Part 263

Vi*gnette" (?), n. A picture, illustration, or depiction in words, esp. one of a small or dainty kind.

Vi*gnett"er (?), n. 1. A device used by photographers in printing vignettes, consisting of a screen of paper or glass with a central aperture the edges of which become opaque by intensible gradations.

2. A maker of vignettes.

Vin"e*gar fly. Any of several fruit flies, esp. Drosophila ampelopophila, which breed in imperfectly sealed preserves and in pickles.

Vin`e*gar*roon" (?), n. [Cf. Sp. vinagre vinegar.] A whip scorpion, esp. a large Mexican species (Thelyphonus giganteus) popularly supposed to be very venomous; -- from the odor that it emits when alarmed.

Vin`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. vinum wine + E. -fication.] The conversion of a fruit juice or other saccharine solution into alcohol by fermentation.

||Vi"num (?), n.; pl. Vina (#). [L. See Wine.] Wine, -- chiefly used in Pharmacy in the name of solutions of some medicinal substance in wine; as: vina medicata, medicated wines; vinum opii, wine of opium.

Vi"o*let-ear`, n. Any tropical humming bird of the genus Petasophora, having violet or purplish ear tufts.

Vi"per*oid (?), a. [Viper + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the vipers.

Vi*sa"yan (?), n. [Cf. Sp. Bisayo a Visayan.] A member of the most numerous of the native races of the Philippines, occupying the Visayan Islands and the northern coast Mindanao; also, their language. The Visayans possessed a native culture and alphabet.

Vis"i*ble speech". (Phon.) A system of characters invented by Prof. Alexander Melville Bell to represent all sounds that may be uttered by the speech organs, and intended to be suggestive of the position of the organs of speech in uttering them.

||Vis ma"jor. [L. major greater.] (Law) A superior force which under certain circumstances is held to exempt from contract obligations; inevitable accident; -- a civil-law term used as nearly equivalent to, but broader than, the common-law term act of God (which see).

Vis"u*al*ize (?), v. i. To form a mental image of something not present before the eye at the time.

Vis"u*al*iz`er (?), n. One who visualizes or is proficient in visualization; esp. (Physiol.), one whose mental imagery is prevailingly visualization.

Vi"ta*scope (?), n. [L. vita life + -scope.] A form of machine for exhibiting animated pictures.

Vit"rage (?), n. [F., prop., glazing, glass window.] A curtain of light and translucent material intended to be secured directly to the woodwork of a French casement window or a glazed door.

Vit"rics (?), n. [See Vitric.] 1. The art or study of the manufacture and decoration of glassware.

2. pl. Articles of glassware, glassware in general.

Vit"rine (?), n. [F.] A glass show case for displaying fine wares, specimens, etc.

Vit"ri*ol (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. -oled (?) or -olled; p. pr. & vb. n. -oling or -olling.] [From Vitriol, n.] 1. (Metal.) To dip in dilute sulphuric acid; to pickle.

2. To vitriolize. [Colloq.]

Vit"ri*ol*ize (?), v. t. To injure (a person) with vitriol, or sulphuric acid, as by throwing it upon the face.

Vit"ro-di-tri"na (?), n. [It. vetro di trina glass of lace.] A kind of Venetian glass or glassware in which white threads are embedded in transparent glass with a lacelike or netlike effect.

||Vi"va (?), interj. [It.] Lit., (long) live; -- an exclamation expressing good will, well wishing, etc. -- n. The word viva, or a shout or sound made in uttering it.

A wilder burst of "vivas".

R. H. Davis.

||Vi`van`dier" (?), n. [OF. & F. vivandier, fr. LL. vivanda, vivenda, provisions. Cf. Viand.] In Continental armies, esp. the French, a sutler.

||Vi`vant" (?), n. [F., p.pr., living.] In mort, bridge, and similar games, the partner of dummy.