vocabulary

[Fr. vocabulaire, from voc able =a vocable (q. v.).] 1. A list or collection of the words of a language, arranged in alphabetical order, and briefly explained; a dictionary, a lexicon, a word-book. ease, and in le time, teach the true signification of than many terms."- Locke : Human Understand., bk. iii., "A vocabulary made after this fashion would with more 2. The sum or stock of words used in a language; the range of words employed in a particular profe ion, trade or branch of science. "Their structure and vocabulary have been fully ill us. trated by Schiefner and F. Müller."-Athenœum, Dec. IMG:content-0560.png:[blocks in formation] II. Technically: 1. Phonetics: (1) Uttered with voice, as distinct from breath; voiced, sonant. (Said of certain letters, as zas distinguished from 8, or v as distinguished from f .) [VOICE, 8., II. 4.] (2) Having a vowel character; vowel. 2. Music: (1) For or by the voice. (Only applied to music intended to be sung.) (2) Applied to compositions so written as to be easy and effective for the voice. (3) Applied to the singing quality of tone obtained from an instrument, B. As substantive: 2. One's calling, profe ion, busine , employment, trade, or occupation. "If honesty be the heart, industry is the right hand of every vocation . " -Barrow: Sermons, vol. iii., ser. 14. II. Scripture & Ecclesiol .: The Greek, word klēsis so translated in Eph. iv. 1, but generally in the Authorized Version rendered "calling." is applied to the position of all Christian men. (See extract.) In a more restricted sense the term is taken for that "disposition of Divine Providence whereby persons are invited to serve God in some special state."e.g., as clerics, or (in the Roman Church) as religious. [CALLING, C. II. 1, RELIGIOUS, B.] "Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy church, that may truly and godly serve thee."- Second Collect for Good Friday . vocal-chords, vocal-cords, s. pl. Anat .: The inferior thyro-arytenoid ligaments; elastic membranes, the edges of which form the side of the glottis. They are attached in front to the thyroid cartilage, and end behind in a proce of the arytenoid cartilages. They nearly close aperture of the windpipe. (For the use of the vocal chords see VOICE, 8., II. 1.) In addition to them there are upper or false vocal chords, which are not immediately concerned in the production of the voice. [VOICE, 8., II. 1.] vocal-tube, s. Anat .: The part of the air-pa ages above the inferior ligaments of the larynx, including the pas sages through the mouth and nostrils. ( Dunglison .) vō-căl-ic, a . [Eng. vocal ; -ic.] Relating, pertaining to, or consisting of vowel sounds. "Take the word few, in which it has only a vocalic sound."-Earle: Philology of English Language , § 129.