*very*

n. [ Cf. F. braverie. ] 1. The quality of being brave; fearless; intrepidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Remember, sir, my liege, . . .
The natural bravery of your isle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of braving; defiance; bravado. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Reform, then, without bravery or scandal of former times and persons. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Splendor; magnificence; showy appearance; ostentation; fine dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like a stately ship . . .
With all her bravery on, and tackle trim. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A showy person; a fine gentleman; a beau. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A man that is the bravery of his age. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Courage; heroism; interpidity; gallantry; valor; fearlessness; dauntlessness; hardihood; manfulness. See Courage, and Heroism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Deliveries 1. The act of delivering from restraint; rescue; release; liberation; as, the delivery of a captive from his dungeon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of delivering up or over; surrender; transfer of the body or substance of a thing; distribution; as, the delivery of a fort, of hostages, of a criminal, of goods, of letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act or style of utterance; manner of speaking; as, a good delivery; a clear delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of giving birth; parturition; the expulsion or extraction of a fetus and its membranes. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The act of exerting one's strength or limbs. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neater limbs and freer delivery. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The act or manner of delivering a ball; as, the pitcher has a swift delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Discoveries 1. The action of discovering; exposure to view; laying open; showing; as, the discovery of a plot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A making known; revelation; disclosure; as, a bankrupt is bound to make a full discovery of his assets. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the clear discoveries of the next [ world ]. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Finding out or ascertaining something previously unknown or unrecognized; as, Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

A brilliant career of discovery and conquest. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

We speak of the “invention” of printing, the discovery of America. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is discovered; a thing found out, or for the first time ascertained or recognized; as, the properties of the magnet were an important discovery. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Exploration; examination. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. same as Columbus Day, above. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The trade or work of an engraver. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & a. pron. [ OE. everich, everilk; AS. &aemacr_;fre ever + ælc each. See Ever, each. ] 1. All the parts which compose a whole collection or aggregate number, considered in their individuality, all taken separately one by one, out of an indefinite number. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Ps. xxxix. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every door and window was adorned with wreaths of flowers. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Every one. Cf. Each. [ Obs. ] “Every of your wishes.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Daily occasions given to every of us. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every each, every one. [ Obs. ] “Every each of them hath some vices.” Burton.. --
Every now and then, at short intervals; occasionally; repeatedly; frequently. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Every may, by way of emphasis, precede the article the with a superlative adjective; as, every, the least variation. Locke.

Syn. -- Every, Each, Any. Any denotes one, or some, taken indifferently from the individuals which compose a class. Every differs from each in giving less prominence to the selection of the individual. Each relates to two or more individuals of a class. It refers definitely to every one of them, denoting that they are considered separately, one by one, all being included; as, each soldier was receiving a dollar per day. Every relates to more than two and brings into greater prominence the notion that not one of all considered is excepted; as, every soldier was on service, except the cavalry, that is, all the soldiers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

In each division there were four pentecosties, in every pentecosty four enomoties, and of each enomoty there fought in the front rank four [ soldiers ]. Jowett (Thucyd. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

If society is to be kept together and the children of Adam to be saved from setting up each for himself with every one else his foe. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Every person. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, a. [ OE. see Every. ] each one; every one; each of two. See Every. [ Obs. ] Chaucer.

{ } pron. [ OE. everich + oon, on, one. See Every, and One. ] Every one. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Used or fit for every day; common; usual; as, an everyday suit of clothes. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mechanical drudgery of his everyday employment. Sir. J. Herchel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. everychon. ] Everybody; -- commonly separated, every one. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Whatever pertains to the subject under consideration; all things. [ 1913 Webster ]

More wise, more learned, more just, more everything. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. At any or all times; every instant. [ R. ] “Eternal law is silently present everywhere and everywhen.” Carlyle.

adv. In every place; in all places; hence, in every part; thoroughly; altogether. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Ubiquity; omnipresence. [ R. ] Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Feverish. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act, process, or art, of graving or carving; engraving. [ 1913 Webster ]

Either of picture or gravery and embossing. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of discovery. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Knaveries 1. The practices of a knave; petty villainy; fraud; trickery; a knavish action. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Roguish or mischievous tricks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Liveries [ OE. livere, F. livrée, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See Liberate. ] 1. (Eng. Law) (a) The act of delivering possession of lands or tenements. (b) The writ by which possession is obtained. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is usual to say, livery of seizin, which is a feudal investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of a rod, a twig, or a key from the feoffor to the feoffee as a symbol of delivery of the whole property. There was a distinction of livery in deed when this ceremony was performed on the property being transferred, and livery in law when performed in sight of the property, but not on it. In the United States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient as a livery of seizin, regardless of where performed. Black's 4th Ed. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. Release from wardship; deliverance. [ 1913 Webster ]

It concerned them first to sue out their livery from the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as clothing, food, etc.; especially: (a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to their retainers and serving as a badge when in military service. (b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman or gentleman are distinguished; as, a claret-colored livery. (c) Hence, also, the peculiar dress or garb appropriated by any association or body of persons to their own use; as, the livery of the London tradesmen, of a priest, of a charity school, etc.; also, the whole body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and entitled to the privileges of the association; as, the whole livery of London. [ 1913 Webster ]

A Haberdasher and a Carpenter,
A Webbe, a Dyer, and a Tapicer,
And they were clothed all in one livery
Of a solempne and a gret fraternite. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the periodical deliveries of these characteristic articles of servile costume (blue coats) came our word livery. De Quincey.

