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

utter (v.) --- speak, say, c.1400, in part from M.L.G. utern "to turn out, show, speak," from uter "outer," comparative adj. formed from ut "out;" in part from M.E. verb outen "to disclose," from O.E. utan "to put out," from ut (see out). Cf. Ger. äussern "to utter, express," from aus "out;" and colloquial phrase out with it "speak up!" Formerly also used as a commercial verb (as release is now). Utterance "that which is uttered" is attested from c.1454.

U-turn --- 1934, from u + turn (n.). So called in ref. to the shape of the path described.

uvula --- 1392, from L.L. uvula, from L. uvola "small bunch of grapes," dim. of uva "grape," which is of unknown origin. So called from fancied resemblance of the organ to small grapes.

uxorious --- excessively fond of or submissive to one's wife, 1598, from L. uxorius "of or pertaining to a wife," from uxor (gen. uxoris) "wife," of unknown origin. Uxorial, "relating to a wife or wives," is recorded from 1800 and sometimes is used in the sense of uxorius; uxoricide, "the murder of one's wife," is recorded from 1854.

Uzi --- 1959, trademark name for Israeli-made submachine gun, developed by Usiel Gal, and manufactured by IMI.

V --- In M.E., -u- and -v- were used interchangeably, though with a preference for v- as the initial letter (vnder, vain, etc.) and -u- elsewhere (full, euer, etc.). The distinction into consonant and vowel identities was established in Eng. by 1630, under influence of continental printers, but into 19c. some dictionaries and other catalogues continued to list -u- and -v- words as a single series. No native Anglo-Saxon words begin in v- except those (vane, vat, vixen) altered by the southwestern England habit of replacing initial f- with v- (and initial s- with z-). Confusion of -v- and -w- was also a characteristic of 16c. Cockney accents. In Ger. rocket weapons systems of WWII, it stood for Vergeltungswaffe "reprisal weapon." V-eight as a type of motor engine is recorded from 1930 (V-engine is attested from 1924), so called for the arrangement. The V for "victory" hand sign was conceived Jan. 1941 by Belgian politician and resistance leader Victor de Laveleye, to signify Fr. victoire and Flem. vrijheid ("freedom"). It was broadcast into Europe by Radio België/Radio Belgique and popularized by the BBC by June 1941, from which time it became a universal allied gesture.

V.D. --- 1920, short for venereal disease (see venereal).

V.I.P. --- 1933, acronym for very important person or personage.

vacant --- c.1290, from O.Fr. vacant, from L. vacantem (nom. vacans), prp. of vacare "to be empty" (see vain). Vacancy "state of being vacant" first recorded 1607, from L.L. vacantia, from vacans. Meaning "available room at a hotel" is recorded from 1953.

vacate --- 1643, "to make void, to annul," from L. vacatum, pp. of vacare "to be empty" (see vain). Meaning "to leave, give up, quit" (a place) is attested from 1791.

vacation --- c.1386, "freedom or release" (from some activity or occupation), from O.Fr. vacation, from L. vacationem (nom. vacatio) "leisure, a being free from duty," from vacare "be empty, free, or at leisure" (see vain). Meaning "formal suspension of activity" (in ref. to schools, courts, etc.) is recorded from c.1456. As the U.S. equivalent of what in Britain is called a "holiday," it is attested from 1878.

vaccination --- 1803, used by British physician Edward Jenner for the technique he devised of preventing smallpox by injecting people with the cowpox virus (variolæ vaccinæ), from vaccine (adj.) "pertaining to cows, from cows" (1798), from L. vaccinus "from cows," from vacca "cow" (bos being originally "ox," "a loan word from a rural dialect" according to Buck, who cites Umbrian bue). "The use of the term for diseases other than smallpox is due to Pasteur (Trans. 7th Session Internat. Med. Congr. (1881) I.90)" [OED]. The noun vaccine "matter used in vaccination" is recorded from 1846; vaccinate is an 1803 coinage.

