vote 
It ia of no me to vote doom gravitation or morala. 
KiitmniH, Fugitive Slave Law. 
To vote in, to choosn hy tmlTraKr ; fleet, as to an appoint- 
ment or oillc-.-, tiy fxprchhiun of will or preference: at, he 
was voted in by a handsome inajorit>. 
VOteless (vot'les), . [<. rote + -less.] Having 
no vote; not entitled to a vote. 
He was not rnli^liti'ii> il t-noiiKh to know that there waft 
a way of nsiiiK voti-lfim miners and navvies at Nomination.- 
;m.l Kli'cliomi. <;,;,r,ie Kliiit, Kclix Holt, xl. 
voter (vo'ter), ii. [< i-iilf + -</'.] One who 
votes or has a legal right to vote; an elec- 
tor. 
Of late yuan, . . . when it has been considered neces- 
sary l>\ jx'lit iriiins ii. cnltiviite the foreign-born voten, 
there has been a Ki'eat tendency to appoint naturalized 
citizens as consuls. Schuyler, Amer. Diplomacy, p. 81. 
Registration of voters, s registration. 
vote-recorder (\<>t'n -kor'der), . Anelectri- 
cal device which records the yea or nay of a 
voter when the corresponding knob or button 
is pressed. 
voting-paper (vo'ting-pa'per), TO. A balloting- 
paper; particularly, according to the British 
Ballot Act of 1872, a paper used in voting by bal- 
lot in the election of members of Parliament, of 
municipal corporations, etc. Such papers are used 
only in cases where the number of candidates exceeds the 
number of vacancies ; they contain a list of the candidates, 
and the voter is required to put a mark opposite the name 
of each candidate he selects. 
votistt (vo'tist), n. [< L. votum, vow, + -ist.] 
One who makes a vow; a vower; a votarist. 
Try 
If a poor woman, nolut of revenge, 
Would not perform it. 
Chapman, Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois, fit 1. 
votive (vo'tiv), a. [< F. votif = Sp. Pg. It. vo- 
tivo, < L. votivug, of or pertaining to a vow, con- 
formable to one's wish, < votum, vow: see vote, 
vow.'] 1. Offered, contributed, or consecrated 
in accordance with a vow: as, a votive pic- 
ture. 
Not gold, not blood, their altar dowers, 
But votive tears and symbol flowers. 
Shelley, Hellas. 
We set to-day a votive stone, 
That memory may their dead redeem, 
When, like our sires, our sons are gone. 
Emerson, Concord Monument. 
Votive tablet* commemorative of cures and deliverance 
were hung around. 
C. K. Norton, Travel and Study In Italy, p. 232. 
2. Observed, practised, or done in consequence 
of a vow. [Rare.] 
Votive abstinence some cold constitutions may endure. 
i'':'>Hi"in. Resolves, 1. 85. 
Diversions of this kind have a practical value, even 
though they seem to be those of a knight tilting at away- 
side tournament as he rides on his votive quest. 
Stedman, Viet. Poets, p. 399. 
Votive mass. See in*ii . Votive offering, a tablet, pic- 
ture, or the like dedicated in fulfilment of the vow (Latin 
ex voto) of a worshiper. Among the Greeks and Romans 
such offerings were dedicated to deities or heroes, and 
were affixed to the walls of temples, or set up in conse- 
crated places, often in niches cut in the rock in a locality 
reputea sacred. Among Roman Catholics they are usually 
set up in chapels dedicated to the Virgin or to a saint. 
votively (vo'tiv-li), adv. In a votive manner; 
by vow. 
votiveness (vo'tiv-nes), ;. The state or char- 
acter of being votive. 
votresst (vo'tres), w. Same as votaress. 
vouch (vouch), v. [< ME. vouchen. vowchen, < 
OF. voucher, vocher, < L. vocare, call, call upon, 
summon: see vocation, voice. Cf. vouchsafe, 
avouch.] I, trans. If. To call to witness. 
And vouch the silent stars, and conscious moon. 
Dryilen, tr. of Ovid's Metamorph., xllL 22. 
2. To declare; assert; affirm; attest; avouch. 
Praised therefore be his name, which voucheth us 
worthy this honour. 
J. Bradford, Letters CParker Soc., 1853X n. 176. 
What can you vouch against him, Signior Lucio? 
Shot., M. for M., T. 1. 326. 
What we have done 
None shall dare vouch, though it be truly known. 
Shelley, Revolt of Islam, ix. 31. 
3. To warrant; be surety for; answer for; 
make good; confirm. 
Go tell the lords o' the city I am here ; 
Deliver them this paper ; having read it, 
Bid them repair to the market-place, where I, 
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears, 
Will vouch the truth of it. Shot., Cor., v. 6. 6. 
When I arrived at Scutari, they took my slave from me, 
as I had not the original writing by me to vouch the prop- 
erty of him. / v,-,i,-', . , Description of the East, II. ii. 12a 
4. To support ; back ; second ; follow up. 
[Hare.] 
Bold words vouch'd with a deed so bold. 
Mill. 11, P. L., v. 68. 
