Chapter Valued to Vanish of V by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Van
(Van), n. [L. vannus a van, or fan for winnowing grain: cf. F. van. Cf. Fan, Van a wing Winnow.]

1. A fan or other contrivance, as a sieve, for winnowing grain.

2. [OF. vanne, F. vanneau beam feather (cf. It. vanno a wing) fr. L. vannus. See Etymology above.] A wing with which the air is beaten. [Archaic] "[/Angels] on the air plumy vans received him. " Milton.

He wheeled in air, and stretched his vans in vain;
His vans no longer could his flight sustain.

Dryden.

Van
(Van), v. t. [Cf. F. vanner to winnow, to fan. See Van a winnowing machine.] To fan, or to cleanse by fanning; to winnow. [Obs.] Bacon.

Vanadate
(Van"a*date) n. [Cf. F. vanadate.] (Chem.) A salt of vanadic acid. [Formerly also vanadiate.]

Vanadic
(Va*nad"ic) a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, vanadium; containing vanadium; specifically distinguished those compounds in which vanadium has a relatively higher valence as contrasted with the vanadious compounds; as, vanadic oxide.

Vanadic acid (Chem.), an acid analogous to phosphoric acid, not known in the free state but forming a well-known series of salts.

Vanadinite
(Va*nad"i*nite) n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in yellowish, and ruby-red hexagonal crystals. It consist of lead vanadate with a small proportion of lead chloride.

Vanadious
(Va*na"di*ous) a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, vanadium; specifically, designating those compounds in which vanadium has a lower valence as contrasted with the vanadic compounds; as, vanadious acid. [Sometimes written also vanadous.]

Vanadite
(Van"a*dite) n. (Chem.) A salt of vanadious acid, analogous to a nitrite or a phosphite.

Vanadium
(Va*na"di*um) n. [NL., fr. Icel. Vanadis, a surname of the Scandinavian goddess Freya.] (Chem.) A rare element of the nitrogen-phosphorus group, found combined, in vanadates, in certain minerals, and reduced as an infusible, grayish-white metallic powder. It is intermediate between the metals and the non-metals, having both basic and acid properties. Symbol V (or Vd, rarely). Atomic weight 51.2.

Vanadous
(Van"a*dous) a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to vanadium; obtained from vanadium; — said of an acid containing one equivalent of vanadium and two of oxygen.

Vanadyl
(Van"a*dyl) n. [Vanadium + - yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical VO, regarded as a characterized residue of certain vanadium compounds.

Van-courier
(Van"-cou`ri*er) n. [F. avant- courrier. See Avant, Van of an army, and Courier, and cf. Avant-courier, Vaunt-courier.] One sent in advance; an avant-courier; a precursor.

Vandal
(Van"dal) n. [L. Vandalus, Vandalius; of Teutonic origin, and probably originally signifying, a wanderer. Cf. Wander.]

1. (Anc. Hist.) One of a Teutonic race, formerly dwelling on the south shore of the Baltic, the most barbarous and fierce of the northern nations that plundered Rome in the 5th century, notorious for destroying the monuments of art and literature.

2. Hence, one who willfully destroys or defaces any work of art or literature.

The Vandals of our isle,
Sworn foes to sense and law.

Cowper.