vacillation --- c.1400, from L. vacillationem (nom. vacillatio) "a reeling, wavering," from pp. stem of vacillare "sway to and fro." Originally in ref. to opinion or conduct; literal sense is recorded from 1633. Vacillate is attested from 1597 in the sense "to sway unsteadily;" meaning "to waver between two opinions or courses" is recorded from 1623.

vacuity --- 1541, "hollow space," from L. vacuitas "empty space, vacancy, freedom," from vacuus "empty" (see vacuum). Meaning "vacancy of mind or thought" is attested from 1594.

vacuous --- 1648, "empty," from L. vacuus "empty, void, free" (see vacuum). Figurative sense of "empty of ideas" is from 1848.

vacuum --- 1550, "emptiness of space," from L. vacuum "an empty space, void," noun use of neuter of vacuus "empty," related to vacare "be empty" (see vain). Properly a loan-translation of Gk. xenon, lit. "that which is empty." Meaning "a place emptied of air" is attested from 1652. Vacuum tube is attested from 1859. Vacuum cleaner is from 1903; shortened form vacuum (n.) first recorded 1910. The verb meaning "to clean with a vacuum cleaner" is recorded from 1922.

vade mecum --- a manual, 1629, from L., lit. "go with me."

vae victis --- L., lit. "woe to the vanquished," from Livy, "History" V.xlviii.9.

vagabond (adj.) --- 1426 (earlier vacabond, 1404), from M.Fr. vagabonde, from L.L. vagabundus "wandering, strolling about," from L. vagari "wander" (from vagus "wandering, undecided;" see vague) + gerundive suffix -bundus. The noun is first recorded c.1485.

vagary --- 1577, "a wandering, a roaming journey," probably from L. vagari "to wander, roam, be unsettled, spread abroad" from vagus "roving, wandering" (see vague). Current meaning of "eccentric notion or conduct" (1629) is from notion of mental wandering.

vagina --- 1682, from L. vagina "sheath, scabbard" (pl. vaginæ), from PIE *wag-ina- (cf. Lith. voziu "ro cover with a hollow thing"), from base *wag- "to break, split, bite." Probably the ancient notion is of a sheath made from a split piece of wood (see sheath). A modern medical word; the L. word was not used in an anatomical sense in classical times. Anthropological vagina dentata is attested from 1908.

vagrant (n.) --- 1444, perhaps an alteration (by influence of L. vagari "wander") of Anglo-Fr. wacrant, prp. of O.Fr. wacrer "to walk or wander," from a Gmc. source (e.g. O.N. valka "wander"). The adj. is recorded from 1461. Vagrancy "life of idle begging" is attested from 1706.

vague --- 1548, from M.Fr. vague, from L. vagus "wandering, rambling, vacillating, vague," of unknown origin.

vain --- c.1300, "devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable," from O.Fr. vein "worthless," from L. vanus "idle, empty," from PIE *wa-no-, from base *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (cf. O.E. wanian "to lessen," wan "deficient;" O.N. vanta "to lack;" L. vacare "to be empty," vastus "empty, waste;" Avestan va- "lack," Pers. vang "empty, poor;" Skt. una- "deficient"). Meaning "conceited" first recorded 1692, from earlier sense of "silly, idle, foolish" (1390). Phrase in vain "to no effect" (c.1300, after L. in vanum) preserves the original sense.

vainglory --- c.1300, "worthless glory," waynglori, from O.Fr. vaine glorie, from M.L. vana gloria (see vain).

valance --- piece of drapery, 1463, from Anglo-Fr. *valance, from valer "go down," variant of O.Fr. avaler; or possibly from the pl. of O.Fr. avalant, from prp. of avaler "go down." The notion is of something "hanging down."

vale --- river-land between two ranges of hills, c.1300, from O.Fr. val "valley," from L. vallem (nom. vallis, valles) "valley." Vale of years "old age" is from "Othello." Vale of tears "this world as a place of trouble" is attested from 1554.

valediction --- 1614, from pp. stem of L. valedicere "bid farewell," from vale, imperative of valere "be well" (see valiant) + dicere "to say" (see diction). Valedictorian formed 1759.

valence --- c.1425, "extract, preparation," from L. valentia "strength, capacity," from valentem (nom. valens), prp. of valere "be strong" (see valiant). Meaning "combining power of an element" is recorded from 1884, from Ger. Valenz (1868), from the L. word.