5. In lair: () To prodm'i' vouchers for, in sup- 
port of a chaise in aeeuiinl. (h) In nlil /;/. I, nr, 
to call or Miinmon into court to warrant and 
defend, or to make good n warranty of title. 
Ho nwrhe* the tenant In tail, who cfuehn over the com- 
mon \uiichee. lUacMaae, Com., II. xxl. 
= 8yn. 2. To asseverate, aver, protest. 
II. iiilnnix. To bt-ar witness; (jive testimony 
or iittesi.-ition: more specifically, in <>lil /.'</. 
lair, to call in some one to make good his al- 
leged warranty of title ; be surety or guaranty. 
Vouch will) me, heaven. Shale., Othello, L 3. 2*2. 
The Salvo of Sir John Friendly's appearing at last, and 
vouching for Lord Foplington, won't mend the matter. 
Jeremy Comer, Short View (ed. 1098X P. 216. 
A very clear account, upon my word ; and I dare swear 
the lady will vouch for every article of it. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal. IT. 3. 
To vouch to warranty, In old Kay. lav, to call In a 
third person as a substituted defendant, to defend the 
title acquired from him. =8yiL Of wuchjur, warrant, as- 
sure, guarantee. 
vouch (vouch), n. [< vouch, v.] Approving 
or supporting warrant; confirmation; attesta- 
tion. 
Why In this woolvlsh toge should I stand here, 
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear. 
Their needless vauchet t Shale., Cor. , a 3. 124. 
vouchee (vou-che'), . [< vouch + -eel.] i n 
luir. the person who is vouched or summoned in 
a writ of right. 
All trouble on this score waa avoided by choostng as 
vouchee some one who notoriously had no lands to make 
recompense withal, and therefore was, as we now say, not 
worth powder and shot. F. Pollock, Land Laws, p. 31. 
voucher (vou'cher), n. [< rouch + -erl.] 1. 
One who vouches, or gives attestation or con- 
firmation ; one who is surety for another. 
He knows his own strength so well that he never dares 
praise anything In which he has not a French author for 
his voucher. Additon, Taller, No. 106. 
Some banks will not take the accounts of persons In- 
troduced only by their own clerks, for fear they might be 
confederates in some scheme of fraud or plunder. Other 
and responsible vouchers are required. 
Harper"! Mag., I.XXX. 468. 
2. A book, paper, document, or stamp which 
serves to prove the truth of accounts, or to 
confirm and establish facts of any kind ; spe- 
cifically, a receipt or other written evidence of 
the payment of money. 
The stamp is a mark, . . . and a public voucher, that a 
piece of such denomination is of such a weight. 
Locltc, Further Considerations concerning Raising the 
[Value of Money. 
He caused the accounts to he examined by the proper 
officer, who, after comparing every article with Its voucher, 
certified them to be right. FranUin, Autobiog., p. 260. 
3. In old Eng. late : (a) The tenant in a writ of 
right ; one who called in another to establish 
his warranty of title. In common recoveries 
there might be a single voucher or double 
vouchers. [Also written voucher.] (ft) The call- 
ing in of a person to vouch. Double voucher, an 
Incident in the alienation of land by the fiction of com- 
mon recovery, where the owner was allowed to convey to 
a third person who, being sued, alleged that the former 
warranted the title, and he, being called to vouch for it, 
was allowed to allege that still another warranted it to 
him, the object being to bar contingent interests, etc. 
vouchment (vouch'ment), n. (XroueA +-ment.] 
A declaration or affirmation ; a solemn asser- 
tion. 
Their vouchment hy their honour in that tryal Is not an 
oath. Bp. Haclret, Abp. Williams, 1. 77. (Dariet.) 
voucher (vou'chor), n. [< roach + -or 1 .] See 
voucher, 3 (o). 
vouchsafe (vouch-saf), v. ; pret. and pp. vouch- 
safed, ppr. vouchsafing. [< ME. vouchen safe, 
saf, sauf, prop, two words, lit. ' guarantee (as) 
safe'; < vouch + safe.] I. trans. If. To guar- 
antee as safe ; secure ; assure. 
That the quen be of-sent, fauf wol i/ouche. 
William of Palernf (E. E. T. 8.), L 4152. 
So Philip Is wild, on that wise we it take 
As ge haf mad present, the kyng nmchet It taw. 
Rob. of Rrunne, p. 260. (Richardmn) 
2. To permit, grant, or bestow : sometimes with 
implied condescension : as, not to vouchsafe an 
answer. 
I have assailed her with music, but she vouchsafe* no 
notice. Shak., Cymbeline, II. 3. 46. 
In your pardon, and the kiss vouchsafed me, 
You dia but point me out a fore-right way 
To lead to certain happiness. 
Mamnger, Parliament of Love, 111. 3. 
Sir. I must thank you for the Visit yon vnuchtafed me 
In this simple Cell. Hmtrll, Letters, ii. 68. 
3t. To receive or accept by way of condescen- 
sion. 
There she sate, vouchMjiny my cloak (then most gor- 
geous) under her. sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, I. 
Voulge of the end 
of the mh century. 
