vacuous (adjective)
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless. (NOA)
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless. (NOA)
Lacking intelligence; stupid or empty-headed. Devoid of substance or meaning; vapid or inane. Devoid of expression; vacant. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle. (AHD)
Not expressing or showing intelligent thought or purpose. Not showing purpose, meaning, or intelligence; empty. (CD)
Emptied of or lacking content. Marked by lack of ideas or intelligence; stupid, inane. Devoid of serious occupation; idle. (MW)
Empty, vapid, hollow. Not showing purpose, meaning, or intelligence; devoid of substance. (WN)
Holding or containing nothing; void of expression; devoid of significance or point; devoid of intelligence. Harmlessly stupid and truly meaningless. If someone smiles at you in a way that seems fake or empty, you could describe the smile as vacuous. An example of a vacuous comment would be a politician promising to make things better without explaining how. If something is vacuous, it's like a vacuum – hollow, empty, devoid of substance. (VC)
value (economic concept)
Value equals service over price (V=S/P). Therefore, neither service nor price, alone, can determine value. (RM)
Note: I have seen this referred to as the Value Equation. But even though this seems fairly straightforward, it is rare to see value conceptualized this way.
value proposition (business practice)
The service-level and price combination that an individual or firm offers consumers in a given market. (RM)
Note: Given our definition of value and value proposition, one can find value at both Walmart and Nordstrom.
vanity children (neologism)
Children who are had or raised with the primary motive of enhancing the parents' social status, reputation, or personal satisfaction rather than for the well-being or intrinsic value of the child's life. (Grok)
Note: Given our definition of value and value proposition, one can find value at both Walmart and Nordstrom.
vanity children (neologism)
Children who are had or raised with the primary motive of enhancing the parents' social status, reputation, or personal satisfaction rather than for the well-being or intrinsic value of the child's life. (Grok)
RM:
Children produced for the vanity of their parents; or to enhance the reputation of their parents. These parents want to improve their own standing, with their friends and family and within the community at large, by the behavior and accomplishments of their children. In the extreme, these parents may not even want children, but nevertheless have them so that the children can confirm the self-worth of the parents and make the parents look good. The children are used to make a statement about the parent's worth and morality. Just look at the behavior and accomplishments of our children; clearly we are better people than you.
Sure, we can recognize the nuance here. To some extent, it is natural to be proud of yourselves for the accomplishments of your children. Yes honey, we did a good job raising our little Johnny. But if one seeks accolades and admiration, or some other form of reputational advantage for oneself, because of the accomplishments or behavior of one’s child, then one ventures into the realm of vanity.
(RM)
verboten (adjective)
Forbidden; not allowed. (OED)
Forbidden, especially by an authority. (NOA)
Forbidden; prohibited. (AHD)
Not permitted or allowed; forbidden or prohibited by or as if by authority. (MW)
verge (noun)
A wand or rod carried before a bishop or dean as an emblem of office. (NOA)
A rod, wand, or staff carried as an emblem of authority or office. (AHD)
A rod or wand carried as a symbol of office or emblem of authority, as in the church. A rod or staff symbolic of an office, as that carried before a church official in processions. A rod, wand, or staff, especially one carried as an emblem of authority or of the office of a bishop, dean, or the like. (CDC)
A ceremonial or emblematic staff. (VC)
See: mace
verger (noun)
An officer who carries a rod before a bishop or dean as a symbol of office. An official in a church who acts as a caretaker and attendant. (NOA)
A church officer who takes care of the interior of the building and acts as an attendant (carries the verge) during ceremonies. A verger is a person who takes care of a church building and grounds but is not a member of the clergy. A verger can also lead religious ceremonies, in a behind-the-scenes kind of way. The term verger usually refers to a member of an Anglican church who takes on extra duties, planning details of services and sometimes participating in religious processions. The word verger comes from the ceremonial staff or rod that the verger carries during these processions. (VC)
verger (noun)