Valentine --- c.1450, "sweetheart chosen on St. Valentine's Day," from L.L. Valentinus, the name of two early It. saints (from L. valentia "strength, capacity;" see valence). Choosing a sweetheart on this day originated 14c. as a custom in Eng. and Fr. court circles. Meaning "letter or card sent to a sweetheart" first recorded 1824. The romantic association of the day is said to be from it being around the time when birds choose their mates.

Valentino --- gigolo, good-looking romantic man, 1927, from It.-born U.S. movie actor Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926), who was adored by female fans. His full name was Rodolfo Guglielmi di Valentino.

valerian --- c.1386, from O.Fr. valeriane, apparently from fem. sing. of L. adj. Valerianus, from the personal name Valerius (see Valerie); but Weekley writes, "some of the Ger. and Scand. forms of the name point rather to connection with the saga-hero Wieland."

Valerie --- fem. proper name, from Fr., from L., fem. of Valerius, name of a Roman gens, from valere "to be strong" (see valiant).

valet --- personal man-servant, 1567, from Fr. valet, from O.Fr. valet, variant of vaslet "man's servant," originally "squire, young man," from Gallo-Romance *vassellittus "young nobleman, squire, page," dim. of M.L. vassallus, from vassus "servant" (see vassal). Modern sense is usually short for valet de chambre; the general sense of "male household servant of the meaner sort" going with the variant form varlet. First recorded use of valet parking is from 1960.

valetudinarian --- one who is constantly concerned with his own ailments, 1703, from valetudinary (1581), from L. valetudinarius, from valetudo "state of health," from valere "be strong" (see valiant) + -tudo, abstract noun suffix. Valetudinary (adj.) "sickly" is recorded from 1581.

Valhalla --- heavenly hall in which Odin receives the souls of heroes slain in battle, 1768, from O.N. Valhöll "hall of the battle-slain;" first element from valr "those slain in battle," from P.Gmc. *walaz (cf. O.E. wæl "slaughter, bodies of the slain," O.H.G. wal "battlefield, slaughter"), from PIE base *wele- "to strike, wound" (cf. Avestan vareta- "seized, prisoner," L. veles "ghosts of the dead," O.Ir. fuil "blood," Welsh gwel "wound"). Second element is from höll "hall," from PIE base *kel- "to conceal" (see cell). Reintroduced by 18c. antiquaries. Figurative sense is from 1845.

valiant --- 1303, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. valliant "stalwart, brave," from prp. of valoir "be worthy," originally "be strong," from L. valere "be strong, be well, be worth, have power, be able," from PIE base *wal- "be strong" (cf. O.E. wealdan "to rule," O.H.G. -walt, -wald "power" (in personal names), O.N. valdr "ruler," O.C.S. vlasti "to rule over," Lith. valdyti "to have power," Celt. *walos- "ruler," O.Ir. flaith "dominion," Welsh gallu "to be able").

valid --- 1571, "having force in law, legally binding," from M.Fr. valide, from L. validus "strong, effective," from valere "be strong" (see valiant). The meaning "supported by facts or authority" is first recorded 1648. Validate (v.) is recorded from 1648.

valise --- 1615, "suitcase, soldier's kit bag," from Fr. valise (1568), from It. valigia, of uncertain origin. Attested in M.L. forms valisia (1407), valixia (1298).

Valium --- 1961, proprietary name (Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N.J.) of diazepam (reg. U.S.), of unknown origin.

