Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 1618

Half volley. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball immediately after is has touched the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball so that after touching the ground it flies towards the top of the wicket. R. A. Proctor. -- On the volley, at random. [Obs.] What we spake on the volley begins work." Massinger. -- Volley gun, a gun with several barrels for firing a number of shots simultaneously; a kind of mitrailleuse.

Volley

Vol"ley (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Volleyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Volleying.] To discharge with, or as with, a volley.
Volley
Vol"ley, v. i.

1. To be thrown out, or discharged, at once; to be discharged in a volley, or as if in a volley; to make a volley or volleys. Tennyson.

2. (a) (Tennis) To return the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) To send the ball full to the top of the wicket. R. A. Proctor.

Volleyed

Vol"leyed (?), a. Discharged with a sudden burst, or as if in a volley; as, volleyed thunder.

Volow

Vol"ow (?), v. t. [From the answer, Volo I will, in the baptismal service. Richardson (Dict.).] To baptize; -- used in contempt by the Reformers. [Obs.] Tyndale.

Volt

Volt (?), n. [F. volte; cf. It. volta. See Vault.]

1. (Man.) A circular tread; a gait by which a horse going sideways round a center makes two concentric tracks.

2. (Fencing) A sudden movement to avoid a thrust.

Volt

Volt, n. [After Alessandro Volta, the Italian electrician.] (Elec.) The unit of electro-motive force; -- defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by United States Statute as, that electro-motive force which steadily applied to a conductor whose resistance is one ohm will produce a current of one amp\'8are. It is practically equivalent to

Volta

Vol"ta (?), n.; pl. Volte (#). [It. volta a turn, turning, a time. See Volt a tread.] (Mus.) A turning; a time; -- chiefly used in phrases signifying that the part is to be repeated one, two, or more times; as, una volta, once. Seconda volta, second time, points to certain modifications in the close of a repeated strain.

Volta-electric

Vol"ta-e*lec"tric (?), a. Of or pertaining to voltaic electricity, or voltaism.

Volta-electrometer

Vol`ta-e`lec*trom"e*ter (?), n. An instrument for the exact measurement of electric currents.

Voltage

Vol"tage (?), n. (Elec.) Electric potential or potential difference, expressed in volts.

Voltagraphy

Vol*tag"ra*phy (?), n. [Voltaic + -graphy.] In electrotypy, the act or art of copying, in metals deposited by electrolytic action, a form or pattern which is made the negative electrode. [R.]

Voltaic

Vol*ta"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. volta\'8bque, It. voltaico.]

1. Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action, and established this branch of electric science; discovered by Volta; as, voltaic electricity.

2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as, voltaic induction; the voltaic arc. &hand; See the Note under Galvanism. Voltaic arc, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a powerful voltaic current. -- Voltaic battery, an apparatus variously constructed, consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by which a current of electricity is generated whenever the two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a conductor; a galvanic battery. See Battery, 4. (b), and Note. -- Voltaic circuit. See under Circuit. -- Voltaic couple ∨ element, a single pair of the connected plates of a battery. -- Voltaic electricity. See the Note under Electricity. -- Voltaic pile, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by moistened cloth or paper. See 5th Pile. -- Voltaic protection of metals, the protection of a metal exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or coated with zinc.

Voltairean

Vol*tair"e*an (?), a. [Cf. F. voltairien.] Of or relating to Voltaire, the French author. J. Morley.

Voltairism

Vol*tair"ism (?), n. The theories or practice of Voltaire. J. Morley.

Voltaism

Vol"ta*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. volta\'8bsme.] (Physics) That form of electricity which is developed by the chemical action between metals and different liquids; voltaic electricity; also, the science which treats of this form of electricity; -- called also galvanism, from Galvani, on account of his experiments showing the remarkable influence of this agent on animals.

Voltameter

Vol*tam"e*ter (?), n. [Voltaic + -meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the voltaic electricity passing through it, by its effect in decomposing water or some other chemical compound acting as an electrolyte.

Voltaplast

Vol"ta*plast (?), n. [Voltaic + Gr. molded.] A form of voltaic, or galvanic, battery suitable for use electrotyping. G. Francis.

Voltatype

Vol"ta*type (?), n. [Voltaic + type.] An electrotype. [R.]

Volti

Vol"ti (?), imperative. [It., fr. voltare to turn. See Volt a tread.] (Mus.) Turn, that is, turn over the leaf. Volti subito [It.] (Mus.), turn over quickly.

Voltigeur

Vol`ti*geur (?), n. [F., fr. voltiger to vault, It. volteggiare. See Volt a tread.]

1. A tumbler; a leaper or vaulter.

2. (Mil.) One of a picked company of irregular riflemen in each regiment of the French infantry.

Voltmeter

Volt"me`ter (?), n. [2d volt + -meter.] (elec.) An instrument for measuring in volts the differences of potential between different points of an electrical circuit.

Voltzite

Voltz"ite (?), n. [So named in honor of Voltz, a French engineer.] (Min.) An oxysulphide of lead occurring in implanted spherical globules of a yellowish or brownish color; -- called also voltzine.