An officer who carries a rod before a bishop or dean as a symbol of office. An official in a church who acts as a caretaker and attendant. (NOA)
A church officer who takes care of the interior of the building and acts as an attendant (carries the verge) during ceremonies. A verger is a person who takes care of a church building and grounds but is not a member of the clergy. A verger can also lead religious ceremonies, in a behind-the-scenes kind of way. The term verger usually refers to a member of an Anglican church who takes on extra duties, planning details of services and sometimes participating in religious processions. The word verger comes from the ceremonial staff or rod that the verger carries during these processions. (VC)
A church official who acts as caretaker and attendant, looking after the interior of a church and often the vestments and church furnishings. An official who carries the verge or rod of office before a bishop, dean, or other dignitary in ceremonies and processions. A church caretaker or usher. A church official who serves as sacristan, caretaker, usher, and general attendant. An official who carries the verge or other symbol of office before a bishop, dean, or other dignitary. (CDC)
One who carries the verge or other emblem of authority before a scholastic, legal, or religious dignitary in a procession. One who takes care of the interior of a church and acts as an attendant during ceremonies. (AHD)
See: macebearer
verisimilitude (noun)
The appearance of being true or real. (NOA)
The quality of seeming true or of having the appearance of being real; the quality of appearing realistic or true. (CD)
The quality of appearing to be true or real; something that has the appearance of being true or real. (AHD)
vernal (adjective)
Of, in, or appropriate to spring. (NOA)
Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring. Fresh or new like the spring; youthful. (MW)
Relating to or happening in the spring. (CD)
verisimilitude (noun)
The appearance of being true or real. (NOA)
The quality of seeming true or of having the appearance of being real; the quality of appearing realistic or true. (CD)
The quality of appearing to be true or real; something that has the appearance of being true or real. (AHD)
The appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true. Verisimilitude means being believable, or having the appearance of being true. Similar to what is real. Art that aims for realism seeks verisimilitude. (VC)
vernal (adjective)
Of, in, or appropriate to spring. (NOA)
Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring. Fresh or new like the spring; youthful. (MW)
Relating to or happening in the spring. (CD)
Of, relating to, or occurring in the spring. Characteristic of or resembling spring. Fresh and young; youthful. (AHD)
Suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh; springlike. Of or characteristic of or occurring in spring. (VC)
See: brumal (winter), hiemal (winter), estival (summer)
virtue signaling (social theory) (British: virtue signalling)
The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or social conscience or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue. (NOA)
virtue signaling (social theory) (British: virtue signalling)
The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or social conscience or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue. (NOA)
The act or practice of conspicuously displaying one's awareness of and attentiveness to political issues, matters of social and racial justice, etc., especially instead of taking effective action. (MW)
An attempt to show other people that you are a good person, for example by expressing opinions that will be acceptable to them, especially on social media. (CD)
The action or practice of expressing one's views or acting in a way thought to be motivated primarily by a wish to exhibit good character, social conscience, political convictions, etc., or to garner recognition and approval. (OED)
Performative but ultimately empty displays of moral goodness. (Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Lauren Wadsworth, writing on Time.com)
To take a conspicuous but essentially useless action ostensibly to support a good cause but actually to show off how much more moral you are than everybody else. (UrbanDictionary)
Note: I am somewhat surprised by how many writers defend virtue signaling as better than nothing, or something similar. I think my favorite of the above definitions is the pithy Pinder/Wadsworth: Performative but ultimately empty displays of moral goodness. But writing on Time.com, they too are apologists for the practice. The better than nothing crowd completely misses the hypocrisy of these displays. And it is the hypocrisy that provokes the most ardent criticism.