Valkyrie --- 1768, one of 12 war-maidens who escorted the brave dead to Valhalla, from O.N. valkyrja, lit. "chooser of the slain," from valr "those slain in battle" (see Valhalla) + kyrja "chooser," from ablaut root of kjosa "to choose," from P.Gmc. *keusan, from PIE *geus- "to taste, choose" (see gusto). O.E. form was Wælcyrie, but they seem not to have figured as largely in Anglo-Saxon tales as in Scandinavian. Ger. Walküre (Wagner) is from O.N.

valley --- c.1290, from Anglo-Norman valey, O.Fr. valee "a valley," from V.L. *vallata, from L. vallis "valley," of unknown origin. Valley Girl (in ref. to San Fernando Valley of California) was poularized 1982 in song by Frank Zappa and his daughter.

valor --- c.1300, "value, worth," from O.Fr. valour "strength, value, valor," from L.L. valorem (nom. valor) "value, worth," from stem of L. valere "be worth, be strong" (see valiant). The meaning "courage" is first recorded 1581, from It. valore, from the same L.L. word. (The M.E. word also had a sense of "worth or worthiness in respect of manly qualities").

value (n.) --- 1303, from O.Fr. value "worth, value" (13c.), noun use of fem. pp. of valoir "be worth," from L. valere "be strong, be well, be of value" (see valiant). The meaning "social principle" is attested from 1918, supposedly borrowed from the language of painting. The verb is recorded from 1482. Valuable is attested from 1589. Value judgment (1892) is a loan-translation of Ger. Werturteil.

valve --- 1387, "one of the halves of a folding door," from L. valva "section of a folding or revolving door," lit. "that which turns," related to volvere "to roll" (see vulva). Sense extended 1615 to "membranous fold regulating flow of bodily fluids;" 1659 to "mechanical device that works like a valve;" and 1661 in zoology to "halves of a hinged shell."

vamoose --- to decamp, 1834, from Sp. vamos "let us go," from L. vadamus, from vadere "to go, to walk," from PIE base *wadh- "to go" (cf. O.E. wadan "to go," L. vadum "ford").

vamp (n.) --- seductive woman, 1911, short for vampire. First attested use is earlier than the release of the Fox film "A Fool There Was" (January 1915), with sultry Theda Bara in the role of The Vampire. But the movie was based on a play of that name that had been a Broadway hit (title and concept from a Kipling poem, "The Vampire"), and the word may ultimately trace to Bara's role. At any rate, Bara (real name Theodosia Goodman) remains the classic vamp.

vamp (v.) --- extemporize on a piano, 1789, originally a noun meaning "part of a stocking that covers the foot and ankle" (c.1225), from Anglo-Norm. *vaumpé, from O.Fr. avantpié, from avant "in front" + pié "foot." Sense evolved to "provide a stocking with a new vamp" (1599), to "patch up, repair" (cf. revamp) to "extemporize."

vampire --- 1734, from Fr. vampire or Ger. Vampir (1732, in an account of Hungarian vampires), from Hung. vampir, from O.C.S. opiri (cf. Serb. vampir, Bulg. vapir, Ukrainian uper), said by Slavic linguist Franc Miklošic to be ult. from Kazan Tatar ubyr "witch." An Eastern European creature popularized in Eng. by late 19c. gothic novels, however there are scattered Eng. accounts of night-walking, blood-gorged, plague-spreading undead corpses from as far back as 1196. Applied 1774 by Fr. biologist Buffon to a species of South American blood-sucking bat.

van (1) --- front part of an army or other advancing group, 1610, shortening of vanguard.

van (2) --- covered truck or wagon, 1829, shortening of caravan.

Van Allen --- name of radiation belts around the Earth (and certain other planets), 1939, from U.S. physicist James A. Van Allen(b.1914), who reported them in 1958.

van de Graaff --- in ref. to an electrostatic charge generator, 1934, named for U.S. physicist R.J. van de Graaff (1901-67).

vanadium --- rare metallic element, 1833, named 1830 by Swed. chemist Nils Gabriel Sefström (1787-1845), from O.N. Vanadis, one of the names of the Norse goddess Freyja (see Freya).

vandal --- 1663, "willful destroyer of what is beautiful or venerable," from Vandals, name of Gmc. tribe that sacked Rome, 455, under Genseric, from L. Vandalus (pl. Vandali), from the tribe's name for itself (O.E. Wendlas), from P.Gmc. *Wandal- "Wanderer."

vandyke --- short, pointed beard, 1894, from the style shown on portraits by Flem. painter Anton Van Dyck (1599-1641); earlier "a type of collar with a deep cut edge" (1755) also from a style depicted in his paintings.