Volubilate, Volubile

Vo*lu"bi*late (?), Vol"u*bile (?)}, a. [See Voluble.] Turning, or whirling; winding; twining; voluble.
Volubility
Vol`u*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. volubilitas: cf. F. volubilité.] The quality or state of being voluble (in any of the senses of the adjective).
Voluble
Vol"u*ble (?), a. [L. volubilis, fr. volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn round; akin to Gr. to infold, to inwrap, to roll, G. welle a wave: cf. F. voluble. Cf. F. Well of water, Convolvulus, Devolve, Involve, Revolt, Vault an arch, Volume, Volute.]
1. Easily rolling or turning; easily set in motion; apt to roll; rotating; as, voluble particles of matter.
2. Moving with ease and smoothness in uttering words; of rapid speech; nimble in speaking; glib; as, a flippant, voluble, tongue.
[Cassio,] a knave very voluble. Shak.
&hand; Voluble was used formerly to indicate readiness of speech merely, without any derogatory suggestion. A grave and voluble eloquence." Bp. Hacket.
3. Changeable; unstable; fickle. [Obs.]
4. (Bot.) Having the power or habit of turning or twining; as, the voluble stem of hop plants. Voluble stem (Bot.), a stem that climbs by winding, or twining, round another body. -- Vol"u*ble*ness, n. -- Vol"u*bly, adv.
Volume
Vol"ume (?), n. [F., from L. volumen a roll of writing, a book, volume, from volvere, volutum, to roll. See Voluble.]
1. A roll; a scroll; a written document rolled up for keeping or for use, after the manner of the ancients. [Obs.]
The papyrus, and afterward the parchment, was joined together [by the ancients] to form one sheet, and then rolled upon a staff into a volume (volumen). Encyc. Brit.

2. Hence, a collection of printed sheets bound together, whether containing a single work, or a part of a work, or more than one work; a book; a tome; especially, that part of an extended work which is bound up together in one cover; as, a work in four volumes.
An odd volume of a set of books bears not the value of its proportion to the set. Franklin.

4. Anything of a rounded or swelling form resembling a roll; a turn; a convolution; a coil.
So glides some trodden serpent on the grass, And long behind wounded volume trails. Dryden.

Undulating billows rolling their silver volumes. W. Irving.

4. Dimensions; compass; space occupied, as measured by cubic units, that is, cubic inches, feet, yards, etc.; mass; bulk; as, the volume of an elephant's body; a volume of gas.
5. (Mus.) Amount, fullness, quantity, or caliber of voice or tone. Atomic volume, Molecular volume (Chem.), the ratio of the atomic and molecular weights divided respectively by the specific gravity of the substance in question. -- Specific volume (Physics & Chem.), the quotient obtained by dividing unity by the specific gravity; the reciprocal of the specific gravity. It is equal (when the specific gravity is referred to water at 4° C. as a standard) to the number of cubic centimeters occupied by one gram of the substance.
Volumed
Vol"umed (?), a.
1. Having the form of a volume, or roil; as, volumed mist.
The distant torrent's rushing sound Tells where the volumed cataract doth roll. Byron.

2. Having volume, or bulk; massive; great.
Volumenometer
Vol`u*me*nom"e*ter (?), n. [L. volumen volume + -meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the volume of a body, especially a solid, by means of the difference in tension caused by its presence and absence in a confined portion of air.
Volumenometry
Vol`u*me*nom"e*try (?), n. (Chem. & Physics) The method or process of measuring volumes by means of the volumenometer.
Vollumescope
Vol*lu"me*scope (?), n. [Volume + -scope.] (Physics) An instrument consisting essentially of a glass tube provided with a graduated scale, for exhibiting to the eye the changes of volume of a gas or gaseous mixture resulting from chemical action, and the like.
Vollumeter
Vol*lu"me*ter (?), n. [Cf. F. volum\'8atre. See Volumetric.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the volumes of gases or liquids by introducing them into a vessel of known capacity.
Volumetric
Vol`u*met"ric (?), a. [Volume + -metric.] Of or pertaining to the measurement of volume. Volumetric analysis (Chem.), that system of the quantitative analysis of solutions which employs definite volumes of standardized solutions of reagents, as measured by burettes, pipettes, etc.; also, the analysis of gases by volume, as by the eudiometer.
Volumetrical
Vol`u*met"ric*al (?), a. Volumetric. -- Vol`u*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
Voluminous
Vo*lu"mi*nous (?), a. [L. voluminosus: cf. F. volumineux.] Of or pertaining to volume or volumes. Specifically: -- (a) Consisting of many folds, coils, or convolutions.
But ended foul in many a scaly fold, Voluminous and vast. Milton.

