visceripericardial 
visceripericardial (vis 'c-ri-per-i-kiir'cli-ali, . 
[< L. ri.iri-i'ii, viscera. + }n ,-n-iii -ilium, pericar- 
(I in in. | ('oiiiiiioii to the pi rii'M nl i MIII ami other 
viscera: as. the peculiar ci\r< rijii rininliitl sac 
of I'ephalopocis. Also c/.vn i-ii/i i rinirilinl. /.'. /i'. 
l.inil;* *l<-i'. 
Visceromotor (vis'c-ro-nio y tor). a. Same as 
Vincrrit-HHitiir nerves: seen to arise from Imth sympa- 
tbetic and lunibo-sacral plexus for distribution to the 
pelvic viscera. 
Hurley ami Martin, Dlcnicntary Biology, p. 108. 
visceropericardlalfvisv-ro-pcr-i-kjir'di-iii), ,/. 
Same us rixi-ri-i/ii rinn-iliiil. 
The eiscero-pericardial sac of the I >il>ninchsis very large 
also, ami cxlenils into tin- dorsal region. 
Km-,,,: llril.. XVI. 877. 
visceropleural (vis'e-ro-plo'rai). . [< L. vi#- 
1-,-,-n, viscera, + NL. i>l<-nrtt.\ Same us plcuro- 
i-ixi-intl. 
visceroskeletal (vis'o-ro-skel'e-tal), a. [< L. 
rixfi-ni, viscera, + NL. skeleton,] Pertaining 
to the visceral skeleton, or, more generally, to 
the framework of the body on the visceral side ; 
hy | in \ial or snhvertebral, as apart of the skele- 
ton; sphinehnoskeletal. 
viscid (vis'id), a. [< LL. rinfidim, clammy, 
sticky, < L. rixriini, bird-lime, anything sticky: 
sei rim-inn.] Sticky; having a sticky or gluti- 
nous consistency; produced by or covered by a 
tenacious coating or secretion. Blount, 1670. 
viscidity (vi-sid'i-ti), i. [= F. risculitc; as 
ri.ti-itl + -it i/.] l" The state orqtiality of being 
viscid; Klutinousness; tenacity; stickiness. 
.li-lin/liiiiil. Aliments, i. 2. A glutinous con- 
cretion. [Rare.] 
Catharticks of mercurials precipitate the viscidities by 
their stypticity. Flayer. (Johnson.) 
viscin (vis'in), . [< L. viscum, bird-lime, + 
-/;i-. | A sticky substance, one of the compo- 
nents of bird-lime, derived from mistletoe. 
viscometer (vis-kom'e-ter), n. [< L. viscum, 
bird-lime, + Gr. /itrpov, measure.] Same as 
viscosinirtcr. 
viscometry (vis-kom'e-tri), n. [As riscometer 
+ -I/".] The measurement of the viscosity of 
liquids. 
viscosimeter (vis-ko-sim'o-ter), H. [Irreg. < LL. 
rixmsux, viscous, 4- Gr. utrpov, measure.] An 
apparatus for measuring the viscosity of vari- 
ous liquids, as oils. Also viscometer. 
viscosimetric (vis'lio-si-mefrik), . Of or per- 
taining to a viscosimeter. 
viscosimetrical (vis'ko-si-met'ri-kal), n. Same 
0769 
rfflricnl. Magnetic Viscosity, that pro|H-ty of :i IIKIK 
n- ii< mi ilium "liirh MUM ofiuigat oi Bugnettatim to 
lag behind the change of enYi-tlve L-II>'|.,I,,,.I n . for.', . 
Viscount ( vi'kounl ). ii. [Konnerly rii-nnut ( the 
.v being a later insertion in imitation of (lie F.); 
< MK. rii'iiiinl,, rii-mili'. < OF. riniuli-, nscnuli, 
F. ricniiiti; < ML. rin "init-), < L. fin , 
in place of (see rin-), 4- mnn-x, a companion: 
see fount 4 *.] 1. Formerly, mi officer who act. . I 
as deputy of a count or earl in the management 
of the affairs of the county; the sheriff of a 
county. 
Vietiunt, alias Viscount (vice-comes) Cometh of the 
1 1 Ii, . . . and signincth with us as much u sherlfle. 
Retweene which two words 1 nnd no difference, but that 
the one Cometh from our eomnierours the Normans, and 
the other from our anncestors the Saxons. Ctntvll, 1637. 
2. A degree or title of nobility next in rank be- 
low that of earl, and immediately above that of 
baron . It Is the most recently established English title, 
having been first conferred by letters patent on John. 
sixth Baron Beaumont, by Henry VI., In 1440. In Great 
Britain the title Is frequently attached to an earldom as 
a second title, and is by courtesy held by the eldest ton 
Hnriiik' the lifetime of the father. The coronet of a vis- 
count of England Is composed of a circle of gold, chased, 
having on the edge twelve, fourteen, or sixteen pearls ; 
the cap is of crimson velvet, turned up with ermine, and 
closed at the top with a rich tauel of gold. See cut 
under coronet. 
