virtual

[Fr. virtuel, as if from a Lat. vir. tualis, from virtus =virtue (q. v.); Span. & Port. virtual; Ital. virtuale.] 1. Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the material or sensible part; proceeding from or characterized by transference of virtue, that is, force, energy, or influence. "Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance." -Bacon. 2. Being in e ence or effect, not in fact; not actual, but equivalent, so far as effect is concerned. "It contains all; not only in general, but in special; not only virtual , but actual."- Bp. Taylor: Di uasive from Popery , § 3. *3. Potential. virtual-focus, s. IMG:content-0531.png:[blocks in formation] *2. Potentiality; potential existence. "Se in one grain of corne there lieth dormant the vertuality of many other."-Browne: Vulgar Errors, bk. vii., ch. ii. vir-tu-al-lỹ, *ver-tu-al-ly, adv . [English vir . tual ; -ly .] In a virtual manner; in effect or efficacy, if not in actuality; in effect though not materially; practically. "The Me iah was yet virtually , though not yet corporally, among them."-Secker: Sermons, vol. ii., ser. 16. *vir-tu-āte, v . t . [Eng. virtu (e); -ate .] To make efficacious; to give virtue or efficacy to. "Medea now invokes the earth, aire, winds, mountains, ., as either producing or virtu at ing magic all ingredients."-Sandys: Ovid: Metamorphoses vii. [Note.]