A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

vers libre --- 1902, from Fr., lit. "free verse," lines of varying length.

versatile --- 1605, from L. versatilis "turning, revolving, moving, capable of turning to varied subjects or tasks," from pp. stem of versare "keep turning, be engaged in something, turn over in the mind," frequentative of vertere "to turn" (see versus).

verse --- c.1050, "line or section of a psalm or canticle," later "line of poetry" (c.1369), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vers, from L. versus "verse, line of writing," from PIE base *wer- "to turn, bend" (see versus). The metaphor is of plowing, of "turning" from one line to another (vertere = "to turn") as a plowman does. O.E. had fers, an early W.Gmc. borrowing directly from L. Meaning "metrical composition" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "part of a modern pop song" (as distinguished from the chorus) is attested from 1927. The English N.T. first divided fully into verses in the Geneva version (1551).

versed --- practiced, 1610, from pp. of obsolete verse "to turn over" (a book, subject, etc.) in study or investigation, from M.Fr. verser "to turn, revolve" as in meditation, from L. versare "to busy oneself," lit. "to turn to" (see versus).

versify --- c.1340 (implied in versifier), from O.Fr. versifier "turn into verse" (13c.), from L. versificare "compare verse," from versus "verse" (see verse) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious).

version --- 1582, "a translation," from M.Fr. version, from M.L. versionem (nom. versio) "a turning," from pp. stem of L. vertere "to turn" (see versus). Also with a M.E. sense of "destruction;" the meaning "particular form of a description" is first attested 1788.

verst --- 1555, Rus. unit of distance measure equal to about two-thirds of a mile, from Fus. versta, related to O.C.S. vrusta "stadium," vruteti (Rus. vertet) "to turn" (see versus).

versus --- 1447, in legal case names, denoting action of one party against another, from L. versus "turned toward or against," from pp. of vertere "to turn," from PIE *wert- "to turn, wind," from base *wer- "to turn, bend" (cf. O.E. -weard "toward," originally "turned toward," weorthan "to befall," wyrd "fate, destiny," lit. "what befalls one;" Skt. vartate "turns round, rolls;" Avestan varet- "to turn;" L. vertere (freq. versare) "to turn;" O.C.S. vruteti "to turn, roll," Rus. vreteno "spindle, distaff;" Lith. verciu "to turn;" Gk. rhatane "stirrer, ladle;" Ger. werden, O.E. weorðan "to become," for sense, cf. "to turn into;" Welsh gwerthyd "spindle, distaff;" O.Ir. frith "against").

vertebra --- 1615, from L. vertebra "joint or articulation of the body, joint of the spine" (pl. vertebræ), perhaps from vertere "to turn" (see versus) + instrum. suffix -bra. The notion is of the spine as the "hinge" of the body. Vertebrate (n.) is from 1826, from L. vertebratus (Pliny).

vertex --- 1570, "the point opposite the base in geometry," from L. vertex "highest point," lit. "the turning point," originally "whirling column, whirlpool," from vertere "to turn" (see versus). Meaning "highest point of anything" is first attested 1641.

vertical --- 1559, "of or at the vertex, directly overhead," from M.Fr. vertical (1545), from L.L. verticalis "overhead," from L. vertex (gen. verticis) "highest point" (see vertex). Meaning "straight up and down" is first recorded 1704.

vertiginous --- 1608, "of the nature of vertigo," from Fr. vertigineux, from L. vertiginosus "suffering from dizziness," from vertigo (see vertigo).

vertigo --- 1528, from L. vertigo "dizziness," originally "a whirling or spinning movement," from vertere "to turn" (see versus).

vervain --- herbaceous plant, much valued medicinally in Middle Ages, 1390, from O.Fr. verveine (13c.), from L. verbena (see verbena).

verve --- 1697, "special talent in writing," from Fr. verve "enthusiasm" (especially pertaining to the arts), in O.Fr. "caprice, odd humor, proverb" (12c.), probably from Gallo-Romance *verva, from L. verba "(whimsical) words," plural of verbum "word" (see verb). Meaning "mental vigor" is first recorded 1803.

