vow 
But, for performance of your vow , I entreat 
Some gage from you. 
Fletcher (and another), Fair Maid of the Inn, ii. 1. 
2f. A solemn asseveration or declaration; a 
positive assertion. 
What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow? 
Shale., 2 Hen. VI., iii. 2. 159. 
3f. A votive offering; an ex-voto. 
Belonging to this church is a world of plate, some whole 
statues of it, and lamps innumerable, besides the costly 
vowes hung up, some of gold, and a cabinet of precious 
stones. Evelyn, Diary, May 21, 1045. 
Baptismal vows. See baptismal. -Monastic vows. 
See monastic. 
VOW (vou), v. [< ME. vowen, < OF. vouer, vowcr, 
F. vouer = Sp. Pg. votar = It. votare, promise, 
vow, vote, < ML. votare, promise, vow, < L. vo- 
tum, promise, vow: see vow,n. Cf.vote,v.] I. 
trans. 1. To promise solemnly; undertake, by 
a solemn promise, as to God or a deity, to do, 
perform, or give ; devote. 
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying r If God will be with me, 
and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me 
bread to eat, and raiment to put on, ... then shall the 
Lord be my God : . . . and of all that thou shalt give me 
I will surely give the tenth unto thee. Gen. xxviii. 20-22. 
Mine own good maister Harvey, to whom I have, both 
in respect of your worthinesse generally and otherwyse 
upon some particular and special considerations, voued 
this my labour. Spenser, To Gabriel! Harvey. 
By Mahomet 
The Turk there vows, on his blest Alcoran, 
Marriage unto her. 
Beau, and Fl., Knight of Malta, i. 1. 
I vow and I swear, by the fan in my hand, 
That my lord shall nae mair come near me. 
The QypsU Laddie (Child's Ballads, IV. 117). 
2. To threaten solemnly or upon oath. 
Weeping, cursing, vowing vengeance. 
Shak., T. and C., v. 5. 31. 
3. To assert or maintain solemnly ; asseverate; 
swear. 
He heard him swear and vow to God 
He came but to be duke of Lancaster. 
Shak., I Hen. IV., iv. 3. 60. 
Brisk. I v&iv it is a pleasureable Morning ; the Waters 
taste so finely after being fuddled last Night. Neighbour 
Fribbler, here 's a Pint to you. 
Frib. I'll pledge you, Mrs. Brisket ; I have drunk eight 
already. Shadwell, Epsom Wells, i. 1. 
Sir Peter vows he has not his equal in England ; and, 
above all, he praises him as a man of sentiment. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal, i. 1. 
It was my first experience with camels, and I vowed that 
it should be my last ; for, taking them altogether, they 
are the most tiresome and troublesome animals I have 
ever seen. The Century, XLI. 351. 
II. intrans. To make vows or solemn prom- 
ises; protest solemnly; asseverate; declare em- 
phatically. 
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou 
shouldest vow and not pay. Eccl. v. 5. 
VOW-breach (vou'brech), . The breaking of 
a vow. 
He that vows . . . never to commit an error hath taken 
a course that his little infirmities shall become crimes, 
and certainly be imputed, by changing his unavoidable 
infirmity into vow-breach. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 692. 
VOW-break (vou'brak), n. Same as vow-breach. 
VOW-breaker (vou'bra'ker), n. One who breaks 
his vow or vows. 
And this is that holy bishop Paphnutius, whom these 
euangelical vow-breakers pretend to be their proctor for 
theire unlauful marriages. 
