Vaisya
(||Vais"ya) n. [Skr. vaiçya.] The third of the four great original castes among the Hindus,
now either extinct or partially represented by the mercantile class of Banyas. See the Note under Caste,
1.
Vaivode
(Vai"vode) n. [Cf. F. vayvode. See Waywode.] See Waywode.
Vakeel
(||Va*keel") n. [Ar. wakil.] A native attorney or agent; also, an ambassador. [India]
Valance
(Val"ance) n. [Perhaps fr. OF. avalant descending, hanging down, p. pr. of avaler to go down,
let down, descent (cf. Avalanche); but probably from the town of Valence in France.]
1. Hanging drapery for a bed, couch, window, or the like, especially that which hangs around a bedstead,
from the bed to the floor. [Written also valence.]
Valance of Venice gold in needlework.
Shak. 2. The drooping edging of the lid of a trunk. which covers the joint when the lid is closed.
Valance
(Val"ance), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Valanced ; p. pr. & vb. n. Valancing ] To furnish with a
valance; to decorate with hangings or drapery.
His old fringed chair valanced around with party- colored worsted bobs.
Sterne. Vale
(Vale) n. [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. low ground, marsh meadow. Cf. Avalanche,
Vail to lower, Valley.] A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. " Make me a cottage in
the vale." Tennyson.
Beyond this vale of tears there is a life above.
Montgomery.
In those fair vales, by nature formed to please.
Harte. Vale is more commonly used in poetry, and valley in prose and common discourse.
Syn. — Valley; dingle; dell; dale.
Vale
(Vale), n. See 2d Vail, 3.
Valediction
(Val`e*dic"tion) n. [L., valedicere, valedictum, to say farewell; vale farewell (imperative
of valere to be strong or well) + dicere to say. See Valiant, Diction.] A farewell; a bidding farewell.
Donne.
Valedictorian
(Val`e*dic*to"ri*an) n. One who pronounces a valedictory address; especially, in American
colleges, the student who pronounces the valedictory of the graduating class at the annual commencement,
usually the student who ranks first in scholarship.
Valedictory
(Val`e*dic"to*ry) a. Bidding farewell; suitable or designed for an occasion of leave-taking; as,
a valedictory oration.
Valedictory
(Val`e*dic"to*ry), n.; pl. Valedictories A valedictory oration or address spoken at commencement
in American colleges or seminaries by one of the graduating class, usually by the leading scholar.
Valence
(Va"lence) n. [From L. valens, - entis, p. pr. of valere to have power, to be strong. See Valiant.]
(Chem.) The degree of combining power of an atom (or radical) as shown by the number of atoms of
hydrogen (or of other monads, as chlorine, sodium, etc.) with which it will combine, or for which it can
be substituted, or with which it can be compared; thus, an atom of hydrogen is a monad, and has a valence
