far greater than that of gold. But there is, in many things, an estimated value, depending on opinion or fashion, such as the value of precious stones. The value of land depends on its fertility, or on its vicinity to a market, or on both.
2. Price; the rate of worth set upon a commodity, or the amount for which a thing is sold. We say, the value of a thing is what it will bring in market.
3. Worth; applied to persons. Ye are all physicians of no value. Job xiii. Ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matth. x.
4. High rate. Cesar is well acquainted with your virtue, / And therefore sets this value on your life. – Addison.
5. Importance; efficacy in producing effects; as, considerations of no value. Before events shalt have decided on the value of the measures. – Marshall.
6. Import; precise signification; as, the value of a word or phrase. – Mitford.

VAL'UE, v.t. [val'u.]

1. To estimate the worth of; to rate at a certain price; to apprize; as, to value lands or goods.
2. To rate at a high price; to have in high esteem; as, a valued poem or picture. A man is apt to value his own performances at too high a rate; he is even disposed to value himself for his humility.
3. To esteem; to hold in respect and estimation; as, to value one for his works or virtues.
4. To take account of. The mind doth value every moment. – Bacon.
5. To reckon or estimate with respect to number or power. The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong. – Shak.
6. To consider with respect to importance. The king must take it ill, / So slightly valu'd in his messenger. – Shak. Neither of them valued their promises according to the rules of honor or integrity. – Clarendon.
7. To raise to estimation. Some value themselves to their country by jealousies to the crown. [Not in use.] – Temple.
8. To be worth. [Not in use.] – Shak.