M. Harding, quoted in Bp. Jewell's Works 
[(Parker Soc.), III. 386. 
vowel (vou'el), u. and a. [Formerly also vowell ; 
< F. voyelle = Sp. Pg. vocal = It. vocale, a vowel, 
< L. vocalis, a vowel, fern. (sc. littera, letter) of 
vocalis, sounding, sonorous, < vox (voc-), voice, 
sound: see voice, vocal.'] I. n. 1. One of the 
openest.most resonant, and continuable sounds 
uttered by the voice in the process of speaking ; 
a sound in which the element of tone, though 
modified and differentiated by positions of the 
mouth-organs, is predominant; a tone-sound, 
as distinguished from a fricative (in which a 
rustling between closely approximated organs 
is the predominant element), from a mute (in 
which the explosion of a closure is character- 
istic), and so on. Vowel and consonant are relative 
terms, distinguishing respectively the opener and closer ut- 
terances ; but there is no absolute division between them. 
Certain sounds are so open as to be only vowels ; certain 
others so close as to be only consonants ; but there are yet 
others which have the value now of vowels and now of 
consonants. Thus, I and n have frequently vowel- value in 
English, as in apple, token; and r is in various languages a 
much-used vowel. Also, the semivowels y and w are not 
appreciably different from the i-vowel (of pique) and the 
-vowel (of rule) respectively. A sound, namely, is a 
vowel if it forms the central or open element of a syllable, 
being a syllable either alone or in conjunction with the 
closer sounds (consonants) that accompany it. (See sylla- 
ble.) The openest of the vowels is a (as in far, father) ; the 
6792 
closest are i and w (in pique, rule) ; and these three, with e 
and o (as in they, tone), intermediate respectively between 
a and i and a and u, are hardly wanting in any known 
human language. But many others are found in various 
languages, and their number is theoretically unlimited. 
2. Tbd letter or character which represents 
such a sound Neutral voweL See neutral. 
II. o. Pertaining to a vowel; vocal Vowel 
points. Seepointi. 
Vowel (vou'el), v. t. ; pret. and pp. voweled, vow- 
elled, ppr. voioeling, vowelling. [< vowel, n.~] To 
provide or complete with vowels ; insert vowels 
in (a word or syllable). 
With pauses, cadence, and well-mwelled words. 
Drydeu, To Roscommon. 
The vowelling of Greek and Latin proper names shews 
that the vagueness of the vowels was not absolute. 
Encyc. Brit., XI. 797. 
vowelisht (vou'el-ish), a. [< vowel + -M 1 .] 
Of the nature of a vowel. B. Jonson, Eng. 
Grammar, i. 3. 
VOwelism (vou'el-izm), n. [< vowel + -ism.'] 
The use of vowels. 
VOWelist (vou'el-ist), n. [< vowel + -ist.] One 
who is addicted to vowelism. 
As a repetitionary vowelist, Mr. is virtuous com- 
pared with Milton. Athenseum, No. 3280, p. 334. 
vpwelize (vou'el-Iz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. vowel- 
ized, ppr. vowelizing. [< vowel + -ize.] To in- 
sert vowel-signs in, as in Semitic words or 
shorthand forms written primarily with conso- 
nants only. 
"Tom Brown's School- Days" will be immediately issued 
in the easy reporting style [of shorthand], fully vowelized. 
The American, VI. 314. 
vowelless (vou'el-les), a. [< vowel + -less.] 
Without a vowel or vowels. 
Hebrew, with its vowel-less roots, which require vocali- 
sation before they can attain any meaning. 
Farrar, Language aud Languages, p. 395. 
vowelly(vou'el-i),a. [< vowel + -ly 1 .] Abound- 
ing in vowels ; characterized by vowel-sounds. 
The mellifluence and flexibility of the vowelly language 
[Italian] were favorable to unrhymed verse. 
I. If Israeli, Amen, of Lit, I. 349. 
VOWer (vou'er), n. [< vow + -er 1 .] One who 
makes a vow. 
These prycke eared prynces myghte truste those vowers, 
as hawkes made totheyr handes, yet wolde I counsell the 
christen prynces in no wyse to trust them. 
Sp. Bale, Apology, fol. 142. 
VOWCSS (vou'es), n. [< vow + -ess.] A woman 
who has taken a vow; a nun. [Rare.] 
