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A yellowish translucent substance, almost odorless and tasteless, obtained as a residue in the purification of crude petroleum, and consisting essentially of a mixture of several of the higher members of the paraffin series. It is used as an unguent, and for various purposes in the arts. See the Note under Petrolatum.…

nturous soldier. Spenser. This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm He plucked, he tasted. Milton. -- Ven"tur*ous*ly, adv. -- Ven"tur*ous*ness, n.

eratrum) and from sabadilla seeds as a white crystalline powder, having an acrid, burning taste. It is sometimes used externally, as in ointments, in the local treatment of neuralgia and rheumatism. Called also veratria, and veratrina.

A writer of verses; especially, a writer of commonplace poetry; a poetaster; a rhymer; -- used humorously or in contempt.

food; victuals; -- used chiefly in the plural. Cowper. Viands of various kinds allure the taste. Pope.

Of or pertaining to wine; having the qualities of wine; as, a vinous taste.

To be violent; to act violently. [Obs.] The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste, An violenteth in a sense as strong As that which causeth it. Shak.

A love of the fine arts; a taste for curiosities. J. Spence. An article, or piece, of virtu, an object of art or antiquity; a curiosity, such as those found in museums or private collections. I had thoughts, in my chambers to place it in view, To be shown to my friends as a piece of virtù. Goldsmith.…

A clear, viscous, tasteless substance extracted from the mucilaginous sap of the mistletoe (Viscum album), holly, etc., and constituting an essential ingredient of birdlime.

be used to vitiate our minds. Burke. This undistinguishing complaisance will vitiate the taste of readers. Garth.

pertaining to vitriol; derived from, or resembling, vitriol; vitriolous; as, a vitriolic taste. Cf. Vitriol. Vitriolic acid (Old Chem.), (a) sulphuric acid. See Vitriol (b). [Colloq.]

Hence, lacking cultivation or refinement; rustic; boorish; also, offensive to good taste or refined feelings; low; coarse; mean; base; as, vulgar men, minds, language, or manners. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Shak. Vulgar fraction. (Arith.) See under Fraction.

A vulgar phrase or expression. A fastidious taste will find offense in the occasional vulgarisms, or what we now call "slang," which not a few of our writers seem to have affected. Coleridge.

a), mostly small annual herbs growing in the edges of ponds. Some have a peppery or acrid taste.

Hence, abounding in thin, tasteless, or insipid fluid; tasteless; insipid; vapid; spiritless.

Insipid; tasteless; unsavory. [Obs.] Wearish as meat is that is not well tasted. Palsgrave.

Having the taste or qualities of wine; vinous; as, grapes of a winy taste. Dampier.

. -- Wood sorrel (Bot.), a plant of the genus Oxalis (Oxalis Acetosella), having an acid taste. See Illust. (a) of Shamrock. -- Wood spirit. (Chem.) See Methyl alcohol, under Methyl. -- Wood stamp, a carved or engraved block or stamp of wood, for impressing figures or colors on fabrics. -- Wood star (Zoöl.), any on…

A little European herb (Asperula odorata) having a pleasant taste. It is sometimes used for flavoring wine. See Illust. of Whorl.

their concerns; the sum of human affairs and interests. That forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe. Milton.