vane --- wind indicator, 1425, southern England alteration (see V) of fane. from O.E. fana "flag, weather-cock," from P.Gmc. *fanon (cf. Goth. fana "piece of cloth," O.H.G. fano, Ger. Fahne "flag, standard"); possibly cognate with L. pannus "piece of cloth."

vanguard --- c.1450, vaunt garde, from M.Fr. avant-garde, from avant "in front" + garde "guard." Communist revolutionary sense is recorded from 1928.

vanilla --- 1662, from Sp. vainilla "vanilla plant," lit. "little pod," dim. of vaina "sheath," from L. vagina "sheath" (see vagina). So called from the shape of the pods. European discovery 1521 by Hernando Cortes' soldiers on reconnaissance in southeastern Mexico. Meaning "conventional, of ordinary sexual preferences" is 1970s, from notion of whiteness and the common choice of vanilla ice cream. Vanillin is from 1868.

vanish --- 1303, from aphetic form of stem of O.Fr. esvanir "disappear," from V.L. *exvanire, from L. evanescere "disappear, die out," from ex- "out" + vanescere "vanish," from vanus "empty" (see vain). Vanishing point in perspective drawing is recorded from 1797.

vanity --- c.1230, "that which is vain, futile, or worthless," from O.Fr. vanite, from L. vanitatem (nom. vanitas) "emptiness, foolish pride," from vanus "empty, vain, idle" (see vain). Meaning "self-conceited" is attested from c.1340. Vanity table is attested from 1936. Vanity Fair is from "Pilgrim's Progress" (1678).

vanquish --- c.1330, from O.Fr. venquis (past tense), and vencus (p.p.), from veintre "defeat," from L. vincere "defeat" (see victor). Influenced in M.E. by M.Fr. vainquiss-, present stem of vainquir "conquer," from O.Fr. vainkir, alteration of veintre.

vantage --- c.1300, "advantage, profit," from Anglo-Fr. vantage, from O.Fr. avantage (see advantage).

vapid --- 1656, "flat, insipid" (of drinks), from L. vapidus "flat, insipid," lit. "that has exhaled its vapor," related to vappa "stale wine," and probably to vapor "vapor." Applied from 1758 to talk and writing deemed dull and lifeless.

vapor --- c.1374, from Anglo-Fr. vapour, from L. vaporem (nom. vapor) "exhalation, steam, heat," of unknown origin. Vapors "fit of fainting, hysteria, etc." is 1662, from medieval notion of "exhalations" from the stomach or other organs affecting the brain. Vaporize (v.) is attested from 1634, originally "to smoke tobacco," later "to convert into vapor" (1803), and "to spray with fine mist" (1900).

vaquero --- 1826, from Sp., lit. "cowboy," from vaca "cow," from L. vacca (see vaccination).

Varangian --- one of the Northmen who founded a dynasty in Russia, 1788, from M.L. Varangus, from Byzantine Gk. Barangos, a name ult. (via Slavic) from O.N. væringi "a Scandinavian," prop. "a confederate," from var- "pledge, faith," related to O.E. wær "agreement, treaty, promise," O.H.G. wara "faithfulness" (see very). Attested in O.Rus. as variagi; surviving in Rus. varyag "a pedlar," Ukrainian varjah "a big strong man."

variable (adj.) --- 1387, of persons, from O.Fr. variable, from L. variabilis "changeable," from variare "to change" (see vary). Of weather, seasons, etc., attested from c.1480; of stars, from 1788. The noun meaning "quantity that can vary in value" first recorded 1816, from the adj.

variance --- c.1340, "fact of undergoing change," from O.Fr. variance, from L. variantia, from variare "to change" (see vary). Meaning "state of disagreement" is recorded from c.1425. The U.S. zoning sense of "official dispensation from a building regulation" is recorded from 1925.

variant (adj.) --- c.1380, from O.Fr. variant, from L. variantem (nom. varians), prp. of variare "to change" (see vary). The noun is first attested 1848.

variation --- c.1386, from O.Fr. variation, from L. variationem (nom. variatio) "a difference, variation, change," from variatus, pp. of variare "to change" (see vary). The musical sense is attested from 1801.

