Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VOT'ING, ppr.

Expressing the mind, will or preference in election, or in determining questions proposed; giving a vote or suffrage; electing, deciding, giving or enacting by vote.

VO'TIVE, a. [Fr. votif; L. votivus, from votus, vowed.]

Given by vow; devoted; as, votive offerings. Votive medals, are those on which vows of the people for emperors or empresses are expressed. Venus, take my votive glass. – Prior.

VO'TIVE-LY, adv.

By vow.

VOUCH, n.

Warrant; attestation. – Shak.

VOUCH, v.i.

To bear witness; to give testimony or full attestation. I can not vouch for the truth of the report. He declares he will not believe her, till the elector of Hanover shall vouch for the truth of what she has so solemnly affirmed. – Swift.

VOUCH, v.t. [Norm. voucher; L. voco. See Voice.]

1. To call to witness; to obtest. And vouch the silent stars and conscious moon. – Dryden.
2. To declare; to affirm; to attest; to warrant; to maintain by affirmations. They made him ashamed to vouch the truth of the relation, and afterward to credit it. – Atterbury.
3. To warrant; to confirm; to establish proof. The consistency of the discourse… .vouches it to be worthy of the great apostle. – Locke.
4. In law, to call into court to warrant and defend, or to make good a warranty of title. He vouches the tenant in tail, who vouches over the common vouchee. – Blackstone.

VOUCH'ED, pp.

Called to witness; affirmed or fully attested; called into court to make good a warranty.

VOUCH-EE', n.

In law, the person who is vouched or called into court to support or make good his warranty of title in the process of common recovery. – Blackstone.

VOUCH'ER, n.

1. One who gives witness or full attestation to any thing. The great writers of that age stand up together as vouchers for each other's reputation. – Spectator.
2. In law, the act of calling in a person to make good his warranty of title.
3. A book, paper or document which serves to vouch the truth of accounts, or to confirm and establish facts of any kind. The merchant's books are his vouchers for the correctness of his accounts. Notes, bonds, receipts and other writings, are used as vouchers in proving facts.

VOUCH'ER, or VOUCH'OR, n.

In law, the tenant in a writ of right; one who calls in another to establish his warranty of title. In common recoveries, there may be a single voucher, or double vouchers. – Blackstone.

VOUCH'ING, ppr.

Calling to witness; attesting by affirmation; calling in to maintain warranty of title.

VOUCH-SAFE', v.i.

To condescend; to deign; to yield. Vouchsafe, illustrious Ormond, to behold / What pow'r the charms of beauty had of old. – Dryden.

VOUCH-SAFE', v.t. [vouch and safe; to vouch or answer for safety.]

1. To permit to be done without danger.
2. To condescend to grant. Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two? – Shak. It is not said by the apostle that God vouchsafed to the heathen the means of salvation. – South.

VOUCH-SAF'ED, pp.

Granted in condescension.

VOUCH-SAFE'MENT, n.

Grant in condescension, as God's greatest communicated vouchsafements. – Boyle.

VOUCH-SAF'ING, ppr.

Condescending to grant; deigning.

VOUS-SOIR, n. [Fr.]

A wedge or stone cut for an arch.

VOW, n. [Fr. vœu; It. voto; L. votum, from voveo, to vow; probably a contracted word.]

1. A solemn promise made to God, or by a pagan to his deity. The Roman generals when they went to war, sometimes made a vow that they would build a temple to some favor deity, if he would give them victory. A vow is a promise of something to be given or done hereafter. A person is constituted a religious by taking three vows, of chastity, of poverty, and of obedience. Among the Israelites, the vows of children were not binding, unless ratified by the express or tacit consent of their father. Numb. xxx.
2. A solemn promise; as, the vows of unchangeable love and fidelity. In a moral and religious sense, vows are promises to God, as they appeal to God to witness their sincerity and the violation of them is a most heinous offense.

VOW, v.i.

To make vows or solemn promises. He that vows, must be careful to perform.

VOW, v.t. [Fr. vouer; L. voveo.]

1. To give, consecrate or dedicate to God by a solemn promise. When Jacob went to Mesopotamia, he vowed to God a tenth of his substance, and his own future devotion to his service. Gen. xxviii. When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay it. – Eccles. v.
2. To devote. – Spenser.

VOW'ED, pp.

Solemnly promised to God; given or consecrated by solemn promise.

VOW'EL, a.

Pertaining to a vowel; vocal.

VOW'EL, n. [L. vocalis, from voco; Fr. voyelle; It. vocale.]

1. In grammar, simple sound; a sound uttered by simply opening the mouth or organs; as the sound of a, e, o.
2. The letter or character which represents a simple sound.

VOW'EL-ED, a.

Furnished with vowels.

VOW'ER, n.

One who makes a vow.