In that church also lieth this ladie, buried ... in the 
habit of a vowesse. 
Harrison, Descrip. of Eng., ii. 3 (Holinshed's Chron., I.). 
VOW-fellow (vou'fel"6), n. One who is bound 
by the same vow. [Rare.] 
Vow-fellows with this virtuous duke. 
Shak., L. L. L., it 1. 38. 
vowless (vou'les), a. [< vow + -less.] Without 
a vow ; not bound by a vow. 
He hath done with their own vows, and now descends 
to us, whom he confesses vowless. 
Bp. Hall, Honour of Married Clergy, L 17. 
VOWSOnt, " Same as advowson. 
The seyd William was with the prior of Norwiche of 
counseille in hese trewe defence ageyn the entent of the 
seyd Walter in a sute that he made ageyn the seyd priour 
of a voweson of the chyrche of Sprouston in the counte of 
Norflolk. Paston Letters, I. 18. 
vox (voks), n. [L. : see voice.] Voice; in mu- 
sic, a voice or voice-part Vox angelica in organ- 
building, a stop having two pipes to each digital, one of 
which is tuned slightly sharp, so that by their dissonance 
a wavy effect is produced. The pipes are of narrow scale, 
and the tone is delicate. Also vox cxlestis, unda maris, etc. 
VOX antecedens, the theme or antecedent of a canon 
or fugue. Vox barbara, a barbarous or outlandish word 
or phrase: commonly used, in zoology and botany, of those 
terms which are ostensibly New Latin, but which are nei- 
ther Latin nor Greek, nor of classic derivation and forma- 
tion, or are hybrids between Latin and Greek. Some thou- 
sands of such words are current, though rejected by some 
purists ; and their use is far less objectionable than the 
unending confusion in nomenclature which attends the 
attempt to discard them. (See synonym, 2 (&).) Usually 
abbreviated vox barb. Vox caelestis. Same as vox an- 
gelica. Vox consequent, the answer or consequent of a 
canon or fugue. Vox humana, in organ-building, a reed- 
stop having short capped pipes, so constructed as to re- 
inforce the higher harmonics of the fundamental tones, 
aud thus to produce tones more or less resembling those 
of the human voice. The imitation is not close, but un- 
der suitable conditions the illusion of a distant singer or 
choir is possible. The tremulant is usually combined with 
the vox humana. A stop of the same name, but of much 
less effectiveness, is often placed in reed-organs. Vox 
quint a. Same as quintus. 
voyage (voi'aj), n. [Early mod. E. also voiage; 
< ME. voyage, voiage, veiage, veage, viage, vyage, 
< OF. voiage, veiage, viage, F. voyage = Sp. viaje 
= Pg. viagem = It. viaggio, travel, journey, voy- 
age, < L. viaticum, provision for a journey, LL. 
a journey, neut. of viatieus, pertaining to travel, 
voyageur 
< via, a way, road, journey, travel : see viaticum, 
of which voyage is a doublet.] 1. Formerly, 
a passage or journey by land or by sea; now 
only a journey or passage by sea or water from 
one place, port, or country to another, espe- 
cially a passing or journey by water to a dis- 
tant place or country : as, a voyage to India. 
It is longe tyme passed that ther was no generalle Pas- 
sage ne Vyage over the See ; and many Men desiren for to 
here speke of the holy Lond, and han thereof gret Solace 
and Comfort. Mandeville, Travels, p. 4. 
Now to this lady lete vs turne ageyn, 
Whiche to Surry hath take hir viage. 
Generydes(E. E. T. S.), 1. 226. 
When I was determined to enter into my fourth voyage, 
I cast into the ship, in the stead of merchandise, a pretty 
fardle of books. 
Sir T. More, Utopia (tr. by Robinson), ii. 7. 
Provyded also that no person or persons havinge chardge 
of any Viage, in passinge from the Realme of Ireland or 
from the Isle of Manne into this Realme of England, do 
from the laste daye of June next comynge wittingly or 
wyllingly transporte . . . any Vacabond Roge or Beggar. 