(d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance. “ April's livery.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad. Milton.

(e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as to a family, to servants, to horses, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The emperor's officers every night went through the town from house to house whereat any English gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their liveries for all night: first, the officers brought into the house a cast of fine manchet [ white bread ], and of silver two great pots, and white wine, and sugar. Cavendish.

(f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for compensation; boarding; as, to keep one's horses at livery. [ 1913 Webster ]

What livery is, we by common use in England know well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which word, I guess, is derived of livering or delivering forth their nightly food. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

It need hardly be observed that the explanation of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly correct, but . . . it is no longer applied to the ration or stated portion of food delivered at stated periods. Trench.

(g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being so kept; also, the place where horses are so kept, also called a livery stable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the largest establishment in Moorfields. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A low grade of wool. [ 1913 Webster ]

Livery gown, the gown worn by a liveryman in London. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To clothe in, or as in, livery. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Liverymen 1. One who wears a livery, as a servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A freeman of the city, in London, who, having paid certain fees, is entitled to wear the distinguishing dress or livery of the company, guild, or district to which he belongs, and also to enjoy certain other privileges, as the right of voting in an election for the lord mayor, sheriffs, chamberlain, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who keeps a livery stable. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. A stable where horses are kept for hire, and where stabling is provided. See Livery, n., 3 (e) (f) & (g). [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. See Louver. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Maneuver. ] (Eng. Law) A contrivance or maneuvering to catch game illegally. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A neglect or failure of delivery; omission of delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Want or failure of discovery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A previous discovery. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. pro- + slavery. ] Favoring slavery. -- n. Advocacy of slavery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of recovering, regaining, or retaking possession. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Restoration from sickness, weakness, faintness, or the like; restoration from a condition of mistortune, of fright, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The obtaining in a suit at law of a right to something by a verdict and judgment of court. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The getting, or gaining, of something not previously had. [ Obs. ] “Help be past recovery.” Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. In rowing, the act of regaining the proper position for making a new stroke. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Act of regaining the natural position after curtseying. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

7. (Fencing, Sparring, etc.) Act of regaining the position of guard after making an attack. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Common recovery (Law), a species of common assurance or mode of conveying lands by matter of record, through the forms of an action at law, formerly in frequent use, but now abolished or obsolete, both in England and America. Burrill. Warren. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Act of delivering back. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A second or new delivery or liberation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Reverie. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n.; pl. Reveries [ F. réverie, fr. rêver to dream, rave, be light-headed. Cf. Rave. ] 1. A loose or irregular train of thought occurring in musing or mediation; deep musing; daydream. “Rapt in nameless reveries.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

When ideas float in our mind without any reflection or regard of the understanding, it is that which the French call revery, our language has scarce a name for it. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An extravagant conceit of the fancy; a vision. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There are infinite reveries and numberless extravagancies pass through both [ wise and foolish minds ]. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having rivers; as, a rivery country. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. corrupted fr. ciborium. Oxf. Gloss. ] (Arch.) A bay or compartment of a vaulted ceiling. [ Written also civery. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tremulous; shivering. Mallet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Easily broken; brittle; shattery. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the enameled race, whose silvery wing
Waves to the tepid zephyrs of the spring. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Besprinkled or covered with silver. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silvery iron (Metal.), a peculiar light-gray fine-grained cast iron, usually obtained from clay iron ore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Slaveries [ See 2d Slave. ] 1. The condition of a slave; the state of entire subjection of one person to the will of another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, said I, still thou art a bitter draught! Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

I wish, from my soul, that the legislature of this state [ Virginia ] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A condition of subjection or submission characterized by lack of freedom of action or of will. [ 1913 Webster ]

The vulgar slaveries rich men submit to. C. Lever. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish, -- the slavery of caste. G. W. Cable. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The holding of slaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Bondage; servitude; inthrallment; enslavement; captivity; bond service; vassalage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The practice of stealing; theft; thievishness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Among the Spartans, thievery was a practice morally good and honest. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is stolen. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Verier superl. Veriest. ] [ OE. verai, verray, OF. verai, vrai, F. vrai, (assumed) LL. veracus, for L. verax true, veracious, fr. verus true; akin to OHG. & OS. wār, G. wahr, D. waar; perhaps originally, that is or exists, and akin to E. was. Cf. Aver, v. t., Veracious, Verdict, Verity. ] True; real; actual; veritable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whether thou be my very son Esau or not. Gen. xxvii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Prov. xvii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I looked on the consideration of public service or public ornament to be real and very justice. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Very is sometimes used to make the word with which it is connected emphatic, and may then be paraphrased by same, self-same, itself, and the like. “The very hand, the very words.” Shak. “The very rats instinctively have quit it.” Shak. “Yea, there where very desolation dwells.” Milton. Very is used occasionally in the comparative degree, and more frequently in the superlative. “Was not my lord the verier wag of the two?” Shak. “The veriest hermit in the nation.” Pope. “He had spoken the very truth, and transformed it into the veriest falsehood.” Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Very Reverend. See the Note under Reverend. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a high degree; to no small extent; exceedingly; excessively; extremely; as, a very great mountain; a very bright sun; a very cold day; the river flows very rapidly; he was very much hurt. [ 1913 Webster ]