vitiate (verb)
To destroy or damage something. (CD)
Spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of; destroy or impair the legal validity of. (NOA)
To reduce the value or quality of; impair or spoil. To corrupt morally; debase. To make ineffective (a contract or legal stipulation, for example); invalidate. (AHD)
To make faulty or defective; impair. To debase in moral or aesthetic status. To make ineffective. (MW)
Make imperfect. Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality. Take away the legal force of or render ineffective. Vitiate is often used when a legal agreement is made invalid, but it can also refer to the debasement or corruption of something or someone. (VC)
viticulture (noun)
The cultivation of grapevines. The study of grape cultivation. (NOA)
To reduce the value or quality of; impair or spoil. To corrupt morally; debase. To make ineffective (a contract or legal stipulation, for example); invalidate. (AHD)
To make faulty or defective; impair. To debase in moral or aesthetic status. To make ineffective. (MW)
Make imperfect. Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality. Take away the legal force of or render ineffective. Vitiate is often used when a legal agreement is made invalid, but it can also refer to the debasement or corruption of something or someone. (VC)
viticulture (noun)
The cultivation of grapevines. The study of grape cultivation. (NOA)
The cultivation of grapes, especially for use in making wine. (AHD)
The growing of grapes, or the science or study of this. (CD)
The cultivation or culture of grapes especially for wine making. (MW)
vocal fry (noun)
A way of speaking in which the voice is very low-pitched and has a characteristic rough or creaking sound. (NOA)
A vocal effect produced by very slow vibration of the vocal cords and characterized by a creaking sound and low pitch. Also called creaky voice. (MW)
A quality in someone's speaking voice that makes it sound rough and low. (CD)
A tendency to draw out the end of words or sentences with a low, creaky voice. (NPR)
A low, slow, and creaky voice affectation, used primarily by women, which purposefully communicates condescension, smugness, and self-indulgent insolence, in order to position themselves as socially superior to their interlocutors and other listeners. (RM)
Note: It's really a question of whether or not you believe that vocal fry is linguistically authentic or an affectation. Or regarding the NPR definition, is the tendency a conscious choice? Certainly, vocal fry is a choice which communicates condescension; it is not an attempt to sound refined and sophisticated as some apologists believe, but rather an attempt to convey genuine contempt for the listeners. What practitioners of vocal fry do not realize, are truly too stupid to realize, is that others find the affectation grating, insincere, and disingenuous. So rather than elevating their social status, they undermine it. I have written about vocal fry here.
See: affectation, upspeak
votary (noun)
A person, such as a monk or nun, who has made vows of dedication to religious service; a devoted follower, adherent, or advocate of someone or something. (NOA)
A person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service. A devout adherent of a cult or religion; a committed worshiper. A person who is fervently devoted, as to a leader or ideal; a faithful follower. A person who is filled with enthusiasm, as for a pursuit or hobby; an enthusiast. (AHD)
Devotee; a devoted admirer. A devout or zealous worshipper. A staunch believer or advocate. (MW)
A person who has made a promise to serve a particular religion or god. A person who strongly supports a particular cause or person. (CD)
A priest or priestess, or a consecrated worshipper in a non-Christian religion or cult. One bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service. A devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity. People who have devoted their lives to religious service. The noun votary does not necessarily have to be a member of a religious order. A votary can be a person who is a devoted follower of a person or cause; plenty of history majors are votaries of Abraham Lincoln. (VC)
vox populi (noun)
Popular sentiment or opinion; the voice of the people. (MW)
A person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service. A devout adherent of a cult or religion; a committed worshiper. A person who is fervently devoted, as to a leader or ideal; a faithful follower. A person who is filled with enthusiasm, as for a pursuit or hobby; an enthusiast. (AHD)
Devotee; a devoted admirer. A devout or zealous worshipper. A staunch believer or advocate. (MW)
A person who has made a promise to serve a particular religion or god. A person who strongly supports a particular cause or person. (CD)
A priest or priestess, or a consecrated worshipper in a non-Christian religion or cult. One bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service. A devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity. People who have devoted their lives to religious service. The noun votary does not necessarily have to be a member of a religious order. A votary can be a person who is a devoted follower of a person or cause; plenty of history majors are votaries of Abraham Lincoln. (VC)
vox populi (noun)
Popular sentiment or opinion; the voice of the people. (MW)
The opinions or beliefs of the majority. (OD)
Popular opinion or sentiment. (AHD)
A belief, idea, or opinion that most people share. (VC)
The opinions and beliefs that are believed to be held by most of the people in a country or state. (CD)