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In a manner not to be approved of; improperly. [Obs. & R.] To diminish, by the authority of wise and knowing men, things unjustly and unprobably crept in. Strype.

To divest of the rank or authority of queen. Shak.

Not warranted; being without warrant, authority, or guaranty; unwarrantable.

ower; to usurp the right of a patron is to oust or dispossess him. Alack, thou dost usurp authority. Shak. Another revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and usurped government, would of course be perfectly justifiable. Burke.

To annul; to make void; to deprive of force; to make of no authority or validity; as, to vacate a commission or a charter; to vacate proceedings in a cause. That after act vacating the authority of the precedent. Eikon Basilike. The necessity of observing the Jewish Sabbath was Vacated by the apostolical institution of…

Proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as, a vague report. Some legend strange and value. Longfellow. Vague year. See Sothiac year, under Sothiac.

Legal strength, force, or authority; that quality of a thing which renders it supportable in law, or equity; as, the validity of a will; the validity of a contract, claim, or title.

A wand or staff of authority or justice. [Obs.] His hand a vare of justice did uphold. Dryden.

The doctrine of papal supremacy; extreme views in support of the authority of the pope; ultramontanism; -- a term used only by persons who are not Roman Catholics.

One who strongly adheres to the papal authority; an ultramontanist.

A rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; as, the verge, carried before a dean.

To clothe with authority, power, or the like; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; -- followed by with before the thing conferred; as, to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death. Had I been vested with the monarch's power. Prior.

The exercise of such authority; an act of prohibition or prevention; as, a veto is probable if the bill passes.

pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy; deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

ce or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul, etc. Vice admiral. Etym: [Cf. F. vice-amiral.] (a) An officer holding rank next below an admiral. By the existing laws, the rank of admiral and vice admiral in the United Sta…

An officer who is deputed by a superior, or by proper authority, to exercise the powers of another; a lieutenant; a vicar. Bacon. The symbol and vicegerent of the Deity. C. A. Young.

The governor of a country or province who rules in the name of the sovereign with regal authority, as the king's substitute; as, the viceroy of India.

rdinal virtues. See under Cardinal, a. -- In, or By, virtue of, through the force of; by authority of. "He used to travel through Greece by virtue of this fable, which procured him reception in all the towns." Addison. "This they shall attain, partly in virtue of the promise made by God, and partly in virtue of piety.…

The office, dignity, or authority of a vizier.

To call; to summon. [Obs.] [They] vouch (as I might say) to their aid the authority of the writers. Sir T. Elyot.