vervet --- African monkey, 1884, from Fr., of unknown origin, perhaps short for vert grivet, lit. "a green grivet," indicating it was greener than the kind of monkey known as a grivet (itself a name of unknown origin).

very --- c.1250, verray "true, real, genuine," later "actual, sheer" (c.1390), from Anglo-Fr. verrai, O.Fr. verai "true," from V.L. *veracus, from L. verax (gen. veracis) "truthful," from verus "true," from PIE *weros- (cf. O.E. wær "a compact," O.Du., O.H.G. war, Du. waar, Ger. wahr "true;" Welsh gwyr, O.Ir. fir "true;" O.C.S. vera "faith"). Meaning "greatly, extremely" is first recorded 1448. Used as a pure intensive since M.E.

vesicle --- 1578, from M.Fr. vesicule, from L. vesicula, dim. of vesica "bladder, blister."

Vespa --- 1950, proprietary name of It. make of motor scooter, first produced 1946, from It., lit. "wasp," from L. vespa (see wasp). Rival brand was Lambretta.

vesper --- 1390, "the evening star," from O.Fr. vespre, from L. vesper (masc.), vespera (fem.) "evening star, evening, west," related to Gk. hesperos, and ultimately from PIE *wespero- (cf. O.C.S. veceru, Lith. vakaras, Welsh ucher, O.Ir. fescor "evening"), from base *we- "down" (cf. Skt. avah "down, downward"). Meaning "evening" is attested from 1606. Vespers "sixth canonical hour" is attested from 1611, from pl. of L. vespera "evening;" the native name was evensong (O.E. æfen-sang). Hence also vespertine "of or pertaining to evening" (1502).

vessel --- c.1303, "container," from O.Fr. vessel (Fr. vaisseau) from L. vascellum "small vase or urn," also "a ship," dim. of vasculum, itself a dim. of vas "vessel." Sense of "ship, boat" is found in Eng. c.1300. "The association between hollow utensils and boats appears in all languages" [Weekley]. Meaning "canal or duct of the body" (esp. for carrying blood) is attested from 1398.

vest (n.) --- 1613, "loose outer garment" (worn by men in Eastern countries or in ancient times), from Fr. veste, from It. vesta, veste "robe, gown," from L. vestis, from vestire "to clothe" (see vest (v.)). The sleeveless garment worn by men beneath the coat was introduced by Charles II.

vest (v.) --- c.1425, "to put in possession of a person," from M.Fr. vestir, from M.L. vestire "to put into possession, to invest," from L. vestire "to clothe," related to vestis "garment, clothing," from PIE *wes- "to clothe" (see wear). Vested "established, secured, settled" is attested from 1766.

vestal (adj.) --- chaste, pure, virgin, 1595, originally (1432) "belonging to or dedicated to Vesta," Roman goddess of hearth and home. The noun is recorded from 1579, short for Vestal virgin, one of four (later six) priestesses (L. virgines Vestales) in charge of the sacred fire in the temple of Vesta in Rome. The goddess name, attested in Eng. from 1387, corresponds to, and may be cognate with, Gk. Hestia, from hestia "hearth," from PIE base *wes- "to dwell, stay" (cf. Skt. vasati "stays, dwells," Goth. wisan, O.E., O.H.G. wesan "to be").

vestibule --- 1623, "a porch," later "antechamber, lobby" (1730), from Fr. vestible, from L. vestibulum "forecourt, entrance," of unknown origin.

vestige --- 1602, from Fr. vestige "a mark, trace, sign," from L. vestigium "footprint, trace," of unknown origin. Vestigial first recorded 1877.

vestment --- c.1300, from O.Fr. vestment (Fr. vêtement), from L. vestimentum "clothing, clothes," from vestire "to clothe" (see wear).

vestry --- 1388, probably from Anglo-Fr. *vesterie, from O.Fr. vestiaire "room for vestments," from L. vestarium "wardrobe," noun use of neuter of vestiarius (adj.) "of clothes," from vestis "garment" (see vest (v.)).