A rinrount* Eldest Bonn is no Lord, nor no other of his 
sunns, nor none of his daughterfsl ladyes. 
Boolce of Precedence (E. E. T. S., extra ser-X L 28. 
viscountcy (vi'kount-si), H. [< viscount + -cy.] 
The rank or dignity of a viscount. 
The Barony of Dacre (not Dacres) and the Viscmtntcy of 
Howard of Morpcth were conferred by Oliver Cromwell on 
Charles Howard. A", and Q., 7th ser. , V. 446. 
viscountess (vi'koun-tes), n. [< OF. vicom- 
tesse; as rixcount + -ess.] 1. A peeress in 
rank next after a countess and before a baro- 
ness. The title is usually held by the wife of a viscount, 
hut In Great Britain it may be inherited by a woman In 
her own right. 
2. A size of slate. See the quotation. 
Vitconntettet (18 x 9). Encyc. Brit., XXII. 128. 
visconntship (vi'kount-ship), n. [< viscount + 
-ship.] The rank or dignity of a viscount. 
viscounty (vi'koun-ti), . ; pi. viscounties (-tiz). 
[< F. vicomtt, < ML. vicecomitatus, < vicccomes, 
viscount: see viscount.] Siaae&aviscountitliip. 
The house of lords, for so the baronage may be now 
called, underwent under the Lancastrian kings none but 
personal changes, and such formal modifications as the 
institution of marquessates and micounties. 
Stubtn, Const. Hist., i 368. 
viscosity (vis-kos'i-ti), n. ; pi. viscosities (-tiz). 
[< F. vlseositi = Sp. riscosidad = Pg. viscnfti- 
ilmlc, = It. viscositfl, < LL. as if *risfosita(t-)s, < 
viscosus, viscous: see visroM,*.] 1. The state or 
property of being viscous; the quality of flow- 
ing slowly, as pitch or castor-oil. Such liquids 
are commonly sticky, but this is no part of the 
viscosity. 
Sub. And what 's your mercury? 
Face. A very fugitive ; he will be gone, sir. 
Sitb. How know you him ? 
Face. By his viscosity, 
His oleostty, and his suscitabillty. 
R. Jonxnn, Alchemist, II. 1. 
2. In physirn, internal friction, a resistance 
to the motion of the molecules of a fluid body 
among themselves : opposed to mobility. Thus, 
the viscosity of such liquids as pitch and syrup is very 
great as compared with that of a mobile liquid like alco- 
hol. A slow continuous change of the shape of solids or 
semisolids under the action of gravity or external force 
is also, by extension of the name, called viscosity: as, the 
viscosity of Ice. Viscosity is proportional to the relative 
velocity of strata at a unit distance. The viscosity of 
gases and vapors is due to the molecules shooting from 
one stratum to another carrying their vis viva with them. 
Tin viscosity of liquids arises from an entirely different 
cause, namely, from the mutual attractions of the mole- 
cules, and is diminished by the effect of the wandering 
of the molecules. Consequently, the viscosity of gases 
increases while that of liquids diminishes as the temper- 
ature is raised. 
Hence, if we attempt to cause one stratum ot gas to 
pass over another in parallel planes, we experience a re- 
sistance due to the interchange of molecules between (tie 
IMirtionR of gas separated by the plane. This is in some 
respects analogous to sliding friction between solid bod- 
ies, and is called by German writers the " friction " (Bei- 
tiunp). t>y Maxwell and others the " w/xcrwiVi/ " of the gas. 
Sncyc. Brit., XVI. 019. 
The afcofUy of liquids presents a certain analogy with 
the malleability of solids. 
W. A. Miller, Elera. of Chem., 4ft. 
3. A glutinous or viscous body. 
Thoracic viscera, with some of the abdominal viscera, thowtac line 
of the diaphrainn whkh sepataM then, and outline of heart, aorta, 
and superior caval vein, with reference to the surface of the thorax ; 
i - 10, Ant to tenth ribs ; A, M, r, T. indicate position ofaorti< . 
pulmonary, ami tricnspid valves of the heart, respectively. 
Drops of syrups, oil, and semin 
Sir T. Brmcnc, Vulg. Err., il. 4. 
Dynamical coefficient of viscosity, kinetic coeffi- 
cient of viscosity, also dynamic viscosity. See eo- 
' 
VISCOUS (vis'kus), n. [= F. visqueux = Sp. Pg. 
It. viscono, < LL. viscosus, sticky, < L. visctim, 
viscus, bird-lime: see viscum.] 1. Glutinous; 
clammy; sticky; adhesive; tenacious. 
In some [men] it Is nature to be somewhat cinema and 
Inwrapped, and not easy to turn. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, II. 