Over which dusky draperies are hanging, and voluminous curtains have long since fallen. De Quincey.
(b) Of great volume, or bulk; large. B. Jonson. (c) Consisting of many volumes or books; as, the collections of Muratori are voluminous. (d) Having written much, or produced many volumes; copious; diffuse; as, a voluminous writer. -- Vo*lu"mi*nous*ly, adv. -- Vo*lu"mi*nous*ness, n.
Volumist
Vol"u*mist (?), n. One who writes a volume; an author. [Obs.] Milton.
Voluntarily
Vol"un*ta*ri*ly (?), adv. In a voluntary manner; of one's own will; spontaneously.
Voluntariness
Vol"un*ta*ri*ness, n. The quality or state of being voluntary; spontaneousness; specifically, the quality or state of being free in the exercise of one's will.
Voluntary
Vol"un*ta*ry (?), a. [L. voluntarius, fr. voluntas will, choice, from the root of velle to will, p. pr. volens; akin to E. will: cf. F. volontaire, Of. also voluntaire. See Will, v. t., and cf. Benevolent, Volition, Volunteer.]
1. Proceeding from the will; produced in or by an act of choice.
That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy. N. W. Taylor.

2. Unconstrained by the interference of another; unimpelled by the influence of another; not prompted or persuaded by another; done of his or its own accord; spontaneous; acting of one's self, or of itself; free.
Our voluntary service he requires. Milton.

She fell to lust a voluntary prey. Pope.

3. Done by design or intention; intentional; purposed; intended; not accidental; as, if a man kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter.
4. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the will; subject to, or regulated by, the will; as, the voluntary motions of an animal, such as the movements of the leg or arm (in distinction from involuntary motions, such as the movements of the heart); the voluntary muscle fibers, which are the agents in voluntary motion.
5. Endowed with the power of willing; as, man is a voluntary agent.
God did not work as a necessary, but a voluntary, agent, intending beforehand, and decreeing with himself, that which did outwardly proceed from him. Hooker.

6. (Law) Free; without compulsion; according to the will, consent, or agreement, of a party; without consideration; gratuitous; without valuable consideration.
7. (Eccl.) Of or pertaining to voluntaryism; as, a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church. Voluntary affidavit ∨ oath (Law), an affidavit or oath made in extrajudicial matter. -- Voluntary conveyance (Law), a conveyance without valuable consideration. -- Voluntary escape (Law), the escape of a prisoner by the express consent of the sheriff. -- Voluntary jurisdiction. (Eng. Eccl. Law) See Contentious jurisdiction, under Contentious. -- Voluntary waste. (Law) See Waste, n., 4. Syn. -- See Spontaneous.
Voluntary
Vol"un*ta*ry, n.; pl. Voluntaries ().
1. One who engages in any affair of his own free will; a volunteer. [R.] Shak.
2. (Mus.) A piece played by a musician, often extemporarily, according to his fancy; specifically, an organ solo played before, during, or after divine service.
3. (Eccl.) One who advocates voluntaryism.
Voluntaryism
Vol"un*ta*ry*ism (?), n. (Eccl.) The principle of supporting a religious system and its institutions by voluntary association and effort, rather than by the aid or patronage of the state.
Volunteer
Vol`un*teer" (?), n. [F. volontaire. See Voluntary, a.]
1. One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will.
2. (Mil.) One who enters into service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; -- opposed to conscript; specifically, a voluntary member of the organized militia of a country as distinguished from the standing army.
3. (Law) A grantee in a voluntary conveyance; one to whom a conveyance is made without valuable consideration; a party, other than a wife or child of the grantor, to whom, or for whose benefit, a voluntary conveyance is made. Burrill.
Volunteer
Vol`un*teer", a. Of or pertaining to a volunteer or volunteers; consisting of volunteers; voluntary; as, volunteer companies; volunteer advice.
Volunteer
Vol`un*teer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Volunteered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Volunteering.] To offer or bestow voluntarily, or without solicitation or compulsion; as, to volunteer one's services.
Volunteer
Vol`un*teer", v. i. To enter into, or offer for, any service of one's own free will, without solicitation or compulsion; as, he volunteered in that undertaking.
Volupere
Vol"u*pere (?), n. [Cf. Envelop.] A woman's cap. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Voluptuary
Vo*lup"tu*a*ry (?; 135), n.; pl. Voluptuaries (#). [L. voluptuarius or voluptarius, fr. voluptas pleasure.] A voluptuous person; one who makes his physical enjoyment his chief care; one addicted to luxury, and the gratification of sensual appetites.
A good-humored, but hard-hearted, voluptuary. Sir W. Scott.
Syn. -- Sensualist; epicure.
Voluptuary
Vo*lup"tu*a*ry, a. Voluptuous; luxurious.
Voluptuous
Vo*lup"tu*ous (?), a. [F. voluptueux, L. voluptuosus, fr. voluptas pleasure, volup agreeably, delightfully; probably akin to Gr. to hope, hope, and to L. velle to wish. See Voluntary.]
1. Full of delight or pleasure, especially that of the senses; ministering to sensuous or sensual gratification; exciting sensual desires; luxurious; sensual.
Music arose with its voluptuous swell. Byron.

Sink back into your voluptuous repose. De Quincey.

2. Given to the enjoyments of luxury and pleasure; indulging to excess in sensual gratifications. The jolly and voluptuous livers." Atterbury.
Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life. Milton.
-- Vo*lup"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- , n.