vesture --- c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vesture, from V.L. *vestitura "vestments, clothing," from L. vestivus, pp. of vestire "to clothe" (see wear).

vet (1) --- 1862, shortened form of veterinarian. The verb "to submit (an animal) to veterinary care" is attested from 1891; the colloquial sense of "subject to careful examination" (as of an animal by a veterinarian, especially of a horse before a race) is first attested 1904, in Kipling.

vet (2) --- 1848, shortened form of veteran.

vetch --- c.1374, from O.N.Fr. veche, variant of O.Fr. vece, from L. vicia, which perhaps is related to vincire "to bind" (cf. second element of periwinkle (1)). Du. wikke, Ger. Wicke are loan-words from L. vicia.

veteran (n.) --- 1509, "old experienced soldier," from Fr. vétéran, from L. veteranus "old," from vetus (gen. veteris) "old," from PIE *wetus- "year" (cf. Skt. vatsa- "year," Gk. etos "year," Hittite witish "year," O.C.S. vetuchu "old," O.Lith. vetušas "old, aged"). L. vetus is the ult. source of It. vecchio, Fr. vieux, Sp. viejo. General sense of "one who has seen long service in any office or position" is attested from 1597. The adjective first recorded 1611.

veterinarian --- animal doctor, 1646, from L. veterinarius "of or having to do with beasts of burden," also "cattle doctor," from veterinum "beast of burden," perhaps from vetus (gen. veteris) "old" (see veteran), possibly from the notion of "experienced," or of "one year old" (hence strong enough to draw burdens). Another theory connects it to L. vehere "to draw," on notion of "used as a draft animal." Replaced native dog-leech (1529).

veto (n.) --- 1629, from L. veto, lit. "I forbid," first person singular present indicative of vetare "forbid," of unknown origin. Used by Roman tribunes who opposed measures of the Senate or magistrates. The verb is recorded from 1706.

vex --- c.1415, from M.Fr. vexer, from L. vexare "to attack, harass, trouble," from vexus, collateral form of vectus, pp. of vehere "to draw, carry" (see vehicle). Vexation is attested from c.1400, from L. vexationem (nom. vexatio) "agitation," from vexus.

VHF --- 1932, acronym of very high frequency.

VHS --- 1982, acronym of Video Home System.

via (adv.) --- 1779, from L. via "by way of," ablative form of via "way, road, channel, course," of uncertain origin; not definitely connected with vehere "to carry convey."

viable --- 1828, from Fr. viable "capable of life" (1539), from vie "life" (from L. vita "life;" see vital) + -able. Originally of newborn infants; generalized sense is first recorded 1848.

viaduct --- 1816, from L. via "road" + -duct as in aqueduct. Fr. viaduc is an Eng. loan-word.

Viagra --- 1998, proprietary name of drug manufactured by Pfizer company.

vial --- c.1300, variant of fyole (see phial).

viand --- article of food, c.1330 (implied in viander), from Anglo-Fr. viaunde, O.Fr. viande "food," dissimilated from V.L. *vivanda, from L.L. vivenda "things for living," in classical L. "be live," neut. pl. gerundive of vivere "to live" (see vital).

vibe --- 1940, short for vibraphone; attested from 1967 as an abbreviated form of vibration in the 1960s slang sense of "instinctive feelings."

vibrant --- c.1550, "agitated," from L. vibrantem (nom. vibrans) "swaying," prp. of vibrare "move to and fro" (see vibrate). Meaning "vigorous, full of life" is first recorded 1860.

vibraphone --- 1926, from vibrato + -phone, from Gk. -phone.

vibrate --- 1616, from L. vibratus, pp. of vibrare "move quickly to and fro, shake," from PIE *w(e)ib- "move quickly to and fro" (cf. Lith. wyburiu "to wag" (the tail), Dan. vippe, Du. wippen "to swing," O.E. wipan "to wipe"). Musical vibrato (1861) reproduces the It. form.

vibration --- 1656, from L. vibrationem (nom. vibratio), from vibratus (see vibrate). Meaning "intuitive signal about a person or thing" was popular late 1960s, but has been recorded as far back as 1899.

vibrator --- 1862, "that which vibrates," agent noun of vibrate (q.v.). Attested from 1888 in ref. to various appliances; specific sense of "small electrical device for sexual stimulation" is recorded from 1953.

viburnum --- genus of shrubs, the arrowwood, 1731, from L. viburnum, which is probably an Etruscan loan-word.

