Search the Dictionary

Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



596 words match “TEMPER”

VEHEMENCE n.
as, the vehemence of love, anger, or other passions. I . . . tremble at his vehemence of temper. Addison.
VEIN n.
Peculiar temper or temperament; tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also, manner of speech or action; as, a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein. Shak. Certain discoursing wits which are of the same veins. Bacon. Invoke the Muses, and improve my vein. Waller.…
VICE n.
s; a harmful custom; immorality; depravity; wickedness; as, a life of vice; the vice of intemperance. I do confess the vices of my blood. Shak. Ungoverned appetite . . . a brutish vice. Milton. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honor is a private station. Addison.
VICINITY n.
as increased by the vicinity of two country seats. A vicinity of disposition and relative tempers. Jer. Taylor.
VINOLENT a.
Given to wine; drunken; intemperate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
VIRTUE n.
A particular moral excellence; as, the virtue of temperance, of charity, etc. "The very virtue of compassion." Shak. "Remember all his virtues." Addison.
VIVACIOUS a.
Sprightly in temper or conduct; lively; merry; as, a vivacious poet. "Vivacious nonsense." V. Knox.
VIXEN n.
A cross, ill-tempered person; -- formerly used of either sex, now only of a woman. Barrow. She was a vixen when she went to school. Shak.
VOLATILE a.
easily affected by circumstances; airy; lively; hence, changeable; fickle; as, a volatile temper. You are as giddy and volatile as ever. Swift. Volatile alkali. (Old Chem.) See under Alkali. -- Volatile liniment, a liniment composed of sweet oil and ammonia, so called from the readiness with which the latter evaporate…
WAIT v.
To follow, as a consequence; to await. "That ruin that waits on such a supine temper." Dr. H. More. (d) To look watchfully at; to follow with the eye; to watch. [R.] "It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye." Bacon. (e) To attend to; to perform. "Aaron and his sons . . . shallwait on…
WALNUT n.
, the tree, and its timber. The seven or eight known species are all natives of the north temperate zone.
WARM a.
Fig.: Not cool, indifferent, lukewarm, or the like, in spirit or temper; zealous; ardent; fervent; excited; sprightly; irritable; excitable. Mirth, and youth, and warm desire! Milton. Each warm wish springs mutual from the heart. Pope. They say he's warm man and does not care to be madAddison. I had been none of the wa…
WARM-BLOODED a.
mals, which have warm blood, or, more properly, the power of maintaining a nearly uniform temperature whatever the temperature of the surrounding air. See Homoiothermal.
WASH a.
Washy; weak. [Obs.] Their bodies of so weak and wash a temper. Beau. & Fl.
WASHINGTONIAN a.
Designating, or pertaining to, a temperance society and movement started in Baltimore in 1840 on the principle of total abstinence. -- n.
WATER ARUM n.
An aroid herb (Calla palustris) having a white spathe. It is an inhabitant of the north temperate zone.
WATER BATH n.
A device for regulating the temperature of anything subjected to heat, by surrounding the vessel containing it with another vessel containing water which can be kept at a desired temperature; also, a vessel designed for this purpose.
WATER JACKET n.
ber surrounding a vessel or tube in which water may be circulated, thereby regulating the temperature or supply of heat to the vessel. Used in laboratory and manufacturing equipment. water- jacketed. Having a water jacket; -- as, a water-jacketed condenser.
WATER THERMOMETER n.
A thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, for ascertaining the precise temperature at which water attains its maximum density. This is about 39º Fahr., or 4º Centigrade; and from that point down to 32º Fahr., or 0º Centigrade, or the freezing point, it expands.
WATERWORK n.
Painting executed in size or distemper, on canvas or walls, -- formerly, frequently taking the place of tapestry. Shak. Fairholt.
← Previous Page 29 of 30 Next →