quword 趣词
Word Origins Dictionary
- Vivian[Vivian 词源字典]
- masc. proper name, from Latin Vivianus (source also of French Vivien), literally "living, alive," (see vivid). But Klein says it is "prob. a misreading of the Celtic name Ninian."[Vivian etymology, Vivian origin, 英语词源]
- vivid (adj.)
- 1630s, from French vivide and perhaps also directly from Latin vividus "spirited, animated, lively, full of life," from vivus "alive," from PIE *gweie- (1) "to live" (see bio-). Extension to colors is from 1660s. Sense of "strong, distinct" (as of memories, etc.) is from 1680s; that of "very active or intense" (as of imagination, interest, etc.) is from 1853. Related: Vividly; vividness.
- vivify (v.)
- late 14c., from Old French vivifier "come alive; give life to" (12c.), from Late Latin vivificare "make alive, restore to life," from vivificus "enlivening," from Latin vivus "alive" (see vivid) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Vivificate in same sense is recorded from early 15c.
- viviparous (adj.)
- 1640s, from Late Latin viviparus "bringing forth alive," from Latin vivus "alive, living" (see vivid) + parere "bring forth, bear" (see pare). See viper.
- vivisect (v.)
- 1852, back-formation from vivisection. Related: Vivisected; vivisecting.
- vivisection (n.)
- "dissection of a living animal," 1694, from Latin vivus "alive" (see vivid) + ending from dissection). Related: Vivisectionist.
- vixen (n.)
- Old English *fyxen (implied in adjective fyxan), fem. of fox (see fox (n.) and cognate with Middle High German vühsinne, German füchsin). Solitary English survival of the Germanic feminine suffix -en, -in (also in Old English gyden "goddess;" mynecen "nun," from munuc "monk;" wlyfen "she-wolf," etc.). The figurative sense "ill-tempered woman" is attested from 1570s. The spelling shift from -f- to -v- began late 1500s (see V).
- viz.
- 1530s, abbreviation of videlicet "that is to say, to wit, namely" (mid-15c.), from Latin videlicet, contraction of videre licet "it is permissible to see," from videre "to see" (see vision) + licet "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of licere "be allowed" (see licence). The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual Medieval Latin shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED]
- vizard (n.)
- "mask," 1550s, altered form of vysar, viser (see visor), by influence of words in -ard. Figurative use from 1570s; common 17c. Also applied to the person with the masks, and used as a verb meaning "to conceal." Related: Vizarded; vizarding.
- vizier (n.)
- also vizir, 1560s, from Turkish vezir "counsellor," from Arabic wazir "viceroy," literally "one who bears (the burden of office)," literally "porter, carrier," from wazara "he carried." But Klein says Arabic wazir is from Avestan viçira "arbitrator, judge." He also says it replaced Arabic katib, literally "writer," in the sense "secretary of state."
- VJ day (n.)
- also V-J Day, "Victory in Japan Day," 1944; it shares an origin with VE Day.
- Vlach (n.)
- "member of a Latin-speaking race of the Balkans, a Walachian or Rumanian," 1841, from Bulgarian vlakh or Serbian vlah, from Old Church Slavonic vlakhu, a Slavic adoptation of Germanic *walh (source of Old English wealh) "foreigner," especially applied to Celts and Latins (see Welsh).
- Vladimir
- masc. proper name, from Old Church Slavonic Vladimiru "Ruling Peace," from vlasti "to rule over" (from PIE *wal- "to be strong") + miru "peace" (see Mir).
- vocabulary (n.)
- 1530s, "list of words with explanations," from Medieval Latin vocabularium "a list of words," from Latin vocabulum "word, name, noun," from vocare "to name, call" (see voice (n.)). Meaning "range of words in the language of a person or group" is first attested 1753.
- vocal (adj.)
- late 14c., "spoken, oral," from Old French vocal (13c.), from Latin vocalis "sounding, sonorous, speaking," as a noun, "a vowel," from vox (genitive vocis) "voice" (see voice (n.)). In reference to music (as opposed to instrumental), first recorded 1580s; meaning "outspoken" first attested 1871. Vocal cords is from 1872; see cord.
- vocalist (n.)
- 1610s, "speaker" (obsolete); 1817, "singer," as opposed to "instrumental performer;" from vocal + -ist.
- vocalization (n.)
- 1842, "action of vocalizing;" 1855, "mode or manner of vocalizing;" from French vocalisation (1835) or else formed in English from vocalize + -ation.
- vocalize (v.)
- 1660s, from vocal + -ize. Related: Vocalized; vocalizing.
- vocation (n.)
- early 15c., "spiritual calling," from Old French vocacion "call, consecration; calling, profession" (13c.) or directly from Latin vocationem (nominative vocatio), literally "a calling, a being called" from vocatus "called," past participle of vocare "to call" (see voice (n.)). Sense of "one's occupation or profession" is first attested 1550s.
- vocational (adj.)
- 1650s, from vocation + -al (1). Related: Vocationally.