Vic --- 1858, colloquial abbreviation of Royal Victoria Theater in London.

vicar --- c.1300, from O.Fr. vicaire, from L. vicarius "substitute, deputy," noun use of adj. vicarius "substituting," from vicis "change, turn, office" (see vicarious). The original notion is of "earthly representative of God or Christ;" but also used in sense of "person acting as parish priest in place of a real parson" (c.1325). The original Vicar of Bray (in fig. use from 1661) seems to have been Simon Allen, who held the benefice from c.1540 to 1588, thus serving from the time of Henry VIII to Elizabeth, and was twice a Catholic and twice a Protestant, but always vicar of Bray. The village is near Maidenhead in Berkshire.

vicarious --- 1637, from L. vicarius "substitute, deputy" (adj. and n.), from vicis "turn, change, exchange, substitution," from PIE base *weik-, *weig- "to bend, wind" (cf. Skt. visti "changing, changeable;" O.E. wician "to give way, yield," wice "wych elm;" O.N. vikja "to bend, turn;" Swed. viker "willow twig, wand;" Ger. wechsel "change").

vice- --- prefix meaning "instead of, in place of," 15c., from L. vice "in place of," ablative of vicis "change, turn, office" (see vicarious). Sometimes borrowed in O.Fr. form vis-, vi-.

vice (1) --- moral fault, wickedness, 1297, from O.Fr. vice, from L. vitium "defect, offense, blemish, imperfection," in both physical and moral senses (cf. It. vezzo "usage, entertainment").

vice (2) --- tool for holding, see vise.

vice versa --- 1601, from L., from vice, ablative of vicis "a turn, change" (see vicarious) + versa, fem. abl. sing. of versus, pp. of vertere "to turn, turn about" (see versus).

vice-president --- 1574, "one who acts as a deputy for a president," from vice- + president. Made into an official rank and given a different meaning in the U.S. Constitution (1787).

viceroy --- person ruling as representative of a sovereign, 1524, from M.Fr. vice-roy, from O.Fr. vice- "deputy" (see vice-) + roi "king," from L. regem (nom. rex); see rex. The species of American butterfly so called from 1881.

Vichy (adj.) --- in ref. to collaborationist government of France, 1940, from the name of the city in department of Allier in central France, famous for mineral springs, seat 1940-44 of the Fr. government formed under Nazi occupation headed by Pétain.

vichyssoise --- 1939, from Fr., in full crême vichyssoise glacée, lit. "iced cream (soup) of Vichy (see Vichy).

vicinity --- 1560, "nearness in place," from L. vicinitas "of or pertaining to neighbors or a neighborhood," from vicinus "neighbor, neighboring," from vicus "group of houses, village," related to the -wick, -wich in Eng. place names, from PIE *weik- (see villa). Meaning "surrounding district" is first attested 1796.

vicious --- c.1325 (implied in viciously), "of the nature of vice, wicked," from Anglo-Fr. vicious, O.Fr. vicieus, from L. vitiosus "faulty, defective, corrupt," from vitium "fault" (see vice (1)). Meaning "inclined to be savage or dangerous" is first recorded 1711 (originally of animals, especially horses); that of "full of spite, bitter, severe" is from 1825. In law, "marred by some inherent fault" (1393), hence also this sense in logic (1605); cf. vicious circle in reasoning (c.1792), which was given a general sense of "a situation in which action and reaction intensify one another" by 1839.

vicissitude --- 1570, from M.Fr. vicissitude (14c.), from L. vicissitudinem (nom. vicissitudo) "change," from vicissim "changeably, in turn," from vicis "a turn, change" (see vicarious).

