Barrons V-Z

n vagary

capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander

vagrant

wandering from place to place; roving; stray; moving in a random fashion; Ex. vagrant thoughts; N. vagrancy

vagrant

homeless wanderer

n vainglorious

boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity

valedictory

pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)

s valediction

saying farewell; expression of leave-taking

s leave-taking

farewell or departure

valid

logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective; Ex. valid reasoning/passport

s sound

in good condition; showing good judgment or good sense; thorough; complete; Ex. sound mind/investment/training

validate

make valid; confirm; ratify

valor

bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave

vampire

ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living

n vanguard

forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard

s avantgarde

group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard

vantage

position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point); CF. vantagepoint

n vapid

lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture

vaporize

turn into vapor (steam

n variegated

(esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored

s variegate

change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)

n vassal

in feudalism

n vaunted

boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag

n veer

change in direction; swerve

n vegetate

live in a monotonous way (without interests or activity); CF. vegetation: plants of an area; CF. vegetarian; CF. vegan

vehement

forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence

velocity

speed

n venal

capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal

n vendetta

blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams

vendor

seller

n veneer

thin surface layer (of good quality wood

n venerable

deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get

n venerate

revere; treat with great respect

n venial

(of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial

n venison

meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork

n venom

poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of venom; ADJ. venomous

n vent

small opening; outlet (as of fumes or a gas); Ex. He gave vent to his anger by kicking the chair.

n vent

release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.

s ventilate

admit fresh air into to replace stale air

n ventral

abdominal

ventriloquist

someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism

venture

risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.

s brave

face courageously; Ex. brave the storm

venturesome

(of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky

n venue

location; place (of a crime

n veracious

(of a person) truthful

n veracity

truthfulness; adherence to the truth

verbalize

put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb

verbatim

word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly

verbiage

pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness

verbose

wordy; N. verbosity

n verdant

green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows

s lush

(of a plant or grass) growing very well

n verdigris

green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather

verge

border; edge

n verisimilar

having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible

n verisimilitude

appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth

n veritable

being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary

verity

quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities

n vernacular

living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular

n vernal

pertaining to spring

versatile

having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility

vertex

summit; highest point; PL. vertices

vertigo

severe dizziness; giddiness

n verve

enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor

vestige

trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion

s veto

vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right; V: prevent or forbid by exercising the power of veto

vex

annoy; distress

viable

capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable; Ex. viable scheme

n viand

food; CF. live

n vicarious

experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ

s vicar

parish priest; representative

n vicissitude

change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China

n victuals

food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food

vie

contend; compete

vigilant

watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance

s vigil

keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil

s vigilante

one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers

vigor

active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous

n vignette

small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene

n vilify

slander; speak evil of; N. vilification

n vindicate

clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one's client; Ex. vindicate one's claim; CF. vindicator

n vindictive

disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak

n vintner

wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine

viper

poisonous snake

virile

manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength

virtual

in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space

virtue

goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity

n virtuoso

highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso

n virulent

(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom

virus

disease communicator

n visage

face; appearance

n visceral

felt in one's inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate

n viscid

adhesive; gluey

viscous

(of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency

n vise

vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device

n visionary

produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas

s vision

eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural

vital

full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize

s vibrant

full of vigor or energy; vibrating

n vitiate

spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally

n vitreous

of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify

n vitriolic

causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass

n vituperative

abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively

n vivacious

lively or animated; sprightly

s sprightly

lively

vivisection

act of dissecting living animals

n vixen

female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew

vociferous

clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)

n vogue

popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.

n volatile

changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street

volition

act of using one's will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.

voluble

fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility

s volley

simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.

voluminous

having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large

s bulk

size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size

s voodoo

religion practiced chiefly in Haiti

voracious

ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader

vortex

whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged

n vouchsafe

grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment

s vouch

give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher

n voyeur

Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others

vulnerable

susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability

n vulpine

like a fox; crafty

s craft

skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning

s vulture

carrion-eating birds

s vying

contending; CF. vie

n waffle

speak equivocally about an issue; N.

n waft

move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window

n waggish

humorous; mischievous; tricky

s wag

shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit

n waif

homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays

waive

give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim

n wake

trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war

n wallow

roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury

n wan

having a pale or sickly color; pallid

n wanderlust

strong longing to travel

n wane

decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.

n wangle

achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.

s wiggle

wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions

s fake

not genuine; N: one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; V: counterfeit; Ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature

n wanton

unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause

n warble

(of a bird) sing; babble; N.

s warp

twist out of shape; N.

warranted

justified; authorized

s warrant

justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee

warranty

guarantee; assurance by seller

n warren

tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live

wary

very cautious; watchful

n wastrel

waster; profligate

n wax

increase gradually (as the moon); grow

n waylay

ambush; lie in wait for and attack

s ambush

act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.

n wean

accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes

n weather

pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces

n welt

raised mark from a beating or whipping

n welter

confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble; Ex. welter of data

n welter

wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.

n wheedle

deceive

n whelp

young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family

whet

sharpen; stimulate;

whiff

puff or gust; hint;

whimsical

capricious; fanciful;

whinny

neigh like a horse;

whit

smallest speck;

whittle

pare; cut off bits;

whorl

ring of leaves around stem; ring;

willful

intentional; headstrong;

wily

cunning; artful;

wince

shrink back; flinch;

windfall

fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event;

winnow

sift; separate good parts from bad;

winsome

agreeable; gracious; engaging;

wispy

thin; slight; barely discernible;

wistful

vaguely longing; sadly pensive;

withdrawn

introverted; remote;

wither

shrivel; decay;

withhold

refuse to give; hold back;

withstand

stand up against; successfully resist;

witless

foolish; idiotic;

witticism

witty saying; wisecrack;

wizardry

sorcery; magic;

wizened

withered; shriveled;

woe

deep

wont

custom; habitual procedure;

worldly

engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual;

wrangle

quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle;

wrath

anger; fury;

wreak

inflict;

wrench

pull; strain; twist;

wrest

pull away; take by violence;

writ

written command issued by a court;

writhe

twist in coils; contort in pain;

wry

twisted; with a humorous twist;

xenophobia

fear or hatred of foreigners;

yen

longing; urge;

yeoman

man owning small estate; middle-class farmer;

yield

amount produced; crop; income on investment;

yield

give in; surrender;

yoke

join together; unite;

yokel

country bumpkin;

yore

time past;

zany

crazy; comic;

zeal

eager enthusiasm;

zealot

fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal;

zenith

point directly overhead in the sky; summit;

zephyr

gentle breeze; west wind;