Chapter Venus Anadyomene to Vesper Hour of V by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Venus Anadyomene to Vesper Hour

Venus Anadyomene (6 syl.). Venus rising from the sea, accompanied by dolphins.

Venus Genetrix Worshipped at Rome, especially on April day, as the mother of AEneas, and patroness of the Julian race.

Venus Victrix Venus, as goddess of victory, represented on numerous Roman coins.

Venus de Medicis supposed to be the production of Cleomenes of Athens, who lived in the second century before the Christian era. In the seventeenth century it was dug up in the villa of Hadrian, near Tivoli, in eleven pieces; but it is all ancient except the right arm. It was removed in 1680, by Cosmo III., to the Imperial Gallery at Florence, from the Medici Palace at Rome.

“So stands the statue that enchants the world,
So bending tries to veil the matchless boast,
The mingled beauties of exulting Greece.”
Thomson: Summer.

Venus of Cnidus The undraped statue of Praxiteles (4 syl.) purchased by the ancient Cnidians, who refused to part with it, although Nicomedes, King of Bithynia, offered to pay off their national debt as a price for it. The statue was subsequently removed to Constantinople, and perished in the great fire during the reign of Justinian, (A.D. 80.)
   Praxiteles made also a draped statue of the same goddess, called the “Venus of Cos.”

Venus of Milo or Melos. The statue, with three of Hermes, was discovered in 1820 by Admiral Dumont in Milo or Melos, one of the Greek islands, whence its name. It now stands in the Louvre.

Venusberg The mountain of delight and love, where Lady Venus holds her court. Human beings occasionally are permitted to visit her, as Heinrich von Limburg did, and the noble Tannhäuser (q.v.); but as such persons run the risk of eternal perdition, Eckhardt the Faithful, who sat before the gate, failed not to warn them against entering. (German Legend Children of Limburg, a poem. (1337.) (See The Island of Venus.)

Vera Causa A cause in harmony with other causes already known. A fairy godmother may be assigned in story as the cause of certain marvellous effects, but is not a vera causa. The revolution of the earth round the sun may be assigned as the cause of the four seasons, and is a vera causa.

Verbum Sap [A word to the wise. ] A hint is sufficient to any wise man; a threat implying if the hint is not taken I will expose you. (Latin, Verbum sapienti.)

Verbum Sat [A word is enough. ] Similar to the above. (Latin, Verbum sat [satienti]. A word to the wise is enough.)

Verdant Green An excessivley `green' or unsophisticated young man. The character was epitomized in The Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1853) by `Cuthbert Bede, BA' (Rev Edward Bradley). Verdant's adventures at Oxford, where he goes as a very green freshman, the victim of endless practical jokes and impostures, make an entertaining and enlightening commentary on life at the university in the mid- 19th century.

`Looks ferociously mild in his gig-lamps!' remarked a third, alluding to Mr Verdant Green's spectacles. `And jolly green all over!' wound up a fourth.
ch. iii

Vere Adeptus One admitted to the fraternity of the Rosicrucians.

“In Rosycrucian lore as learned
As he the Vere-adeptus earned.”
Butler: Hudibras.

Verger The officer in a church who carries the rod or mace. (Latin, verga, a wand.)