Laws of 14 Eliz. (1672), quoted in Ribton-Turner's 
[Vagrants and Vagrancy, p. 109. 
The pasha was lately returned from his voyage towards 
Mecca, it being his office always to set out with provisions 
to meet the caravan in its return : they go about half way 
to Mecca, setting out the same day that the caravan usu- 
ally leaves Mecca. 
Pococke, Description of the East, II. i. 101. 
All being embarked, they bade farewell to the gazing 
throng upon the beach, who continued shouting after them, 
. . . wishing them a happy voyage. 
Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 110. 
2. pi. A book of voyages: used like travels. 
3f. The practice of traveling. 
Nations have interknowledge of one another by voyage 
into foreign parts. Bacon. 
4f. A way or course taken ; an attempt or un- 
dertaking; an enterprise; an expedition. 
And ek Diane ! I the biseke 
That this viage be iioght to the loth. 
Chaucer, Troilus, iii. 732. 
If you make your voyage upon her and give me directly 
to understand you have prevailed, I am no further your 
enemy. Shak., Cymbeline, i. 4. 170. 
He ran away from me, . . . and pretended he would 
go the Island voyage [that against Hispaniola] ; since, I 
ne'er heard of him till within this fortnight. 
Dekker and Webster, Northward Ho, it 2. 
So great a dignitie in time past was not obteined to the 
maisterstherof by rebellion, . . . butbyflghtingvaliaunt- 
ly with the Moores in the voiage of Granado. 
Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1577), p. 261. 
Broken voyage. See broken. Continued or continu- 
ous voyage. See continued. Dance voyage, an un- 
successful fishing-voyage. [Local, New Eng.] Mixed 
voyage. Beemixed. To do voyaget.to raakeajourney; 
set out on an enterprise. 
Pandare . . . caste, and knew in good plyte was the moone 
To doom viage. Chaucer, Troilus, ii. 75. 
= Syn. 1. Trip, Excursion, etc. {see journey), cruise, sail. 
voyage (voi'aj), v.; pret. and pp. voyaged, ppr. 
voyaging. [<; OF. voyager, travel, < voyage, 
travel: see voyage.'] I. intrans. To take a 
journey or voyage ; especially, to sail or pass by 
water. 
Beautiful bird ! thou voyayest to thine home. 
Shelley, Alastor. 
A mind for ever 
Voyaging through strange seas of Thought alone. 
Wordsworth, Prelude, iii. 
II. trans. To travel; pass over; traverse. 
Long were to tell 
What I have done, what suffer'd; with what pain 
Voyaged the unreal, vast, unbounded deep. 
Milton, P. L., i. 471. 
The Rhone of to-day must be something like the Rhine 
of fifty years ago, though much less voyaged now than that 
was then. The Century, XL. 636. 
voyageable (vpi'aj-a-bl), a. [< voyage + -able.] 
Capable of being sailed or traveled over ; navi- 
gable. 
voyager (voi'aj-er), n. [< voyage + -er 1 .] One 
who voyages ; one who sails or passes by sea or 
water. 
You go on to prefer my Captivity in this Fleet to that 
of a Voyager at Sea. HoweU, Letters, ii. 39. 
In a few short moments I retrace 
(As in a map the voyager his course) 
The windings of my way through many years. 
Cowper, Task, vi. 17. 
voyageur ( vwo-ya-zher'), . [F., < voyager, trav- 
el ; as voyager.'] The Canadian name of one of 
a class of men employed by the Northwest and 
Hudson's Bay companies in transporting men 
and supplies, and, in general, in keeping up 
communication between their various stations, 
which was done exclusively in bark canoes, 
the whole region formerly under the exclusive 
control of these companies being almost every- 
where accessible by water, with few and short 
portages. These men were nearly always 
French Canadians or half-breeds. 
