1. V, the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. V and U are only varieties of the same character, U being the cursive form, while V is better adapted for engraving, as in stone. The two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, and till a comparatively recent date words containing them were often classed together in dictionaries and other books of reference (see U). The letter V is from the Latin alphabet, where it was used both as a consonant (about like English w) and as a vowel. The Latin derives it from a form (V) of the Greek vowel Υ (see Y), this Greek letter being either from the same Semitic letter as the digamma F (see F), or else added by the Greeks to the alphabet which they took from the Semitic. Etymologically v is most nearly related to u, w, f, b, p; as in vine, wine; avoirdupois, habit, have; safe, save; trover, troubadour, trope. See U, F, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Guide to Pronunciation, § 265; also §§ 155, 169, 178-179, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. As a numeral, V stands for five, in English and Latin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Icel. vāgmeri a kind of flounder, literally, wave mare. ] (Zool.) The dealfish. [ Written also vaagmaer, and vaagmar. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Vacancies [ Cf. F. vacance. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being vacant; emptiness; hence, freedom from employment; intermission; leisure; idleness; listlessness. [ 1913 Webster ]

All dispositions to idleness or vacancy, even before they are habits, are dangerous. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is vacant. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) Empty space; vacuity; vacuum. [ 1913 Webster ]

How is't with you,
That you do bend your eye on vacancy? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) An open or unoccupied space between bodies or things; an interruption of continuity; chasm; gap; as, a vacancy between buildings; a vacancy between sentences or thoughts. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) Unemployed time; interval of leisure; time of intermission; vacation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Time lost partly in too oft idle vacancies given both to schools and universities. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

No interim, not a minute's vacancy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those little vacancies from toil are sweet. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) A place or post unfilled; an unoccupied office; as, a vacancy in the senate, in a school, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., fr. L. vacans, -antis, p. pr. of vacare to be empty, to be free or unoccupied, to have leisure, also vocare; akin to vacuus empty, and probably to E. void. Cf. Evacuate, Void, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as, a vacant room. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being of those virtues vacant. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended,
But has one vacant chair. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free; as, vacant hours. [ 1913 Webster ]

Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those . . . at leisure, and vacant from the affairs of the world. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was not a minute of the day which he left vacant. Bp. Fell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not filled or occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer; unoccupied; as, a vacant throne; a vacant house; a vacant apartment; a vacant parish. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Special dignities which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as, a vacant mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duke had a pleasant and vacant face. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

When on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier; as, a vacant estate. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vacant succession (Law), one that is claimed by no person, or where all the heirs are unknown, or where all the known heirs to it have renounced it. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle. -- Vacant, Empty. A thing is empty when there is nothing in it; as, an empty room, or an empty noddle. Vacant adds the idea of having been previously filled, or intended to be filled or occupied; as, a vacant seat at table; a vacant office; vacant hours. When we speak of a vacant look or a vacant mind, we imply the absence of the intelligence naturally to be expected there. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a vacant manner; inanely. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vacated p. pr. & vb. n. Vacating. ] [ L. vacare, vacatum, to be empty. See Vacant. ] 1. To make vacant; to leave empty; to cease from filling or occupying; as, it was resolved by Parliament that James had vacated the throne of England; the tenant vacated the house. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To annul; to make void; to deprive of force; to make of no authority or validity; as, to vacate a commission or a charter; to vacate proceedings in a cause. [ 1913 Webster ]

That after act vacating the authority of the precedent. Eikon Basilike. [ 1913 Webster ]

The necessity of observing the Jewish Sabbath was vacated by the apostolical institution of the Lord's Day. R. Nelson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To defeat; to put an end to. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He vacates my revenge. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. vacatio a being free from a duty, service, etc., fr. vacare. See Vacate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of vacating; a making void or of no force; as, the vacation of an office or a charter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Intermission of a stated employment, procedure, or office; a period of intermission; rest; leisure. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was not in his nature, however, at least till years had chastened it, to take any vacation from controversy. Palfrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hence, specifically: - [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) (Law) Intermission of judicial proceedings; the space of time between the end of one term and the beginning of the next; nonterm; recess. “With lawyers in the vacation.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A period of intermission of regular paid work or employment, or of studies and exercises at an educational institution; the time during which a person temporarily ceases regular duties of any kind and performs other activites, usually some form of liesure; holidays; recess (at a school); as, the spring vacation; to spend one's vacation travelling; to paint the house while on vacation. Vacation is typically used for rest, travel, or recreation, but may be used for any purpose. In Britain this sense of vacation is usually referred to as holiday. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

(c) The time when an office is vacant; esp. (Eccl.), the time when a see, or other spiritual dignity, is vacant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., it is made void, fr. L. vacare to be empty. See Vacant. ] (Law) An order of court by which a proceeding is set aside or annulled. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ LL. vaccarium, from L. vacca cow. Cf. Vachery. ] A cow house, dairy house, or cow pasture. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] (Med.) Vaccinia. [ 1913 Webster ]