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The act of one who undertakes, or engages in, any project or business. Hakluyt.

condition of various social classes when temporarily thrown out of employment, as those engaged for short periods, those whose trade is decaying, and those least competent.

a common axis, or are all turned to one side. Unilateral contract (Law), a contract or engagement requiring future action only by one party.

Free from any temporary estate or interest, or from mortgage, or other charge or debt; as, an estate unincumbered with dower.

Not having the mind or the passions engaged; as, uninterested in a discourse or narration.

The principles, or the system, of combination among workmen engaged in the same occupation or trade.

To disentangle; to disengage or separate the threads of; as, to unravel a stocking.

To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of; as, to untie a knot. Sacharissa's captive fain Would untie his iron chain. Waller. Her snakes untied, sulphurous waters drink. Pope.

in in water; to come up with one's companions; to come up with the enemy; to live up to engagements. As a boar was whetting his teeth, up comes a fox to him. L'Estrange.

Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free; as, vacant hours. Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those . . . at leisure, and vacant from the affairs of the world. Dr. H. More. There was not a minute of the day which he left vacant. Bp. Fell.

Pledge; security; bail. See Mortgage. Vadium vivum Etym: [LL.] (Law), a living pledge, which exists where an estate is granted until a debt is paid out of its proceeds.

A close railway car for baggage. See the Note under Car, 2. [Eng.]

An implied lien (that is, one not created by mortgage or other express agreement) given in equity to a vendor of lands for the unpaid purchase money.

venture on the seas. J. Dryden, Jr. To venture at, or To venture on or upon, to dare to engage in; to attempt without any certainty of success; as, it is rash to venture upon such a project. "When I venture at the comic style." Waller.

One engaged in viticulture.

One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer. [R.] Shak.

One devoted, consecrated, or engaged by a vow or promise; hence, especially, one devoted, given, or addicted, to some particular service, worship, study, or state of life. "You are already love's firm votary." Shak. 'T was coldness of the votary, not the prayer, that was in fault. Bp. Fell. But thou, my votary, weepest…

A kind of pledge or mortgage. [Written also wadsett.]

To engage in, as a contest, as if by previous gage or pledge; to carry on, as a war. [He pondered] which of all his sons was fit To reign and wage immortal war with wit. Dryden. The two are waging war, and the one triumphs by the destruction of the other. I. Taylor.

d; the subject of a bet. Wager of battel, or Wager of battle (O. Eng. Law), the giving of gage, or pledge, for trying a cause by single combat, formerly allowed in military, criminal, and civil causes. In writs of right, where the trial was by champions, the tenant produced his champion, who, by throwing down his glove…