vice (2), vise, vyce (2), vys, vysse

& a. [Fr. vis (O. Fr. viz )=a vice, a spindle of a pre , a winding stair, from Lat. vitis =a vine, bryony, lit. that which winds or twines; cf. Ital. vite a vine, a vice, a screw.) IMG:content-0495.png:[blocks in formation] 2. An instrument with two jaws, between which an object may be clamped securely, leaving both hands free for work. The hand-vice is not a vice proper, but has a tang which is grasped by one hand, while the other holds the tool to work upon the object held. "The maine planke or upper stocke of the pre e, went with a vice in manner of a skrew."- P . Holland : Pliny, bk. xviii., ch. xxx i. 3. Plumb .: A tool used by plumbers for drawing lead into flat grooved rods, called cames, for lattice windows. II. Fig .: Grasp, gripe. "An' I but fist him once, an' a' come but within my vice."-Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. II., ii. 1. *B. As adj .: Winding, spiral. "There were somtyme houses with vyce arches and voules in the maner of rome." -Caxton : Descript . Britain , p. 16. viçe-, pref . [Fr., from Latin vice =in place of, from vic is (gen it.) =a turn, change, stead.] A pre fix, in its compounds, one who place noting deputy of another, or one second in rank; as, vice -president, vice -chairman, . (1) In colloquial language it is frequently used independently as a noun, the compound for which it stands being indicated in the context. "Mr. Dumkins acting as chairman, and Mr. Luffey officiating as vice." -Dickens: Pickwick , ch. vii. (2) It is also commonly used as a preposition or adverb, with the force of " in the place of," "to succeed." vice-admiral, s. *1. The second commander of a fleet. (In the United States it is provided by law that the naval ranks of admiral and vice-admiral shall cease at the death of the persons now holding those offices.] "The vice- admiral in the middle of the fleet, with a great squadron of gallies, struck sail directly."-Knolles: Hist. Turkes. 2. [ADMIRAL, 1.] vice-admiralty, s. 1. The office of a vice-admiral.