varicolored --- 1665, from L. varius (see vary) + Eng. colored (see color).

varicose --- 1730, from L. varicosus "full of dilated veins," from varix (gen. varicis) "dilated vein," probably related to varus "blotch, pimple" (see vary).

varied --- differing from one another, 1588, from pp. of vary (q.v.).

variegate --- to mark with different colors, 1646 (implied in variegation), from L.L. variegatus "made of various sorts or colors," pp. of variegare "diversify with different colors," from varius "spotted, changing, varying" (see vary) + root of agere "to drive" (see act).

varietal (adj.) --- 1866, a biologists' word (first attested in Darwin), from variety. In ref. to wines, meaning "made from a single variety of grape" is first attested 1941, Amer.Eng. As a noun, in this sense, attested from 1955.

variety --- 1533, from M.Fr. variété, from L. varietatem (nom. varietas) "difference, diversity," from varius "various" (see vary). First recorded 1868, Amer.Eng., in ref. to "music hall or theatrical performances of a mixed nature."

variola --- smallpox, 1771, from Medical L. dim. of L. varius "changing, various," in this case "speckled" (see vary).

variorum --- 1728, from L., gen. pl. masc. of varius (see vary), in phrase editio cum notis variorum "an edition (especially of the complete works of a classical author) with notes of various commentators or editors." Use with ref. to an edition of an author's works containing variant readings (1955) is "deplored by some scholars" [OED].

various --- 1552, "subject to change," from M.Fr. varieux, from L. varius "changing, different, diverse" (see vary). Meaning "different from one another" is recorded from 1634.

varlet --- 1456, "servant, attendant of a knight," from M.Fr. varlet (14c.), variant of vaslet, originally "squire, young man," from O.Fr. vassal (see vassal). The meaning "rascal, rogue" is 1550.

varmint --- 1539, chiefly Amer.Eng. dialectal variant of vermin. Meaning "objectionable or troublesome person" is recorded from 1773.

varnish (n.) --- 1341, from O.Fr. vernis "varnish" (12c.), from M.L. vernix "odorous resin," perhaps from Late Gk. verenike, from Gk. Berenike, name of an ancient city in Libya (modern Bengasi) credited with the first use of varnishes. The town is named for Berenike II, queen of Egypt (see Berenice). Fig. sense of "specious gloss, pretense," is recorded from 1565. The verb is attested from c.1386.

varsity --- 1846, "university," variant of earlier versity (1680), shortened form of university.

varve --- annual deposit of silt in a lake bed, 1912, from Swed. varv "turn, layer," related to O.N. hverfa, O.E. hwerfan "to turn round" (see wharf).

varvel --- metal ring attached to the end of a hawk's jess and connecting it to the leash, 1537, from O.Fr. vervelle (1350), from V.L. derivation of L. vertibulum "joint."

vary --- c.1340 (trans.), c.1369 (intrans.), from O.Fr. varier, from L. variare "change, alter, make different," from varius "varied, different, spotted;" perhaps related to varus "bent, crooked, knock-kneed," and varix "varicose vein," from a PIE base *wer- "high raised spot or other bodily infirmity" (cf. O.E. wearte "wart," Swed. varbulde "pus swelling," L. verruca "wart").

vascular --- 1672, from Mod.L. vascularis "of or pertaining to vessels or tubes," from L. vasculum, dim. of vas "vessel."

vase --- 1563, from M.Fr. vase, from L. vas "container, vessel." Amer.Eng. preserves the original Eng. pronunciation (Swift rhymes it with face, Byron with place and grace), while British Eng. shifted mid-19c. to preference for a pronunciation that rhymes with bras.

vasectomy --- 1897, from Mod.L. vas (deferens) + Eng. -ectomy "a cutting."

Vaseline --- 1872, trademark for an ointment made from petroleum and marketed by Chesebrough Manufacturing Co., coined from Ger. Wasser "water" + Gk. elaion "oil" + scientific-sounded ending -ine. Robert A. Chesebrough was of the opinion that petroleum was a product of the underground decomposition of water.