(From VioUet le.puc*. 
" Diet, do Mobilier 
vow 
i JWMI which (,.-t!.-r prt our prayers come In, 
If ihoii rvuchn/e thi-m. Shalt., K. John. III. I. tat. 
II. intrant. To permit; grant; condescend; 
deign ; stoop. 
Than he preyede devoutly to Ood, that he wolde touckt 
of to suffre him gon up. UanJevOle, Travels, p. 14B. 
Ood vouched Mu^thurgh thee with us to iconic. 
Chaufrr, A. a C., I. 27. 
Vvurhmfe, noble Lady, to accept this simple remem- 
brance. Spenter, Tears of the Muses, Ded. 
VOUChsafement(vouch-saf'ment), . [< niuch- 
tiafe + -incut.] The act of vouchsafing, or 
that which is vouchsafed; a gift or grant in 
condescension. [Karp.] 
Peculiar experiences being such 
mueJuafementt to them, which Ood 
communicated to none but his 
chosen people. 
SliOingfeet, Sermons, I. vlll. 
voudou, voudonism. Seeroo- 
vouge (\('<-/.\\>, ii. Same as 
VOUgh, n. Same as vug. 
voulge (viizh), H. jf< OF. 
roulge, rouge, rooiige, F. r>/>' 
( ML. ranga), a hunting-spear, 
alance; origin unknown.] A 
weapon consisting of a blade 
fitted on a long handle or staff, 
used by the foot-soldiers of the 
fourteenth century and later. 
It varied In form, resembling some- 
times the fauchard. sometimes the 
war-scythe, sometimes the halberd, 
and was frequently like an ax the 
blade of which, with but slight pro- 
jection, has great length in the di- 
rection of the staff, and is finished 
at the end in a sharp point. 
voundt, a. An unexplained 
word, perhaps a mistake for 
round, occurring in the follow- 
ing passage : 
Though It were of no round* stone, 
Wrought with squyre and scan tllone. 
Rom. iifthe Rote, 1. 7063. 
VOUTt, v. t. [ME. vourer, < OF. 
'vourer, vorer.< L. vorare, devour, eat; cf. vora- 
cious, devour.} To devour. 
The! whom the swerd deuowrede [var. vmrrrdc\ 
Wydif, 2 Kl. [2 Sam.) xvlll. 8. 
vourert, A devourer. 
Lo! a man deuonrere, ether glotonn [var. vourer or 
glotonn). WycKf, Luke viL 34. 
voussoir (v6-swor'), n. [F.; cf. voussure, the 
curvature of a vault, prop. < 'vousser, < LL. as 
if 'rolutiare, make round, < L. volutus, a rolling, 
< rolvere, pp. volutus, roll : see volute.] In arch. , 
a stone in the shape of a truncated wedge, which 
forms part of an arch. The under sides of the vous- 
soirs form the Intrados or sofflt of the arch, and the upper 
sides the extrados. The middle voussoir is often termed 
the keyttonc. See archl, 2. 
VOUSSOir (vo-swor'), r. t. [< voussoir, n.] To 
form with voussoirs; construct by means of 
voussoirs. Encyc. Brit., H. 387. 
voutet, . An obsolete form of vault*. 
VOUtret, VOUtUTt. . Obsolete forms of vulture. 
VOW (vou), M. [< ME. row, < OF. vou, vo, reu, 
F. rail = Sp. Pg. It. voto, a vow, < L. votum, a 
promise, dedication, vow, < vovere, promise, 
vow: see vote, n., of which vote is a doublet.] 
1. A solemn promise; an engagement solemn- 
ly entered into. Specifically (a) A kind of promis- 
sory oath made to Ood, or to some deity, to perform some 
act or dedicate to the deity something of value, often In 
the event of receiving something specially desired, such 
as success in an enterprise, deliverance from danger, or re* 
covery from sickness : as, a vow to build an altar. 
Would I were even the saint they make their rmr to ! 
How easily I would grant I Fletcher, Pilgrim, L t. 
Forc'd Consecrations out of another mans Estate are 
no better than forc'd Vmn, hateful to God who loves a 
chearful giver. Hilton, Touching Hirelings. 
A rau> is a deliberate promise made to Cod In regard to 
something possessing superior goodness. To be valid. It 
must proceed from the free, deliberate will of one who, by 
age and social position, is capable of contracting a solemn 
obligation. It is to Ood alone that a row Is taken, and 
. . . It is an actof religion, or of divine worship. To vow 
to a saint means, in the minds of Catholics, to vow to 
Ood In honour of a saint. Rom. Cath. Did. 
(&) A promise to follow out some line of conduct, or to 
consecrate or devote one's self wholly or In part for a 
longer or shorter time to some act or service ; a pledge of 
fidelity or constancy : as, a marriage vow. 
Fooles therefore 
They are which fortunes doe by vmrrt devise, 
Sith each unto hlmselfe his life may fortnnlze. 
Spenter, F. Q., VI. Ix. SO. 
By all the noir* that ever men have broke, 
In number more than ever women spoke. 
~ >., M. S. D., t 1. 17&. 