victim --- 1497, "living creature killed and offered as a sacrifice to a deity or supernatural power," from L. victima "person or animal killed as a sacrifice." Perhaps distantly connected to O.E. wig "idol," Goth. weihs "holy," Ger. weihen "consecrate" (cf. Weihnachten "Christmas") on notion of "a consecrated animal." Sense of "person who is hurt, tortured, or killed by another" is first recorded 1660; meaning "person oppressed by some power or situation" is from 1718. Weaker sense of "person taken advantage of" is recorded from 1781. Victimize is from 1830.

victor --- c.1340, from L. victorem (nom. victor) "a conqueror," agent noun from pp. stem of vincere "to conquer," from PIE base *weik- "to fight, conquer" (cf. Lith. apveikiu "to subdue, overcome," O.C.S. veku "strength, power, age," O.N. vigr "able in battle," O.E. wigan "fight," Welsh gwych "brave, energetic," O.Ir. fichim "I fight," second element in Celt. Ordovices "those who fight with hammers").

Victorian (adj.) --- 1839, "belonging to or typical of the reign of Queen Victoria of Great Britain" (1837-1901). Fig. sense of "typified by prudish or outdated attitudes" is attested by 1934. The noun meaning "a person from or typical of Victorian times" is from 1876. The fem. proper name is from L., lit. "victory." The Victoria cross is a decoration founded 1856 by Queen Victoria.

victory --- c.1315, from O.Fr. victorie, from L. victoria, from pp. stem of vincere (see victor). V.E. ("victory in Europe") and V.J. ("victory in Japan") days in WWII were first used Sept. 2, 1944, by James F. Byrne, U.S. director of War Mobilization. Victorious is attested from c.1386, from L.L. victoriosus "having many victories," from victoria.

Victrola --- 1905, trademark of a phonograph, from Victor Talking Machine Co. Coined because it had "a sound suggestive of music," with ending from pianola.

victuals --- c.1303, vitaylle (singular), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vitaille, from L.L. victualia "provisions," noun use of plural of victualis "of nourishment," from victus "livelihood, food, sustenance," from base of vivere "to live" (see vital). Spelling altered 1523 to conform with L., but pronunciation remains "vittles."

vicuna --- Peruvian ruminant, 1604, from Sp. vicuña, from Quechua (Peru) wikuna, the native name of the animal.

vide --- see, 1565, from L. vide, imperative sing. of videre "to see" (see vision).

videlicet --- namely, to wit, 1464, see viz.

video (adj., n., pref.) --- 1935, as visual equivalent of audio, from L. video "I see," first person singular present indicative of videre "to see" (see vision). Videotape (n.) is from 1953; the verb is 1959, from the noun; videocassette is from 1971; video game is from 1973. Videocassette recorder is from 1971, now usually VCR (also 1971).

vidette --- 1690, from Fr., from It. (Florentine) vedetta "watch tower, peep hole," from vedere "to see" (see vista).

vie (v.) --- 1565, aphetic form of M.E. envie "make a challenge," from O.Fr. envier, from L. invitare (see invite).

Vietnam --- from Vietnamese Viet, the people's name + nam "south." Viet Cong, 1957, "the communist guerilla force in Vietnam 1954-1976," is from Vietnamese, in full Viet Nam Cong San, lit. "Vietnamese communist." Viet Minh (1945), the name of the independence movement in Fr. Indo-China 1941-50 is in full Viet Nam Doc-Lap Dong-Minh "Vietnamese Independence League."

view (n.) --- 1415, "formal inspection or survey" (of land), from Anglo-Fr. vewe "view," from O.Fr. veue, noun use of fem. pp. of veoir "to see," from L. videre "to see" (see vision). Sense of "act of seeing, manner of regarding something" first recorded 1573. Meaning "sight or prospect of a landscape, etc." is recorded from 1606. The verb is 1523, from the noun. Viewer "watcher of television," first recorded 1935, in place of earlier suggestion looker-in (1927). Viewing "last presentation of a dead body before the funeral" is recorded from 1944.