My honeysuckles . . . being enveloped in a viscous sub- 
stance, and loaded with black aphides. 
(lill',-ri White, Nat. Hist. Selborne, To D. Barrington, Ixlv. 
2. In physics, having the property of viscosity. 
See viscosity, 2. 
When the very smallest stress, if continued long enough, 
will cause a constantly increasing change of form, the 
body must be regarded as a ritcou* fluid, however hard It 
may be. Clerk Maxvett, Heat, p. 276. 
Glacier ice, however hard and brittle It may appear, is 
really a viscous substance, resembling treacle, or honey, 
or tar, or lava. Tyndall, Forms of Water, p. 156. 
Viscous fermentation. See fermentation, 2. 
viscousness (vis'kus-nes), . The state of 
being viscous ; viscosity. 
Viscum (vis'kum), n. [< L. viscum, rarely r- 
cs, mistletoe, bird-lime, = Or. ifrff (f'fof), 
mistletoe.] 1. A genus of parasitic plants, 
including the mistletoe, type of the tribe Vis- 
fern in the order Loranthncete. it is characterized 
by flowers usually clustered at the axils or summits of 
branches, and by anthers which are broad and adnate, 
opening ny many pores on the inner face. There are 
about 30 species, widely dispersed throughout warm and 
temperate regions of the Old World. They are shrubs 
with opposite or dichotomous branches, parasitic on trees. 
The leaves are conspicuous, opposite, flat, and thickish, 
or are reduced to scales or minute teeth. The flowers are 
small, usually three to live together, sessile, and sur- 
rounded by two to three small bracts. Some of the species 
are distributed over a very wide area, especially V. orien- 
tate and V. album, the latter the well-known mistletoe. 
2. [I.e.] Bird-lime. 
viscus ( vis'kus), n.; p\. viscera (vis'e-rft). [NL., 
< L. viscus, pi. viscera, any internal organ of the 
body.] Any one of the interior organs of the 
body, contained in one of the four great cavi- 
ties'of the head, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis, 
as the brain, heart, lung, liver, stomach, intes- 
tine, kidney, bladder, womb, etc.; especially. 
an abdominal viscus, as the intestine : in ordi- 
nary language generally in the plural, i 
the bowels or entrails ; the vitals. 
Mental statet occasion also changes in the calibre of 
blood-vessels, or alteration In the heart-lwata, or pro- 
cease* more subtle still, in glands and viieera. 
W. Jamet, Prill, of Psjrchol., L A. 
Thoracic viscera. See thoracic. Transposition of 
the viscera. See tranipontton. 
vise 1 , vice- (vis), H. [< ME. >v/-<. ri/,,. ,-ix. < 
OF. vis, viz, a screw, vise, winding stair, = It. 
vite, a vine, vise, < L. vitis, vine, bryony, lit. 
'that which winds,' < T/ ri, wind: see vith y , 
tciMiy.] If. A screw. 
Ills desk with a rice turning In IL 
Cnryat, Crudities, I. 164. 
2f. The newel, or central shaft, of a winding 
staircase. 
I ris and walkt, sought pace and pace, 
Till I a winding stalre found 
And held the vice aye In my bond. 
Th.- Isle of Indict, 1. 1312. 
The Standard, which was of mason work, costly made 
with Images and angels, costly gilt with gold and arure, 
with other colours, and divers sorts of [coats of] arms cost- 
ly set out, shall there continue and remain; and within 
the Standard a rice with a chime. 
Con/nation of ifwtn Anne, Wife of Henry VIII., In 
[Arber's Eng. Garner, II. 49. 
3. A gripping or holding tool or appliance, fixed 
or portable, used to hold an object firmly in 
position while work is performed upon it. The 
vise is closely allied to the clamp; both have movable jaws 
that may be brought together to hold any object placed 
In position between the jaws. Vises are made In two parts, 
<i. hand-vise : *, machinists' bench-vise ; f, parallel vise ; rf. parallel 
vise, with small anvil tf in combination ; f, blacksmiths' vise : /. car- 
penters' vise; f, pipe.vise; A, saw-filers' vise. 
forming jaws either joined together by a spring or a hinge- 
joint or arranged to move upon slides or guides. The 
jaws are moved by screws, levers, toggles, or ratchet and 
pawls, one jaw being usually fixed flrmly to the bench or 
other support to which the vise Is attached. Some forms 
are made adjustable at any angle ; others have parallel 
motions, and are provided with swivels to adjust the jaws 
to the shape of the objects to be held In them. Vises are 
made of wood or metal, of many shapes, and supplied 
with many convenient attachments. They receive various 
names, descriptive of their use or method of construc- 
tion, as bench-viM, raw-cur, svdden^rasp rite, parallel vite, 
pipe-vise. 
4. A tool for drawing rods of lead into the 
grooved rods called cames used for setting glass, 
especially in stained-glass windows. 6f. A 
grip or grasp. 