vigil --- c.1225, "eve of a religious festival" (an occasion for devotional watching or observance), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vigile, from L. vigilia "watch, watchfulness," from vigil "watchful, awake," from PIE *wog-/*weg- "be lively or active, be strong" (cf. L. vigere "be lively, thrive," velox "fast, lively," vegere "to enliven;" Skt. vaja- "strength, speed;" O.E. wacan "to wake up, arise," wacian "to be awake;" O.H.G. wahta "watch, vigil"). Meaning "watch kept on a festival eve" is from c.1395; that of "occasion of keeping awake for some purpose" is recorded from 1711.

vigilant --- c.1480, from L. vigilantia "wakefulness," from vigilia (see vigil). Vigilance is attested from 1570.

vigilante --- member of a vigilance committee, 1856, Amer.Eng., from Sp. vigilante, lit. "watchman," from L. vigilantem (see vigilance). Vigilant man in same sense is attested from 1824 in a Missouri context. Vigilance committees kept informal rough order on the frontier or in other places where official authority was imperfect.

vignette --- 1751, "decorative design," originally a design in the form of vine tendrils around the borders of a book page, especially a picture page, from Fr. vignette, from O.Fr., dim. of vigne "vineyard" (see vine). Sense transferred from the border to the picture itself, then (1853) to a type of small photographic portrait with blurred edges very popular mid-19c. Meaning "literary sketch" is first recorded 1880, probably from the photographic sense.

vigor --- c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. vigour, O.Fr. vigor, from L. vigorem (nom. vigor) "liveliness, activity, force," from vigere "be lively, flourish, thrive," from PIE *wog-/*weg- "be lively or active" (see vigil).

Viking --- Scandinavian pirate, 1807, vikingr; modern spelling attested from 1840. The word is a historical revival; it was not used in M.E., but it was revived from O.N. vikingr, which usually is explained as prop. "one who came from the fjords," from vik "creek, inlet" (cf. O.E. wic, M.H.G. wich "bay," and second element in Reykjavik). But O.E. wicing and O.Fris. wizing are almost 300 years older, and probably derive from wic "village, camp" (temporary camps were a feature of the Viking raids), related to L. vicus "village, habitation" (see villa). The connection between the O.N. and O.E. words is still much debated. The period of Viking activity was roughly 8c. to 11c. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the raiding armies generally were referred to as þa Deniscan "the Danes," while those who settled in England were identified by their place of settlement.

vile --- c.1225 (implied in vilety), from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vile, from L. vilis "cheap, worthless, base, common," of unknown origin.

vilify --- 1450, "to lower in worth or value," from L.L. vilificare "to make cheap or base," from L. vilis "cheap, base" (see vile) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "to slander, speak evil of" is first recorded 1598.

villa --- 1611, from It. villa "country house, villa, farm," from L. villa "country house, farm," related to vicus "village, group of houses," from PIE *weik- "clan" (cf. Skt. vesah "house," vit "dwelling, house, settlement;" Avestan vis "house, village, clan;" O.Pers. vitham "house, royal house;" Gk. oikos "house;" O.C.S. visi "village;" Goth. weihs "village;" Lith. viešpats "master of the house").

village --- c.1386, "inhabited place larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town," from O.Fr. village "houses and other buildings in a group" (usually smaller than a town), from L. villaticum "farmstead" (with outbuildings), noun use of neut. sing. of villaticus "having to do with a farmstead or villa," from villa "country house" (see villa). Village idiot is recorded from 1907.

villain --- 1303, "base or low-born rustic," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. villain, from M.L. villanus "farmhand," from L. villa "country house" (see villa).

villanelle --- 1586, from Fr., from It. villanella "ballad, rural song," from fem. of villanello "rustic," from M.L. villanus (see villain). As a poetic form, five 3-lined stanzas and a final quatrain, with only two rhymes throughout, usually of pastoral or lyric nature.

Villanova --- It. culture of the early Iron Age, 1901, named for a hamlet near Bologna where archaeological remains of it were found.

-ville --- suffix sporadically in vogue since c.1840 (cf. dullsville, palookaville), abstracted from the -ville in place names (Louisville, Greenville, etc.), from O.Fr. ville "town," from L. villa (see villa).